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What a great result for Sheena, for the partnership, for Dubai Glory and of course for James Doyle (another well thought out ride) and all the team at Sheena's yard! What an absolutely genuine horse Dubai Glory has turned into - she just does not want to be beaten.
Courtesy of The Racing Post
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An interesting race for the grade with several improvers up against each other and probably decent form for all it has the potential to be misleading after the pace was only steady.
DUBAI GLORY landed the hat-trick and proved game once again. However, her last two successes have owed something to being in the right place at the right time. She was well ridden here as her rider seized what turned out to be a race-winning initiative 3f out.
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Pebbles, Sheena and Megan's adorable dog is the proud mother of 6 puppies which are now for sale to go to good homes. Please call Sheena if you are interested.
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Photos courtesy of Dave Lacey - one of the partners in the Affordable (2) Partnership
Courtesy of The Racing Post
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DUBAI GLORY was a gutsy winner over C&D on her previous start and she followed up in much the same fashion, again showing a tenacious attitude under strong handling. She edged left under pressure, but so do a lot of horses here, with a bend just after the winning post. There was a fair gap back to the third and she could be up to completing the hat-trick.
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Photo courtesy of Heart of The South and Gerry Penny
Once again it was a gallant effort from MOHANAD at Goodwood, the brave horse trying his heart out right to the line. We did at one point get our nose in front and had the race been another two yards we would have won, but Richard Hughes just had that edge over Harry Bentley when it mattered. However luck plays in a big part in racing and I am sure it won’t be long before MOHANAD wins again.
John’s brother Gerry (a photographer) was at Goodwood on Thursday and took a couple of shots of Mohanad for us.
Courtesy of The Racing Post
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A time over 17 seconds above standard suggests this was far from a severe stamina test.
Mohanad managed to win on his last Flat start off 2lb lower on Polytrack (held over hurdles since), but he regularly finds one too good and that was the case once more. This was the ninth time he´s been second under all codes, compared to just two wins.
A little about Mohanad - courtesy of Heart of The South.
Mohanad is an athletic 5 year old by Invincible Spirit. He was originally purchased for £73,500 and trained by MICK CHANNON for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.
Once rated as high as 83 on the flat but remaining a maiden, this horse has proved a revelation in his new training environment with Sheena West. He followed a juvenile hurdle win at Kempton Park with a string of great efforts in competitive handicap hurdles. He has also been placed on the flat 6 times for us. In fact, he went fourteen races without finishing outside the prize money! He is an exceptionally tough and consistent horse, and he is still just five years old.
In 2011 he started the season with an impressive second on the AW at Lingfield Park, followed by a fabulous effort in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival! A great day out for all his owners, MOHANAD finished 12 out of 24 and gave his all as always. He was also dropped to 125 for the pleasure which we are deligthed about as it puts him in a superb position for his next target, the valuable BET365 handicap hurdle at Sandown Park on 23 April. He finished fourth in the same race last year (when just a four year old) and is expected to go a couple of places better this year!
AND HE IS ALSO A WINNER ON THE FLAT!
UPDATES FROM THE YARD
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Well now, That was a very good April for the yard and the boys and girls ALL did us proud. It funny when a yard hits form no one is doing anything any different it's just that everything seems to go the right way in so far that the draws are right, the races are run to suit, the ground is right and luck goes the right way! Let's hope it just carries on!
Most of the horses are turned away or have gone home for the summer and the paint brushes will have to come out soon. Those that are in are proper fast ground horses and should keep the flag flying.
Sheep have all lambed and we finished up with 900 ewes producing 1.87 lambs. The first ones have been sold at 40kg and made an amazing £114 a head so it be nice if that trend carries on.
Now onto the stars of the yard:
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YA HAFED
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Such a lovely horse. Very uncomplicated and talented which he showed at Folkestone when he won so impressively. He then went back there in a 3 runner race and so nearly did it again, but as I've said before never discount any opposition and Zain Al Bolden the subsequent runaway success in Lingfield's Oaks Trial shows there was nothing to be disappointed about. I did toy with the idea of running him in Epsom's Derby trial and potentially having the problem of whether or not to supplement for the Derby (yes, I do dream a lot) then I decided if he were that good then he'd be a Triumph horse next spring and as "Nobby" does want a bit of cut in the ground and too nice to mess up on firm ground I came down to earth and he's now a gelding having a holiday until he comes out next autumn to run both flat and jumps. Oh dear, I do make myself laugh at times!
MOONWOLF
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In full training and appears to be doing well. Very difficult to place he's been given a whopping mark of 116 and there are so few races for him over hurdles. The obvious route is novice chasing but although he's had plenty of racing experience he's only had the 3 runs over hurdles and so little jump racing experience. He has schooled well and maybe I'm being over cautious but with his problems it is important he is properly fit and I'd far rather he had more runs over hurdles first and he could be out beginning of June at Worcester.
SCREAMING BRAVE
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He's been running so well in good races and was a little disappointing at Plumpton but was found to have banged a splint bone after, although he's completely sound it seems unwilling to settle down while he's in work and he'll be given a short break until it does eventually settle.
FORTY THIRTY
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...and his jelly belly went off to Cheltenham with my thinking he would badly need the run as he's not and never has been overly impressive at home and it turns out he was absolutely fine and fit to go and after being out paced came storming up the hill to finish 4th. He stays on a rating of 125 so Plumpton is on the cards for him next.
MAC FEDERAL
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Finally got back on track at Lingfield after nearly 4 years off and had a dream race that so nearly ended perfectly when he just got chinned on the line. I felt so sorry for him. He beat the horse he had to beat and something he didn't see came and did him on the line. Never mind, he returned in one piece and went to Kempton where nothing went right for him at all. However, the main thing is that he is still sound and can stand training and racing and retains his ability. We know he ideally needs soft ground and he will now be kept ticking over for the summer and he'll be back in the autumn.
DENTON RYAL
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She came back in good order and will run at Plumpton. It may be a couple weeks too soon for her but there's not a lot on the flat and other hurdle races are miles away.
MR HARMOOSH
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Went to Huntingdon and we were very pleased with his debut. He was a little keen which we expected and a little green with his hurdles but he showed enough to suggest he will win plenty of races when he fully learns his new job. Poor lad is being troubled by imflamed airways. He's not ill as such and is more than likely an environmental issue i.e. pollen and/or dust or just general air quality at this time of year. He is on an inhaler just like an asthma sufferer to help him along and plenty of turn out. Unfortunatly, he loves his turn out as much as he loves everything else he does and there is a bit of a skill to catch him once he is out. He will be running as soon as it's under control.
BLAZING BOLTE
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She's on a summer holiday as although she likes fast ground she does suffer from corns through concussion but as we've seen she goes on all ground so it's not the end of the world.
BOBBY (Dr Massini Filly)
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She has done all she needs to do and is turned a way before coming back in for Juvenile bumpers. Her attitude is faultless and although not the biggest she will do well.
GOLAN WAY
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Such a brave horse and the plan so nearly came off at Aintree. I was so proud of him. He just didn't know he was beat and after a couple of X rated errors for him to keep trying so hard was amazing. I like to think that anyone who thought he wouldn't stay 3 miles now know what we always knew here in that that was never a doubt. As for his jumping I think its well worth pointing out that he is happiest running right handed which is why he has been kept right handed up until Aintree. He's always jumped to his right, not a physical reason for it, just finds it more comfortable abit like any of us running up the stairs and we take off on the wrong leg. Be interesting how many of you reading this actually go and try it!!
Also when he was hurdling and was a bit prone to stepping every now and then. It is noticeable that he only ever did that going left handed ie Cheltenham, Statford even the left handed part of Fontwell but he has never made errors right handed. Unfortunately, at Aintree he picked up a minor cut that needed a couple of staples in. This left him ill prepared for right handed Punchestown and the decision was made to put him away for next season.
MOHANAD
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The wonderful "Mo" inevitably won a race on the flat at long last and was the one too good on the day. So rewarding for his frustrated owners and trainer. He ran a good race at Sandown and then ran again so well at Goodwood to be 2nd (again) Poor horse, he was in front before the line and after the line just not on the line. Just like Mac Federal something he hadn't seen came and diddled him out of his win. He seems to be getting stronger this year and does so well at all he does ie flat, jumps, turf, AW, left or right handed, fast or slower ground and runs every fortnight or so. There has been vague talk of him going chasing as hurdle races are a bit sparse but there is just no need to all the time he can do all of the above. He will go to Goodwood next as there isn't a suitable hurdle race for him until June.
DUBAI GLORY
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Yes, I still love "Glo". What a diamond she has turned out to be for us all and what an amazing attitude she has. She is turning out far better than anyone thought she might be and there is a bit more to come from her yet as well. I don't think that she'll ever win a race by too far as she only does what needs to be done. I think she deliberately lets something head her so gives herself a chance to show off and get in front again and get lots of pats for trying so hard. She might run under a penalty next or we could wait a bit. I think she could just be better off a lower weight in a better race than a big weight in a lesser one. She'll have a few entries/ options and have a damn good go at the hat trick and as the season progresses she will be able to go up in trip and that should show further improvement also.
MR MUDDLE
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So pleased for Ron and Christine who also bred him and delighted that Ron at a sprightly 95 years young was able to lead their horse in after he got back in the winning habit at Plumpton over 2m 5f. He seems to be a versatile talented horse when he's got the right head on! 2m on heavy to 2m 5f on fast ground and only 4 years old as well. Marc got off quickly him at Plumpton as he said he felt a bit wobbly but there are no ill effects from that run and he has gone back home to have a well earned holiday in the field. He will be back in the autumn for a new season.
SHIROCCO 2 y old
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He's such a dude! Actually, it's a bloody pain having to be a colt. Shiroccco's are doing really well now they are 3 and with the Hungarian Derby plan in place it's just as well!! He has been entered in that Derby and the Slovakian Derby 2 weeks later. His jumping prospects when the time comes have taken a little boost with his half brother being 2nd in a grade 2 novice chase and that one also won as a 2 year old on the flat.
Onwards and Upwards.
Sheena West
10th May 2011
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