Coakley News

Runners at Leicester and Brighton not able to make the frame

31 May 2023

This week Bobby Kennedy and Hoornblower were unable to take their opportunities for different reasons : at Leicester on Monday Bobby Kennedy was held up and George Bass felt he had been much better suited by softer ground at Bath on his previous outing, and he was unable to close up the straight, finishing eighth but only beaten just over four lengths. At Brighton Hoornblower set sail, moving very well for his first outing on the turf, only to go much too fast down the hill - touching 41 mph at one stage - so that come the rising ground he was not able to see out the mile and get home, and he gradually weakened to finish fifth a little over five lengths back. He is sure to do much better with a more measured and efficient run next time if a suitable race can be found.
MY AMBITION WINS FOR THE HARROW RACING CLUB ON RETURN TO BATH

27 May 2023

Denis had the four year old chesnut gelding in very good tune once more, and on only his second outing for The Harrow Racing Club he secured an emphatic win in the Octagon Consultancy Handicap over a mile at Bath, confidently ridden out by Rob Hornby. The spell of fine weather had brought about a going change from his April run, and the firm ground was very much to My Ambition's liking as he broke well and led very early on. Rob then had him settled straight away and moving very easily to make the running from the outset, only joined by one rival around two furlongs out - the winner of the April contest where soft ground had stopped him the last day. This time the story was very different as he saw off the challenge readily, and Rob reported that he knew he had plenty left to repel all challengers and to stretch clear to win by over two lengths at the post. On fast ground the Galileo Gold gelding recorded a very good time and things very much went his way this time for a straightforward victory - much to the delight of the Racing Club members on course and watching across the world ! A very exciting prospect for them, now that My Ambition has some summer ground to compete on and some future race days to look forward to.
Golden Phase a real eyecatcher on handicap debut

27 May 2023

At Kempton Park this week Golden Phase, the three year old Gustav Klimt filly owned by West Ilsley Platinum, took her first venture into handicap company over a mile at Kempton under George Bass. From a wide draw he had to settle her at the back of the field of a dozen and she was stlll well back entering the final three furlongs. From that point she made rapid headway to pass four rivals, and then to keep on very well indeed inside the last quarter mile. Moving right up into fourth in the last half furlong the Racing Post noted her as an eyecatcher, and staying at a mile next time she should be winning her race from a more kindly draw and racing position. The form of her Bath run is very strong and this was a run full of promise too.
Party Island and Lisdarragh not far away on faster ground at Windsor

23 May 2023

Having waited a while for a spell of fine and dry weather to present quickening ground, the two runners at Windsor were not disappointed to find the going coming up good to firm. Party Island just found the lack of a strong gallop didn't really stretch the field and play in his favour. He travelled very well in second under George Bass, but then was obliged to up the tempo going into the home straight and to go for home across the last quarter mile. He just got outpaced by three closers into the final furlong, but the Tomy Killoran gelding finished well in a very creditable fourth, beaten just a couple of lengths. Lisdarragh ran a very good race too, moving up very well mid-race to midfield in his ten furlong handicap under Harry Burns. As they rounded the slight elbow he got a little intimidated and squeezed up for room, just as momentum was building for the sprint for home. This meant that a wall of horses were vying for position all along the straight, and he was just four lengths back by the post, making eighth home in a very competitive race. This augurs very well to build on his last two runs, which have shown him with a return to his old form lines under a familiar pilot in Harry.
Two runners checked in their runs at Bath

19 May 2023

Both Waterloo Sunset and Milvus ran into some traffic problems in their races at Bath this week. In his ten furlong handicap Waterloo Sunset had to be ridden along at the haflway stage, but he responded strongly to George Bass and was running on very well up the hill when he had to be switched left at a critical stage to get a clear run. By the last half furlong he was closing very well on the first two home, and not beaten much more than a length at the line. With better luck in running and stepping up to a mile and a half he could be winning again very soon. Milvus once again showed some good early speed, but he found his path repeatedly blocked everywhere Charlie Bishop sought to take him, and with a much clearer passage he will give a better account on his next run. This time he finished well back and out of the frame, but connections are optimistic he can fuflil his promise next time out.