Coakley News

• Highlights of recent runs with places for Chelio and Dijon Gone and ANOTHER WIN FOR PHOENIX MOON

  04 October 2026

  In recent outings on the track a return to racing has seen some successes after a difficult summer. Chelio made it three places in a row, following his second and third over seven furlongs at Goodwood and Lingfield, with a good run stepping up to race over a mile at Bath. No match for the easy winner, he kept on well to claim third spot and prove that he retains his good attitude to racing. The same can be said for Dijon Gone, going up to run a mile and three quarters at Wolverhampton. George Bass had her racing prominently from the early stages, moving well in second and only losing position at the top of the straight. She rallied very well towards the finish, however, to nail fourth place in a field of ten in what looked a competitive enough race. At the same Dunstall Park track Rob Hornby took the ride on Phoenix Moon, back to all weather action after three quite disappointing turf runs. He had the grey mare running well back in midfield through the first half mile and then made his forward move turning in for home, albeit with a wide course around the last bend. This meant that Phoenix Moon had to pass several horses by taking a course up the centre of the track entering the final furlong. She did this very well in a real return to form, getting to the front and then keeping on well to win by a neck. Rob felt she was on a real going day, and bookmakers from Waterford to Cumbria were sent scurrying for cover after her tissue price of 28/1 attracted some interest, and a late plunge from one hard hitting and shrewd Penrith punter trimmed six points off the SP. The Keeper's 12 syndicate were delighted as Phoenix Moon notched her fifth race win for them, and back at home there was much hollering in the Harrow as they cheered home the speedy grey mare.

• A bit of an off day for Phoenix Moon at her favourite track

  02 September 2026

  Running in the last race of the card yesterday at Lingfield, Tom Marquand reported that Phoenix Moon was not her usual self at all, getting uncharacteristically fractious in the stalls and not racing as she normally does. Getting the blind off sharply from the break she was still a little further back than ideal in the opening furlong and then also got quite a bump from the outside. This seemed to lead her to tighten up and not take a breath, so that by the turn in to home she was a few lengths back and, although she got into her stride along the home straight, she was not going to advance from a modest sixth place, beaten just over five lengths. She seems to be fine after the race and so Denis will see how she is over the next couple of weeks.

• Uniter finishes well over Epsom's nine furlongs

  01 September 2026

  Uniter ran a nice race for the Paddock to Pub Syndicate yesterday afternoon at Epsom Downs over a mile and a furlong. Kept out of his ground in the early part of the race, Uniter came down the hill well to join the small field and then he made up a lot of ground in the straight to finish a good fourth, suggesting that he might go close next time.

• Dijon Gone shows her liking for racing back on the grass

  01 September 2026

  Denis and the owners, the Bramble Syndicate, were very happy indeed with the run of Dijon Gone at Windsor on Saturday evening. She really appreciated the rain softened ground and going up towards a mile and a half. Dijon Gone led under George Bass and then she raced very prominently throughout, staying on well to finish a clear second of thirteen runners in very pleasing fashion. She will hopefully go very close next time out in similar race conditions.

• Sharma goes well up to ten

  28 August 2026

  Sharma d'Amour pleased with her run at Lingfield yesterday, racing ten frulongs for the first time under regular pilot George Bass. She travelled very well and raced prominently, coming wide into the straight and just getting a little tired inside the penultimate furlong. Sharma finished off her run well and was only beaten about two lengths at the the post - all the more creditable, given that she has been off the track for a long spell and Denis has been limited to galloping her on the shavings, rather than on the turf which has been too firm for many weeks.

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