A big week for Talent, as she is the last of the four classic winners to put her reputation on the line. Beckett seems to be favouring Secret Gesture going for the Nassau so may have more confidence in Talent this time. I feel this New Approach filly is really good and her only weakness may be that in a muddling paced race she may be a bit headstrong. No idea whether Liber Nauticus will re-appear, as everything has been very quiet in the Stoute camp. I'd prefer to see her going to York, but still believe she's a very good filly. With the success of Prowess (Talent's dam) and two black type foals so far it seems that her third foal, 2yo Much Promise, may be living up to her name on the gallops and is entered for her first run this week. Gosden isn't afraid to have them ready first time out and the market should offer some idea of her chance. She will run in the Hollingsworth colours of Mark Dixon, even though similarly joint owned with Rowsell. Dixon has his Refuse to Bend filly Thwart running tonight at Windsor. She is yet to win on the turf as both her wins have been on the AW at Kempton. But she's run reasonably on it before and looks a straightforward filly. She has to improve to win this but should do so. Auld Alliance ran a disappointing race at Sandown. She wasn't given the most enterprising of rides by Doyle and Stoute has her entered later this week.
Thought I'd finish this off in the last week of the real flat. The list of 4 horses gave the winners of 5 races, with just Talent winning twice. Auld Alliance was moderate and just won her maiden. Singersongwriter was very disappointing early on then appeared and won easily in the Autumn. Liber Nauticus was a disappointment really but there may have been excuses. After the Oaks she was injured and also had a wind operation, but she didn't recover from that so is in the breeding sheds. A winner of the Musidora can't be all bad. I looked back at a thread from 2010 and I wrote this on the Hollingsworth/Dixon horses:- Well a hoped for foal by New Approach was Talent and she did win a Group 1 as well as being placed in 2 other Group 1s. I was wrong about the colours as Dixon's co-owner had the colours this year. And he'll have the colours next year when Forte (Talent's full sister) goes into training, but Dixon has her half-sister Much Promise, who I'm sure will win races next year. All in all, Dixon has had a good year. He also owned Thwart who won 2 races for him and the sold Livia's Dream (who he bred) added another win to her score. But the second prize must go to Thomas Hobson. Sold as a yearling by Dixon he's won 3 races and looks distinctly useful. By Halling out of a Danehill Dancer mare called La Spezia (like Talent's dam a great grand-daughter of Oaks winner Bireme) he's improved all season and certainly likes it soft. He is entered on Saturday for the November Handicap. Next year it looks as if the crimson colours will be seen on a Medicean half-sister to Thomas Hobson called La Superba. Let's hope she's well named.
Yes I think you are right Stick. Surprised they are selling but for a yearling that cost 35,000g they may get well over a hundred. Obviously Gosden's missus needed some dosh.
You were right Stick. Bought for 240,000g (!!) and to go hurdling with Willie Mullins. If it's soft in March he might be Triumph horse. Good luck today at Warwick. Much Promise went in yesterday (at skinny odds) to add to the family's excellent year.
