BEST OF BRITISH BERKSHIRE

Two days and one evening meeting gave a massive selection of racing to offer at Royal Windsor. The figure of eight tracks Best of British festival had to compete on it's opening day with mass meetings up and down the UK. Docaster, Newamarket to name a few giving the British racing public what they want, quality, and races with a good purse.
The royal county kept up its end of this extravaganza, a class two contest  with a £19'000 pot, and a  listed, £37000  to share out amongst the placings.

Grand Koonta 

To start off though a two year old novice stakes, ten going to post. Clive cox's Grand Koonta going off the 1/2 favorite and returning the three and a half length winner from Richard Hannon's Popsicle.
The trainer hot footing to the Newmarket meeting mentioned he really liked the  Dark Angle colt, ridden by Adam Kirby who also mentioned,'He is the perfect sized horse that has it all there with plenty of speed on his side, he is progressing in the right way that's for sure.'
One to keep an eye on as he progresses I feel. Three runs on good tracks and in fair positive company and not out of the first four, shows this colt could have a positive future ahead.

'He the perfect sized horse that has it all there with plenty of speed on his side, he is progressing in the right way that's for sure.'

The five furlong maiden saw Wantage based Henry Candy saddle African Friend  to take the race beating Indian Raj and denying Adam Kirby a quick brace by a head at the finish line.
Ridden by Fergus Sweeney who took the Equiano four year old on a strong challenge from a furlong out mentioned,'his work at home as always been very positive, but he has been plagued with some problems over the time which has kept him a little bit of an unknown quantity, the run will bring him on for sure and hopefully won't be too long before he can get a win in him again.'
The trainer when questioned on his lack of track attendance said; he wasn't right the first time he ran and has had a knee problem that has taken time to get right, so now he has  a lot of catching up to do, the win today is a good start though.'
A capable strong sort, and one to keep an eye on his progression now the maiden bubble has been burst.

Henry Candy saddle African Friend  to take the race beating Indian Raj 

With the ground riding just on the softer side of good, and with plenty of strong meetings up and down the country, only two went to post for the five furlongs conditions race, disappointing really for sponsors and racecourse a like.
On the card four were to go, one pulling out with a vets certificate in the morning, the other not favoring the unsuitable going.
Mark Johnston's Rebel assault and  Sylvester Kirk's Three little birds took the challenge on,the 1/3 favorite Rebel assault taking on an easy win from his only competitor taking the race well by seven lengths at the end.

Ridden by David Probert who mentioned, 'That was a bit of a routine gallop for him really and he may go for a listed race at Sandown  at the end of the week, but he is an improving sort.'
The Excelebration two year old filly on her fourth run with two wins, an impressive eight length win in more sublime company at Catterick in May, will have a little more of a test in more positive company, but for sure the form is with this filly who as mentioned by the jockey has plenty of speed on her side.

A few more runners for the good sized Windsor faithful attending the Saturday afternoon racing in the next. A class two one mile three furlong handicap saw nine runner to post, top weight What about Carlo off the 11/4 favorite from the well in form yard of Oxfordshire based trained Eve Johnson Houghton could only finish a neck second thought to 11/4 King Bolete from Roger Varian's yard.
The five year old on fifteen runs, five being in the winner circle made all and quickened well under Jack Mitchell from two out.

King Bolete

The gelding which is named after an edible mushroom as I was told, was not the only winner from the Newmarket yard in the afternoon. The pairing of Varian and Mitchell had a profitable afternoon as  Morando took the Listed Midsummer Stakes over the Windsor mile beating again the favorite Stormy Antarctic by a short head.

Morando

The jockey having to quickly hot foot a trip to Lingfield for a number of rides at the evening meeting and the trainer not in attendance but at the Newmarket July meeting, no one could give me an insight into the brace of winners, only to say both beating the favorites and both winning with a short margin had given at least the bookies something to cheer about as up to know it had been favorite backers that had been raiding the bookmakers purses, the tide turning as the meeting continued.

The five year old on fifteen runs, five being in the winner circle mad all and quickened well under Jack Mitchell from two out.

Morando took the Listed Midsummer Stakes over the Windsor mile beating again the favorite Stormy Antarctic by a short head.

A  6/1 shot took the penultimate race of the afternoon a mile fillies handicap in the shape of the Ed Walker trained Sayem ridden by Jamie Spencer. The three year old on her sixth outing notched up her second trip to the winners enclosure by taking the race by half a length from Snow Squaw. The jockey mentioned that the trip and the going suited this Sayif filly and he praised her for being very strong in the finish.

Her first time over the mile seemed to settle in well for the horse having experimented at six to seven furlongs now seems to have found her mark and could be one to watch over the extended distance.

Sayem

The final race of the afternoon a six furlongs apprentice handicap saw five runners to post, and kept  backers of the favorites happy as 2/1 shot Captain Bob from the Newmarket based Robert Cowell's yard came home the three quarter of a length winner under the steerage of seven pound claimer Jonathan Fisher. who only the day before celebrated his twenty fourth birthday.

 Captain Bob  and seven pound claimer Jonathan Fisher.

The jockey mentioned, 'he is a marvelous horse to ride, since my move  to Mr Cowell's in September I have increased my amount of winners to three, two of them being on this fella. It's an honor to ride him and these races suit him so well hopefully we can claim a few more.'

 A tall lad,but assure me that he can do the weight of 8 st 4 lbs, doing a few pounds lighter easy enough when needed.

Not needed today though at 9 st 12 lbs  saw the six year old make all easily,only to be pushed along to take the race from Black Caesar.

A horse I don't feel the young Fisher will forget in a hurry.

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