Weekend Review – French Guineas and Oaks & Derby Trials

What a nightmare of a weekend – I got the Derby and Oaks trials wrong at Lingfield, was no luckier out in France of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Poule d'Essai des Poulains and I was far from impressed with the ride given to Qemah by Dettori in the Chartwell Fillies' Stakes as she was left with no chance of getting on terms with the winner Mix And Mingle, good ride from Moore, before being pushed along at the same pace coming home a distant second. Jean-Claude Rouget said after the race "It was a race to forget. Things did not go her way, but she is fine after the race. I am very confident you will see her in much better shape at Ascot."

York this week and all being well the loses are only lent to the Bookmakers; hopefully we may learn a little more in regard to the Derby and the Oaks as at the moment I have seen nothing for the Oaks to scare Rhododendron and as for the Derby I of course am convinced Churchill won’t stay but as yet I’ve not seen a colt I would want to be putting my money on! The colt may yet be the bet in the hope he can stretch his stamina and win in what may prove to be a below average year.