International Group success and three wins for our amateur star Brodie Hampson kept Saxon Gate in the headlines in August.
Brave Emperor claimed his second overseas success to land the Prix Daphnis – Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage – Prix Famille Saleh-Selman over a mile in testing conditions at Deauville under regular rider Luke Morris. It was his second win at that level this year following his exploits at Krefeld in Germany back in April.
Archie and the team also achieved Group placings with star sprinters Bradsell and Saint Lawrence, who were third in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville respectively.
Bradsell, bidding to follow up his victory in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, ran a pleasing race considering he was drawn away from the pace, while Wokingham Stakes hero Saint Lawrence only narrowly missed out in his Group 1 assignment.
Meanwhile, in the amateur ranks, Brodie and our gallant mare Let Her Loose rattled up a hat-trick in the space of just 17 days, claiming the verdict in northern raids to Musselburgh, Ayr and Catterick to keep her rider flying high in the jockeys’ championship.
There was more success for Brodie prior to that winning streak when she guided Sir Joseph Swan home in the mile and three-quarter handicap at Yarmouth. It was his first win for the stable since joining from Amanda Perrett in the summer.
There was also a timely return to form for sprinter Albasheer who dead-heated in a thrilling renewal of the Constantine Handicap at York’s Ebor Festival towards the end of the month, sharing the spoils with David O’Meara’s prolific big-race winner Summerghand.
Hollie Doyle, who was on board Albasheer on The Knavesmire, was also successful on the Clipper Logistics two-year-old Love Lies at Ayr on 17th August. The daughter of Dandy Man took the six-furlong maiden in pleasing fashion on only her second start.
Lunanera boosted Hollie’s fine Chepstow record when proving too strong for seven rivals in a mile handicap on 24th August and she was in the saddle again as All-Weather star Onight won for the third time this year, making all to take a Lingfield handicap off a mark of 87.
Mohammed Rashid’s colt Loaded Quiver maintained his progress to win a Brighton maiden for Hollie early in the month, confirming the promise of two seconds at Chepstow and Yarmouth, while Josh Bryan did the steering when juvenile filly Kandoo took a five and a half-furlong Bath maiden for owner John McEnery.
There was another successful northern raid when Propitious made it two from two in a Redcar novice under our apprentice Taylor Fisher, and the Paul Naughton-owned Gannon Glory was too good for his rivals in a six-furlong Wolverhampton claimer mid-month. Group 1 winning rider Kieran Shoemark got the better of reliable veteran Muscika to score by a hard-fought neck.
Over hurdles, smart Flat performer Aaddeey made the perfect debut, proving too good for his rivals in a two-mile Uttoxeter novice in the colours of Hambleton Racing. Nick Scholfield partnered him to a length and three-quarters success.
By Simon Mapletoft
