SIOUX PERFECT gained her first career success in spectacular style by winning the £100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes at Newmarket on 23rd August.
Bought to stay in the yard for just 14,000gns by Archie at the Tattersalls Online Sale only days earlier, the daughter of Sioux Nation produced a strong finish in the six-furlong feature for new owner El Jefe.
Wearing blinkers for the first time and switched to the far side at a crucial stage of the race by William Cox, she built on her encouraging second in a Ripon nursery.
The form was franked in no uncertain style when the sixth, Anaisa, went on to win the Listed Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy at Ripon. Now Sioux Perfect could head to Bro Park in Sweden for a valuable conditions race later this month.
William was in the saddle again when SAS Thoroughbreds’ Belardo colt Castrillo won a seven-furlong maiden at Chepstow, confirming the promise of his debut run behind two subsequent winners at Doncaster. Bought for just 8,000gns by Blandford Bloodstock as a yearling, he took up the running with a furlong to go for a cosy success.
August was also a productive month for Wathnan Racing’s filly Shine On Me, who was placed in a Listed race at Deauville before making the frame again in Group Three company at Longchamp. She was denied by only a neck under Christophe Soumillon on her first foray to France and was only caught late in the race in the Prix d’Arenberg on 31st August.
The month got off to a flying start overseas when fellow two-year-old Tadej claimed the Group Three Prix de Cabourg at Deauville. A full report on that performance can be found on this site.
Meanwhile, stable jockey Hollie Doyle was in charge when Victorious Racing’s Mission Classified achieved his breakthrough win in a five-furlong Musselburgh novice on 8th August. The flashy looking son of Acclamation had been gelded before venturing to Scotland for his third career start.
There was more juvenile success when the Saain-owned Squadron Leader made a winning nursery debut for Hollie after also being gelded. The son of Mehmas responded well to first-time cheekpieces to land a six-furlong Windsor nursery.
Hollie was on board again when Christopher Wright and Emily Asprey’s three-year-old Summertime Blues got off the mark in a six-furlong Chepstow handicap mid-month. The Pinatubo gelding was sent off favourite after finding only one too good at Windsor and Brighton.
Finally, Hambleton Racing’s Grand Traverse contributed to another successful month when he won for the second time this year, powering home for Luke Morris in a seven-furlong handicap at Kempton Park on 13th August, and only narrowly failed to back that up under a 5lb penalty at the Sunbury track six days later.
By Simon Mapletoft
