Dont miss 32Red ambassador Jamie Spencer’s latest column as he talks through his Saturday rides at Ascot and Lingfield
Jamie Spencer talks through his rides on Saturday where he has rides at both Ascot and Lingfield
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I’M hoping I’m on the road to success today.
I certainly won’t be off the road much with a double-header this afternoon. It’s a busy day of racing and I’ve got a ride in Lingfield’s Oaks Trial before whizzing round to Ascot.
I should have pIenty of time to make it, but I wouldn’t want to be sitting around drinking tea at Lingfield. I’m going there to ride LADY OF SHALOTT (1.55).
She won her only start at Yarmouth last season in a mile maiden. She did it well and David Simcock’s horses aren’t drilled to win first time out.
Generally, if they win on their debut they turn out to be pretty smart. She’s by Camelot.
A lot of his horses are taking their time to come into their own and they have been really thriving over middle distances. She falls into that bracket.
GET ON TREND Who will win the Victoria Cup at Ascot this Saturday?
They can be a little bit excitable so you’ve got to be careful with them as two-year-olds so she wouldn’t have been pushed too much before her first race.
The fact she was able to win shows she has got a good level of ability. We’ve had a clear winter with her and she’s been training nicely this spring.
I’ve ridden her in a couple of pieces of work and she feels good. It’s a trial so it won’t be an easy race — especially with Aidan O’Brien sending over his smart filly Flattering.
We expect her to run well but we know she’ll improve a lot for the outing.
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After I’ve ridden Lady Of Shalott I’m dashing off to Ascot to ride KEYSER SOZE (4.00) in the Victoria Cup.
He ran a great race for me when third in the Spring Mile at Newbury last month. It was his first run since Royal Ascot last year, the ground was soft and he had a bad draw.
He had to do a lot of running to get into a decent position — it was a combination of factors that beat him. I wouldn’t say he didn’t stay the mile but dropping back a furlong won’t be a problem.
I like riding the straight course at Ascot. You need plenty of patience. I’ve had a lot of success there over the years and hopefully that will continue today.
Richard Spencer is also putting me up on REVICH (4.35) in the five-furlong novice.
He hasn’t run yet so I don’t know much about him but the fact he’s starting off at Ascot means the yard must think he’s okay. Richard was assistant to Michael Bell so I know him well.
He has made a good fist of it so far and he’s moved to Martyn Meade’s old yard in Newmarket. They obviously mean business this season.
BLAZED (5.10 Ascot) had reasonable form when he was trained by Roger Charlton. He won at Wolverhampton in November and is having his first run for Ed Vaughan.
Ascot is a sand-based track that dries out very quickly so it’s very much like the all-weather, which is right up my lad’s street. He has a squeak on his best form.
I was very impressed with Saxon Warrior in last weekend’s 2000 Guineas. He’s a gorgeous horse and the vibes were that he was going to improve a lot for running at Newmarket.
The fact he was able to win the Guineas and he’s likely to stay much further bodes really well for the rest of the season.
I think he’s going to light up the Flat season so Ballydoyle have got a lot to look forward to for the rest of the summer with him — and with the likes of Magic Wand, Rostropovich and Idaho, who stole the show at Chester this week.
The 1000 Guineas was more of a shock with Billesdon Brook at 66-1. It might have been surprise on form but not on performance. There was certainly nothing flukey about it.
She came there travelling two out and gave it her best, which was good enough to see them off. You can’t knock her.