The 5-year-old gelding, rated 86, was produced late to defeat the Hugo Palmer-conditioned, two-time series pointsgetter Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), rated on 92 and giving three kilos to the eventual winner. It was Parlando's first win since carrying William Buick to a debut victory at Leicester back in October 2021. The bay was sold on by his breeder Godolphin for £105,000 at the 2023 Tattersalls Ascot March Sale and was placed four times in as many starts in England ahead of his Bahrain campaign.

Both Parlando and Box To Box ended on 28 points, but the former had the tiebreaker by virtue of his victory Friday.

“I had the ridden the horse once before so I knew him,” Mosse said. “He travelled really nice and I was biding my time, as I knew he would finish well. If you ride him too close to the pace, he will do too much. Today he was relaxed in behind and when I pressed the button, he was ready to answer.”

Added Harvey Williams, assistant to and son of trainer Ian Williams: “We're so happy with that result, really delighted. And to have won the Bahrain Turf Series bonus prize is great news. We will definitely be back next year!”

WATCH: Parlando races away in the Vision 2030 by Beyon handicap

Brazen Bolt (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), trained by John and Sean Quinn, could only manage sixth in the Al Sakhir Cup handicap, but he had amassed an insurmountable lead courtesy of a win and a second-place finish in the first two legs of the sprint series and finished well clear of the remainder on 41 points. Friday's contest up the 1000-metre straight course was taken out by stablemate Jm Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}).

The afternoon's richest affair, the $135,000 Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, was won by a widening four-length margin by the season's most-improved galloper Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). The full-brother to multiple Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian (GB) was adding to his recent success in the Listed Crown Prince's Cup and all things equal, he will make his next start in the Mar. 8 King's Cup.

“That was a flawless performance. Roll on the King's Cup!” said his jockey Callum Shephard.

WATCH: Isle of Jura dominates again in Bahrain

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Immediately dropped out to the tail, Isle of Jura was given a quiet ride by Callum Shepherd, as the commonly owned Rollajam (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) galloped them along in advance of American Flag (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The pacemaker had run his race fully 600 metres from home, as American Flag inherited the lead under a full head of steam entering the straight. But Isle of Jura worked his way into the clear and found plenty inside the final furlong before stretching away to win for the first time at stakes level. Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who defeated Isle of Jura by a nose in another Bahrain Turf Series race over course and distance Dec. 29, finished third. The Godolphin team of Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}, Charlie Appleby) and local King's Cup hero Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}, Saeed bin Suroor) were never dangerous, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.

“I just love the way he has grown up since he's been here, he now relaxes very well and he'll give himself every chance of getting further,” the winning jockey commented. “Being over here, it's really made a man of him.

“This horse means a great deal to George and I. We have always taken this horse very seriously and for him to do that in front of his owners on home soil is really special, we're delighted.”

Added Scott: “He's a lovely horse and he's clearly improving. He's bred to be a good horse and the sky is the limit with him, although we will just enjoy today first. It's well documented that [Victorious principle] His Highness Shaikh Nasser has been a huge supporter of mine and to repay him in this way is so exciting.”

Isle of Jura began his career for his breeder and Appleby, finishing unplaced in a Wolverhampton novice in November 2022 before changing hands for 150,000gns at last year's Tattersalls Ascot March Sale. For this trainer, the bay was victorious in handicap company at Newbury July 21 and eight days later at Newmarket.

The well-related Isle of Jura, a 62nd worldwide black-type winner for his sire, is out of a daughter of French listed-winning 2002 G1 Pouliches runner-up Firth of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill), whose son Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) led home a Godolphin 1-2 in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. She is also the dam of the stakes-winning and G1 St James's Palace S. second Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}) and Etive (Elusive Quality), a listed winner in Germany. This is also the family of Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), popular winner of the G1 Metropolitan H. at Randwick last September. Falls of Lora is also represented by a 2-year-old Night of Thunder (Ire) colt and a yearling colt by Dubawi.

International raiders stole the show in the 1200-metre The Hawar Cup, as the Michael Owen co-owned and Hugo Palmer-trained Roman Dragon (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) beat out Brazen Bolt (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) from the barn of John and Sean Quinn by a half-length.

“We're absolutely delighted,” said the former England striker, who campaigns the 5-year-old with Nick Hughes. “He has got speed to burn, but we often think he's better round a turning track than a straight track, so today is a lovely surprise. We thought beforehand Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) would be in the first three and this horse would be in the last three, but it happened the other way round!”

Box To Box was down the field in the Anchorman Cup, the afternoon's other BTS event over 1800m, a race won by former local champion Ecosystem (Ire) (Al Rifai {Ire}).

Owen continued: “Me and Nick own the horse; I bred him and we've owned him all his life. It's my first time here and I am really enjoying it. My old boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, stood here not so long ago having won the big race, the Bahrain International Trophy [with Spirit Dancer {GB}], so it's clearly a lucky spot.”

CROWN PRINCE'S CUP SPONSORED BY CEBARCO-Listed, $150,000, Sakhir (Bahrain), 2-2, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:03.01, gd/fm.
1–ISLE OF JURA (GB), 126, g, 4, New Approach (Ire)–Falls of Lora (Ire) (GSW-UAE, SW-Eng, $246,417), by Street Cry (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (£150,000 HRA '23 TATMAR). O-Victorious; B-Godolphin; T-George Scott; J-Callum Shepherd; $90,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-1-0, $167,164. *Full to Cascadian (GB), MG1SW-Aus, G1SP-Fr, $5,925,891; half to Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GISW-Can, SW-Eng, $236,981.
2–American Flag (Ire), 126, g, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Sequester (GB), by Selkirk. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (125,000gns HRA '22 TATAUT). O-Al Adiyat Racing; B-Bjorn Nielsen; T-Allan Smith; J-Gerald Mosse. $30,000.
3–Lucander (Ire), 126, g, 7, Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Lady Sefton (Ire), by Oratorio (Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€26,000 Wlg '17 GOFNOV; 28,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Nigel Jones & Paul Bowden; B-Mr John Connolly; T-George Baker; J-Pat Cosgrave. $18,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, HF, 1.
Also Ran: Zagato (GB), Local Dynasty (Ire), Passion And Glory (Ire), Sovereign Spirit (GB), Duc de Kent (Fr), Rollajam (Ire). Click for the Bahrain Turf Club result.

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After her July score over Stenton Glider at Sandown, the then-3-year-old was a close third in the G3 Prix de Lieurey, just two heads behind the winner Elounda Queen (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

Stenton Glider boasts a pair of group placings, and connections regarded her highly enough to race her in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last spring.

“This has been the target since she disappointed at Haydock [in August],” said Palmer of Stenton Glider. “She's had a break since then, the first real break of her life. She's grown and strengthened, filled out, and is a much stronger filly now.

“She's taken to Dubai really well; she's trained super and been very relaxed, so we hope she can run a very big race.”

Naturally, Godolphin has a strong presence in the lone group race of the nine-race card, and their trio includes the stakes-placed Silver Lady (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at a mark of 101. William Buick is aboard the undefeated English Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who most recently took a Kempton novice in November, while Richard Mullen has the call on the two-for-four Shining Jewel (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is riding a two-race winning streak. The trio break from posts three, eight and four, respectively.

“Shining Jewel is a nice spare to get,” said Mullen. “She won her last two starts and looks like she's improving. I had a sit on her the other day and she's a lovely big filly by Siyouni and I think she'll get further in time, as well.

“Obviously English Rose looks the pick of them, but they're all unexposed horses. The William Haggas filly [Mystic Pearl] brings the best form into it.”

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“It is with deep sadness that we have to announce that a much-valued member of our team died at work this morning,” Manor House Stables tweeted. “The family have been informed and both the family and the team at Manor House request privacy at this time.”

The woman fell ill at around 8:50 a.m. at the stables in Malpas, Cheshire. Emergency services attended the yard, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene, Cheshire Police said in a statement. The death is not being treated as suspicious and her next of kin have been informed.

The stable has been the base for trainer Hugo Palmer since last spring. Owen, 43, played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City and set up the stables in 2006.

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“Get It has been a star for us,” said Baker. “He was unlucky on his first run in Bahrain and I think he bumped into one in Mobaadel (Speightstown) on his most recent start. It was a fantastic run and Andrea [Atzeni] was very keen to get back on him on Friday. We couldn't be happier with how we have him.”

Meanwhile, Hugo Palmer is hopeful for a big run from Box To Box (Ire) in The Vision 2030 Cup. The son of Kodiac (GB) ran a promising race on his Bahraini debut at the start of December, but disappointed next out.

“Despite a wide draw, we're happy with Box To Box,” he said. “We've deliberately given him a good break and we're hoping he can step forward off a lower mark.”

Box To Box is one of eight European runners entered. Other notable contenders include What's The Story (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), Marie's Diamond (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Inigo Jones (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).

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A classy sprinter for Hugo Palmer, Dubawi Legend chased home Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket before signing off on his juvenile campaign with a rating of 115.

He achieved Group 3 success as a 3-year-old and put in another notable performance to finish third to subsequent Group 1-winning sprinter Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the G3 Hackwood S. that same season.

Dubawi Legend's fee has been set at €6,500 for his debut season at the County Westmeath stud where he will stand alongside fellow newbie King Of Change (GB), Far Above (Ire), Kuroshio (Aus) and Smooth Daddy.

Orlandi said, “At a fee of €6,500, we are delighted to offer breeders the opportunity to use a precocious son of the champion sire Dubawi. Not only is Dubawi the champion sire but he is also a renowned sire of sires, and can call upon Night of Thunder (Ire), New Bay (GB)  and Zarak (Fr) to name a few.”

He added, “We haven't yet reached the crest of Dubawi's wave as a sire of sires so to stand his Group 1-performing son is very exciting. Dubawi Legend is the second-highest rated 2-year-old to retire to stud in 2023.

“A top class sprinter, he is an exciting addition to the Compas Stallions roster. Limited breeding rights are available.”

Dubawi Legend finished up in 2021 as the joint second-highest rated 2-year-old in Europe, with that 115 rating higher than what Night Of Thunder, New Bay and Zarak achieved at two. Dubawi's dominance as a sire of sires is illustrated by the fact that five of his sons have sired Group 1 winners in their own right in Europe.

Director of Racing at Rabbah, Bruce Raymond revealed how he holds Dubawi Legend in the highest of regard, and commented, “A speedy, well-bred son of Dubawi. He was an impressive debut winner and Group 1-placed at two and was even quicker at three when easily winning a Group 3 over six furlongs. We saw him as a Group 1-level sprinter.”

Out of a Raven's Pass mare, the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas winner Lovely Pass (Ire), Dubawi Legend is bred on the same successful cross as Mishriff (Ire) and Saffron Beach (Ire).

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In the weighing-room, Davies is as fresh-faced as they come, but then that's no surprise as he is still only 17. In conversation, however, he has the maturity and quiet confidence of someone twice his age. That too should perhaps not be surprising. Though Davies was only granted his licence a year ago, he is no stranger to work-riding or race-riding. 

He started out at the tender age of 10, a mere slip of a boy using his innate skill rather than strength on Newmarket Heath while riding out for Hugo Palmer, to whom his mother Angie Shea is assistant trainer. From that precocious start, he was twice crowned pony racing champion in the UK, and was then taken under the wing of Andrew and Annalisa Balding at the fabled Kingsclere academy which has been so instrumental in the nascent careers of current champion jockey William Buick and former treble champion jockey Oisin Murphy, among others. 

As the 2022 season rumbled into gear in Britain it wasn't long before trainers started muttering Davies's name in quiet awe and swiftly booking him for rides as his claim dropped from seven to five to three faster that you can say future champion jockey. 

On a coffee break after riding work for Smith on the eve of Bahrain's biggest race day on Friday, Davies explains his presence at Sakhir racecourse. He says, “The plan was just to come away for the winter, to save my claim, get a little bit of experience elsewhere and just learn as much as I can really. The plan was originally to go to Australia, however that fell through with my visa as I'm only 17. But Bahrain accepted me and I'm very thankful to Shaikh Isa and to Mr Smith for taking me on over here and giving me some nice opportunities. I've learned a lot, they're great people and I'm really enjoying it.”

By the opening day of the turf season back at home last March, Davies was given the leg-up from Charlie Appleby in the Godolphin blue silks to ride Modern News (GB) in the Lincoln, and by May, when he was closing in on 20 winners, he was already being talked about as a champion apprentice contender. In fact, the championship went to his chief rival, Benoit de la Sayette, who was apprenticed to John and Thady Gosden, but Davies has to date ridden 67 winners in Britain in a year he won't forget in a hurry and which included riding in the royal colours of her late Majesty the Queen.

“I love nothing more than race riding,” he says. “To have the first year I had was unbelievable really and I never expected it to go how it did. And hats off to Benoit, he's a fantastic young rider who's very, very talented and it was just great to have that competition there. I enjoyed every minute of it, even though it was very stressful along the way. But I learned so much, not just about race riding, but about myself this year, and I can't wait to go again when I start riding again, probably in late March.”

With just 27 wins permitted before he loses his claim, Davies is being wisely guarded by his boss and is full of praise for the Balding team as well as Hugo Palmer, who played such a key role in his formative years. Though the young jockey is not in contact with his father, the former champion apprentice Stephen Davies, he has also been able to lean on sterling help from both his mother and stepfather Phil Shea, who is also his agent.

“I grew up on a horse essentially,” he recalls. “It was all I ever did as a kid, just ride ponies and horses. In Newmarket I started riding out for Mr Palmer before school and he gave me a lot of fantastic opportunities. Then I started riding out for my boss, Mr Balding, when I was probably 12 or 13 in the summer holidays. I'd go there for a couple of weeks at a time and get to know the crew there and I absolutely loved it at Kingsclere. I got my grades in school and left when I had just turned 16. I started living in the [Kingsclere] hostel and made some great friends and never really looked back.”

He continues, “We had a great conversation just before I came out here about using the rest of my claim to the best of its worth, and the vision is very much to get experience. In a sense it's half a working holiday. You've got the sunshine, it's a completely different way of training and riding here, and it's a nice change of scenery for me.

“I've been here for a few weeks now and from what I've done so far, I've absolutely loved it, but it's very important that I get back on the yard, get to know the young horses for next season and spend some time with the guys in the yard. That's very important, so I'll be heading back home in mid-December.”

Prior to that, Davies, who has had two rides so far for Smith and will partner the Aga Khan-bred Rayounpour (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) for him in the Batelco Cup on Friday, will make the most of the opportunities that his sojourn offers, including riding alongside Paul Hanagan, who is another to be wintering in Bahrain. 

The former champion jockey was uncharacteristically punchy in his criticism of some of the riding on display at tracks in Britain in an interview earlier this season, which may or may not be in Davies's mind when he says, “The older jockeys are always there to mould you as a jockey because they can see that you're going to be in the weighing-room for a while and it's important to teach you along the way. So that's great when you get that. The weighing-room is a very busy place, but sometimes it can be quite lonely as well, and you find a lot of things out about yourself along the way. 

“I've only had two rides here and I've loved it really. It's just been great to see the different culture, because in England [the racing] is every single day and it never stops. So when one day's racing is done, you're immediately looking at tomorrow's meeting and don't have much time to reflect. And that's what I've done since I've been here, trying to reflect on the season and trying to improve myself, not only as a jockey, but as a person really. I think that the quieter time has been very good for me.”

Davies's words, uttered at such a relatively young age, call to mind Rudyard Kipling's rather more famous words: 'If you can keep your head while all about you are losing theirs'. He has already proved that he has a cool and calculating head when it comes to race-riding. Facing the pressures that will surely come with his mounting fame will be a challenge of a different sort, but Davies appears to be in the best hands to help him with that along the way, not least his own.

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   However, there is much more to the 59-year-old than being the man who revolutionised betting; he is also hugely passionate about breeding and playing cards.

   Black got to the semi-finals of the world Bridge Championships last week and his breeding endeavors at Chasemore Farm continue to go from strength to strength. 

   He will bid for Group 1 glory at Haydock on Saturday when homebred Brad The Brief (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) runs in the Sprint Cup while Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), sold by Chasemore at Book 1 to Godolphin for 525,000gns last year, is well on his way to becoming a top-notch colt after landing the G2 Gimcrack S this season.

   From breeding potential superstars like Noble Style to discussing his plans for Chasemore and revealing a recent near-death health scare he suffered last Christmas, Black makes for a fascinating interviewee.

Brian Sheerin: It has been a brilliant year for Chasemore Farm and it could get even better with Brad The Brief in the Sprint Cup on Saturday. You must be looking forward to it?

Andrew Black: I am, assuming we run. It's well known at this stage, he likes a cut in the ground, and I think there's rain forecast for Friday night or Saturday morning at Haydock. He wants it soft, good-to-soft would be okay, but as he's got older, the need for soft or heavy ground has reduced a little because his knees are better now than they've ever been before. In his early days, he suffered from immaturity issues and, as time has gone on, that situation has improved. If the going was good, I would expect him to find things a little hot, but if it's on the soft side, I'd expect him to be in the mix.

BS: He's two-from-two this season, including at Group 2 level. It's interesting that he was in the horses-in-training sale last season. Was that ever a realistic destination for him?

AB: I don't think so. It's interesting that Hugo [Palmer] seems to have done better with him than Tom [Dascombe] did. We have paid a good bit of attention to his knees and it seems to be working. Tom didn't want to campaign him at a high level and was always insisting to us that he was a 90-rated handicapper at best and we should aim quite low with him. Hugo has sorted out an issue with his knees this year and he seems to have progressed. He's definitely moved on this year and to see numbers like 120 beside his name, that's pretty exciting. I think he can do more–when conditions come up right, I think he could pull off a Group 1 win. 

BS: Has anything been changed in his training routine to bring about the improvement?

AB: The only thing that has been changed is that, when he came back to Chasemore Farm, we observed that his knees might benefit from being medicated. He's had two separate courses of medication and that's possibly what made the difference as he's moving very well now–he'd always been a bit scratchy. He's a very good-looking horse and is everything that you'd want a sprinter to look like. That little bit more freedom of movement appears to have made the difference. 

BS: You have been quoted as saying, “for me, seeing an animal you bred winning a big race is as good as it gets.” Things have been going pretty well of late, not just with horses running in your own colours, but with Noble Style as well.

AB: This year has been amazing for us. You could consider it a breakthrough year. Not only have we had a lot of success on the track, but a lot of the yearlings that we have going to the yearling sale this year are a lot more interesting; we have some good stuff coming through. Noble Style obviously tops the list. He's quite a fiery character and, as he grows up, I think he's going to improve more. He looks like much more than just a 2-year-old to me. His mother [Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB})] didn't do it until she was three. She could have been even better at four but we retired her early as we lost her mother. She won a listed race on her final start at three but, if we kept her in training as a 4-year-old, we'd have got a lot more out of her. I'm certain of that. I was actually out-voted on that at the time, I wanted to keep her in training but we have got Noble Style out of it so I can't complain. I think he's really special. He could be a proper Group 1 horse. I don't even want to say that out loud and I am touching wood as I say it. 

BS: What's pretty cool about Noble Style is that the family extends all the way back to Baldovina (GB) (Tale Of The Cat), one of the first horses you've owned. It's a family that you have nurtured. 

AB: That's what's really amazing for us. What interested me about Baldovina when I claimed her was, not the black-type on the page, but the fact that there were not many animals in the pedigree full stop. The black-type as a percentage to animals on the page was interesting. Her dam, Baldwina (Fr) (Pistol Bleu {Ire}), was a Group 3 winner, so it was only really Baldovina who had failed. After I claimed Baldovina, her dam went to Japan and produced Jeweler (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), who won the Japanese 1,000 Guineas, among others. Baldovina amazingly had become a half-sister to a Classic winner after I claimed her for just £17,000. She was one of the first horses I ever bought, so that was a bit of a turn up for the books. We did so well from selling horses out of her that we got her money back many times over. There's always a lot of interest from Japan whenever we go to sell anything from the family. It's an emerging family. We have a lovely Camelot (GB) filly foal, who is a half-sister to Noble Style, and we also have a Frankel (GB) half-sister to him as well. She is now a 3-year-old but unfortunately she could never race but she's a beautiful filly and I think she will produce something for us. 

BS: If we didn't know you and know your backstory, we could say that Baldovina was beginner's luck.

AB: In the case of Baldovina, it was beginner's luck, but she should never have been in that claimer in the first place. She was a daughter of a French Group 3 winner who only had the one foal in the UK before she went off to Japan. Not only that, she finished second in her first two maidens before her form fell off the face of a cliff, which happens. She was by Tale Of The Cat, who I felt was an interesting stallion, given it is that Storm Cat line. You don't see many pedigrees as interesting as that in claimers, certainly not fillies anyway, and I think they made a mistake putting her in there. Maybe they didn't appreciate what they had and I was very happy to claim her and take my chance. I thought I made a mistake for a while, and even put her in the sale and bought her back, as I did with Ceiling Kitty as well, but I think that's because I was under a bit of pressure from other people at the time. I had bloodstock advisers who were wondering what I was doing. I had a fair bit of money and they were wondering why I was messing around claiming horses when I should have been buying expensive well-bred fillies. As it happened, she was the most exciting animal that I had at the time, despite the fact I paid quite large sums of money for some very well-related fillies. None of those left the footprint she did at Chasemore Farm. Not by a long way. We got that one right but made other mistakes. 

BS: You've obviously got good business instincts but it's interesting that you also trusted your gut in racing and breeding despite the fact you had advisers trying to steer you in another direction. 

AB: I would always respect the advice of others. But, at the same time, if you don't learn any lessons and chance your arm every now and again, what is the point? You've got to go out there and do a few crazy things. If you are afraid of making a fool of yourself, you won't achieve much in this game. I never liked looking stupid. Nobody likes to look stupid. But I won't let that stand in my way and, in cases like this, I didn't. I mean, I claimed Beacon Lady (GB) (Haafhd {GB}) after she came last, and she went on to win eight races for us. You can look pretty stupid when you claim a horse after it finishes last but, again, that one worked out. You've got to be prepared to lose money and to get things wrong from time to time. I don't think you can afford to be risk averse in this game and I'm not that. In fact, I'm probably a bit too far the other way. I'm always happy to chance my arm. 

BS: I know that you said before that you'd like the broodmare band at Chasemore Farm to be around the 25 mark. I also see that you bought Chachamaidee (Ire) for 200,000gns at the July Sale just gone. What is the philosophy going forward?

AB: If anything, I'm increasing my numbers at the moment. My business life is going very well. Outside of horse racing, I am involved in two industries; one is oil and the other is vaccines. Both of those have had a very good run in the past few years. In years to come, I could have more money to spend, so things have panned out well for me. I think I will probably be spending more at the sales and the plan is to steadily upgrade over time. It was always my plan to upgrade anyway. The idea was, after buying the farm, that I needed to go out there and buy a certain number of broodmares. I needed to stock up, get my processes going and get good people working on the stud. The idea of starting with four or five horses and then building my way up to 30 didn't make much sense. I needed to get up to 30 quite quickly and then upgrade them over time. So that was the plan. That has been playing out and, whether we get good mares like Chachamaidee by going out and buying them or if we breed them ourselves, it doesn't matter to me how we get them. We've got a fantastic team here at Chasemore and we've got a couple of really good clients here as well. We like having the boarders here as it keeps us sensible and it's good to have customers. We're seeing a bit of success, which helps us to believe in ourselves a little bit more.

BS: There's also been a change to your approach to racing. You revealed that you were in the process of selling your share in Manor House Stables around the time that Hugo Palmer was announced as Tom Dascombe's replacement there.

AB: Yes, that's correct. By the time Tom left Manor House, I had decided to leave anyway. The reason why I left is not because I had any problems with Manor House, as I am very happy with what's going on there, but it's just a long way away. We decided to be a bit more supportive of Epsom. The problem with Epsom historically is that the facilities were a little bit weak. That's being resolved and Epsom is becoming a better training centre. Money has been spent on the gallops and there is the potential for more to be spent. It feels like Epsom is on the up and we want to support the training centre, which is right beside where we are. The idea of getting out of your bed at seven o'clock in the morning and going to the gallops at Epsom as opposed to getting out of bed at four o'clock to travel to Manor House also appeals as I am getting old and don't have as much energy as I used to have. The four-hour trip to Manor House is not as attractive as it once was. There's a lot of good people in Epsom as well so I think we'll be a little more involved there. I am always going to send one or two horses to Manor House, just because I want to keep that relationship with Michael [Owen], who's a great mate. We've had a lot of fun together and Hugo is training very well from there now so there's no reason not to send horses there. I just won't be sending the numbers that I used to. We'll have horses around in different places and will have some in Newmarket as well. 

BS: But I gather your main interest lies in breeding rather than racing?

AB: Yes, I think so. I have got as much pleasure watching Noble Style winning for Godolphin as if he were mine. I realised that I get an awful amount of pleasure out of watching horses we've bred come out and win. They don't have to run in my colours. The breeding side of things is what has always really interested me. I never interfered too much on the training side of things and always left that up to the trainer to make the decisions. Also, I'm not somebody who particularly likes the limelight in any case. It's not what I am about so, for me, breeding is more interesting. 

BS: And what else excites you on the farm at present?

AB: We have a pretty good draft for Book 1 and Book 2 at Tattersalls this year. It will be interesting to see how that goes. We've got a very nice Siyoini (Fr) foal out of a Red Clubs (Ire) mare. He's really quite powerful. We have a Kingman half-brother to Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and he looks pretty interesting. All four of my Book 2 animals are interesting and the pedigrees have improved just this year. We have a sister to Lezoo (GB) [Brogan], for example, by Pivotal (GB), and she is a potentially interesting producer. We have a full-brother to Breege (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) who is good-looking and there's a number from the Ceiling Kitty (GB) family as well. But, if I had to pick one as being the most exciting on the farm, I'd say it's the Camelot (GB) out of Eartha Kitt (GB). That's a foal and will never be sold. She could be very nice. 

BS: You've always had a soft spot for Camelot. 

AB: I have and that's just me as a punter. You see certain horses on the racecourse and grow an affection towards them. I absolutely loved Camelot. I thought he was a fantastic physical specimen and always wanted to produce a nice horse by him so I have favoured him over a lot of stallions, in truth. Camelot and Kingman, I have spent a lot of money on those two stallions. 

BS: Of course, you were a professional punter at one stage in your life. Has the breeding replaced the punting or do you still bet?

AB: I still bet. I've had a bad year betting for whatever reason. I've had some good years but this year has been terrible and I don't know why. I just can't seem to get moving. Can't get going. Every time I think I'm on a run it just peters out. I've lost loads of money gambling this year, it's just been one-way traffic, but I don't bet like I used to. I still bet in reasonable sizes when I bet but I rarely spend a day betting. I probably place four or five bets a week whereas, in the old days, I'd have been betting heavily every day. I think I'm getting old. I find it a little bit boring and can't follow the form like I used to. The time I would have spent studying the form, I now spend studying the matings and looking through pedigrees. The breeding study has replaced the betting study. 

BS: That's twice now that you're after saying that you are getting old.

AB: Well, I had a heart attack last year. It was actually quite a severe heart attack and it happened on Boxing Day. Maybe that's why I feel old. It was a good thing in many respects as I have lost five stone since then and I am doing a bit more exercise now. It has been a good year for me apart from that. I got to the semi-final of the World Bridge Championships last week and knocked out the World Champion in the quarter-finals. That was amazing for me. I take Bridge pretty seriously and play on a team. It's a big thing in my life and I came so close to winning the semi-final. Mentally, I'm in a pretty good place and that showed me that, if I can still compete at the highest level playing Bridge, my brain is still okay. I think I'm in a good place. The heart attack has been a good thing for me. I'm on God knows how many pills now to keep things steady but they're working for me and my blood pressure is low and I'm very calm. I try to stay in that calm place and I spend a lot of time thinking, which is what I most enjoy. Listen, I see myself as getting old but I am perfectly happy with that. I am 59 years of age and the heart attack scared the shit out of me. It was pretty scary to contemplate one's own death so, having failed to lose any weight for a long time, it became a lot easier to make the effort. I got some positive impetus out of that and I just have to build on that now. 

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Native Trail and Coroebus are among the top two choices for Saturday's feature in addition to unbeaten Group 1 winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is one of three potential Ballydoyle representatives along with Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

Also included among this season's Classic contenders is Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was only two lengths behind Native Trail when runner-up in last year's G1 Dewhurst S.     “His turn of foot and his change of gear is what's exciting about him,” said trainer Hugo Palmer, who won the 2000 Guineas six years ago with Galileo Gold. “On a rating of 115, he was the joint second highest-rated 2-year-old in Europe. Galileo Gold at the same stage was rated 110, so he is the best 2-year-old I've trained without a doubt.”

Tom Marquand has been booked to ride the colt.

In regard to his competition, Palmer added, “Native Trail beat a whole lot of maiden winners and horses that were 50-1 for the Guineas in the Craven. At the same time, I don't think William Buick had to hit him more than once and he beat them three and a half lengths and you don't know what was there.”

“I think it's going to be a pretty big field on Saturday. There's 19 left in and you don't stay in for free, so you must stay in with the thought of you're going to run.”

“I can't help but think a bigger field will hinder Native Trail as there'll be some non-stayers stopping in front of him. There'll be some non-stayers stopping in front of us as well, of course.”

Palmer recently moved from Newmarket to Cheshire to replace Tom Dascombe at the helm at Michael Owen's Manor House Stables.

Other contenders include Richard Fahey's Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), who won two Group 1s last season and made a successful return in the G3 Greenham S. at Newbury Apr. 16.

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Palmer, who moved to Michael Owen's Manor House Stables recently, said, “That was just what we wanted. It was a really solid piece of work. Michael Hills who rode Power Of States said he was flat out from the three which is what we wanted him to do and really draw the 3-year-old into the work which he did.

“Tom said he was beautifully relaxed and that he was switched off in behind and finished really well. Tom said he would have no qualms about him staying the mile and that he felt great.

“Tom came and rode him at Wolverhampton a couple of weeks ago. We were happy with him a couple of weeks ago and we were happy with him that day, but he has stepped forward massively from that day to here–which is what you want them to do.

“We are 18/19 days out now and we are bang on track. He is not there yet but today is not Guineas day. Tom was happy with him, and I couldn't be happier as a result.

Palmer saddled 2016 Guineas victor Galileo Gold (Ire) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and added, “I think Tom would love to ride him in the Guineas the way he was talking there but he has got commitments elsewhere. Equally, if for whatever reason Charlie Appleby only ran one in the Guineas and James Doyle became available then he is James's ride first and foremost. James has sat on him lots and it was good for Tom to sit on him today and have another feel. It could be an opportunity if we are looking for someone else.”

Another out for a spin over the Newmarket turf was Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's listed winner Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The Kevin Ryan trainee was last seen in action winning Haydock's Listed Ascendant S. on Sept. 4 over the 1600-metre Guineas trip. He galloped solo under Andrea Atzeni.

Ryan said, “He has been away from home at Redcar and I felt it was good to give him a feel of the track down here. He has come from the seven and really quickened into the dip and out of it. He took a fair bit of pulling up. Everything has gone to plan and Andrea was delighted with him. He is well on target for the big day.

“He is a quick horse and doesn't need a lead horse. We are not particularly worried about ground conditions with him. The Haydock race was always the plan for him. He was an immature horse and we finished him after that.”

Also under consideration for the first colts' Classic of the season is Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's dual group winner Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Victorious in the G3 Acomb S. and G2 Royal Lodge S. in succession last August and September, respectively, the dark bay faded to last in the G1 Trophy S. at Doncaster after making the running in soft going on Oct. 23. He pleased father-son trainers Charlie and Mark Johnston when seen in action with stablemates I'm A Gambler (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Highland Premier (GB) (Highland Reel {Ire}) over seven furlongs on Tuesday.

Johnston said, “Whether he is going to the Guineas or straight to the [G2] Dante [S.] it is still good to have had a racecourse gallop. There was some question to see how much speed he has got.

“They've not hung about there and we wanted to see if he could travel comfortably at that pace and Jason [Hart] said he travelled very easily. It was great to have the outing.”

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