Mark and Charlie Johnston | Horse Racing Free Tips

Guineas Hopefuls Out In Force At HQ

Classic aspirants were in action prior to racing at Newmarket on Tuesday, and G1 Darley Dewhurst second Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is pleasing trainer Hugo Palmer ahead of the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Apr. 30. The Dr. Ali Ridha colourbearer galloped a mile alongside stablemates Power Of States (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Battered (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}), before edging away from them and crossing the wire five lengths to the good of the twosome, with Tom Marquand in the irons. The colt was last seen running off the board in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November.

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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Fanning Remembers The Last Lion

Group 1 winner and former sire The Last Lion (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) sustained a fatal injury in a six-furlong all-weather handicap at Kempton Park on Saturday. A winner of the Brocklesby in 2016, the bay was eight.

The Last Lion enjoyed a rigorous campaign in his 2-year-old year, and after winning the Brocklesby in early April, ran second in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot, his fourth start of the year. Successful in the Listed Dragon S. later that summer, he then reported home second in the G3 Molecomb S. in July and dropped to third in the G2 Gimcrack S. at York. He added the G3 Sirenia S. over the Kempton all-weather in September, and was second in the G2 Flying Childers S. back at Doncaster. Sent to Newmarket for the first time, the colt won the G1 Middle Park S. by three-quarters of a length.

“It was sad and he didn't deserve that,” said jockey Joe Fanning. “Coming round the bend it just happened quickly, it was one of those things.

“He was moving OK and just on the bend, I wasn't 100% happy then he just went. It was one of those things and you couldn't blame the track or anything like that.”

The Barronstown Stud and Mrs. T. Stack-bred retired to stud for the 2017 season at Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland. The Last Lion was later moved to Hedgeholme Stud. His fertility decreased and he was gelded. From just 96 foals over four crops, he had sired 49 runners and 16 winners, with one black-type placed horse to date. Prior to Saturday's engagement, he had been brought back in the spring of 2021 and made three more starts for trainers Mark and Charlie Johnston.

“He was a great horse and he was my first Group 1 winner,” the rider continued. “He was a lovely gentleman of a horse, he was good to do anything with. As a 2-year-old he was a tough horse, he won the Brocklesby then he had about 10 races that year. He was tough as old boots.

“He just seemed to get better the more racing he had as a 2-year-old. That day at Newmarket was great, I wouldn't have retired happy if I hadn't ridden a Group 1 winner, so that was a bit of a relief that day–he was a lovely horse.

“He was an old gentleman and it is sad it has ended like that. He was rusty the first couple of runs since he came back, he missed the kick a couple of times and he was never like that before. He seemed to sharpen up a bit and seemed to be enjoying life.”

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Royal Patronage Camp Leaning Toward The Derby

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who won the G3 Acomb S. and G2 Royal Lodge S. in succession in August and September, respectively, has developed well this winter and is likely to try the G1 Cazoo Derby route, according to co-trainer Charlie Johnston. Eighth in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. on Oct. 23 where he picked up an injury, the bay has been recuperating, but looks more of a “mile-and-a-quarter-plus” horse to Johnston and his co-trainer father Mark. Originally, the training duo had pencilled in a start in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas for the colt.

“We've had lots of excited Highclere owners coming here at regular intervals to see Royal Patronage, who seems to have wintered very well, but it is still very much the early days of his preparation for the season ahead,” said Charlie Johnston. “We won't see him before the Guineas at the absolute earliest and I think we're starting now to lean towards the route of starting in the [G2] Dante [S.] with a Derby run in mind. He's certainly the flagbearer [for the yard] in the 3-year-old division.

“It always sticks in my head that dad has always said the best trial for the Derby is the Guineas and I think, probably going into the winter, we thought we had that as the favourite place for him to start this year.

“Only when we start to do some faster work with him in March will we get a better handle on what distance is going to be optimum for him this season but looking at him, the physical shape and size of the horse now, he's starting to scream a mile-and-a-quarter-plus.”

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