DOLCE COURAGE

This Siyouni colt has a small element of risk attached but he has a significant upside!

He was purchased for just 8,000gns yesterday at the Tattersalls HIT sale and he will be lining up in some valuable races throughout the winter on the all weather surfaces.

After being unbeaten in two decent novices at three, he’s been off the track for a prolonged period of time due to a wind operation and some immaturity in his knees. He is totally sound now and his work was good going into his reappearance at Kempton which came in a highly competitive London Mile Series qualifier, just seven days before his purchase date.

We had plenty of owners looking to train this horse but we’ve been keen to do something with James Horton for a while and we felt at Newmarket was a good home for him.

James’ vet was very happy with him at the sales and he’s settled into his new home very well. James asked his vet to check over all his purchases from the week again this morning and he’s trotted up sound and feels in great shape, so we can crack on!

Our end goal is the all weather finals day at Newcastle (March), there’s a £150k mile handicap at a track we think will suit him down to the ground, to do so he must run three times in the coming months.

  On debut, he beat Vultar who coincidentally sold for £52,000 this week. 

Vultar currently has an official rating of 93 and we were comfortably better than him on debut, depsute Vultar having plenty of experience going into the race. 

We quickened well off an extremely slow pace (Finishing speed of 113%!) to go past the field despite showing evident signs of greenness and the trip being sort of our optimum.

  He would then go on to concede a penalty to Juddmonte’s Leadman at Newcastle, a horse who peaked with an official rating of 88 and was a talented individual in his own right. 

The step up to a mile and the straight track seemed to bring about some improvement yet pointing towards there was more to come.

  After a colossal 358 days off the track, Dolce reappeared last week at Kempton over the mile.

Despite that break, he was sent off just 3/1 such was the level of work at home and his apparent good mark. 

After being a little scruffy from the gates, we found ourselves further back that ideal especially the way Kempton is riding at the moment. That coupled with the fact that the finishing speed was over 110% means it’s a remarkable effort for anything to get into the race.

Mortlake the other horse who managed to feature late in the day also sold this week, for £120,000!

We are ready to run should that be required and we'll consider the options below for 2024 before we have a look at the all weather final's trial dates in January and February with £45k handicaps at both.

His options in 2024 include:

12th Nov Southwell 0-90 1m 15k

20th Nov Kempton 0-105 1m 25k

6th Dec Newcastle 0-90 1m 15k

12th Dec Chelmsford 0-105 1m 25k 

18th Dec Kempton 0-90 1m 15k