Performance Review
August 2022
August was a solid month for the Rathbride team as we emerged with three winners and plenty of placed runners over the past few weeks.
The month got off to a great start thanks to a smart performance from Queen Of Ours in a two-year-old maiden at Sligo. She's a tough and hardy filly, and I thought it was a good effort from her to jump out and do it all from the front. I was delighted to get a winner on the board for Renzo and Raffaello Forni, who have had some lovely horses with us over the years.
A smart performance from Queen of Ours at Sligo
Believeinmiracles wasn't winning out of turn when getting her head in front at Gowran in a fillies' maiden for the Niarchos family. Nathan was very good on her from an outside draw and I was pleased with the way she
Believeinmiracles gets her head in front at Gowran
We also had a lovely first-time-out winner for Godolphin at Navan when Marcher Lord came from a very wide draw to win a mile maiden. I think he'll be a lovely horse going forward and hopefully he could continue to improve next year.
It was a cracking run from Insinuendo when second to Luxembourg in the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh. We were delighted to get her back out again after a break and she did us proud. When you're fighting out with a Group 1 horse as well established as the winner, you really can't complain.
Marcher Lord wins for Godolphin at Navan
Cigamia picked up another chunk of black type when runner-up in the Listed Platinum Stakes at Cork. It was her first start against older geldings and I think she's another who is only beginning to really mature into herself as the months go on.
Leopardstown seems to suit Morning Approach and she ran well runner-up there in a competitive fillies' handicap after getting a bit further back than ideal. I think a nice, level track plays to her strengths.
Sceolan wasn't beaten far when third in a five-furlong maiden at Tipperary, and hopefully she can get her turn when heading to Down Royal for a similar race next month, while Cnodian was another to put up two fine efforts in defeat, finishing third at Gowran and just touched off in second at the Curragh. She's probably paying for going up in the handicap earlier in the year when winning at Limerick but always runs her heart out for Rory and Noeleen O'Toole.
We also had Mogwli run a fine race under Jessica Maye at the Curragh in a six-furlong handicap. He continues to be a grand horse for the apprentices to build up experience on and learn.
There were plenty of positives to take from how the horses have been running throughout the last month. Hopefully we can keep firing on all cylinders and see out the year strongly as we head into the autumn.