Coakley News

• Hoornblower sets a better sail at Kempton

  28 September 2023

  On Tuesday Hoornblower was entered for the Ben Woollacott Memorial Handicap at Kempton Park, a very competitive mile event. Drawn wide out, jockey Rob Hornby was obliged to take him back after the break, with the prime objective of getting him some cover and to settle into his race as he has been much too keen in the past. This he did very well, but it meant that with a stiff gallop from the leaders throughout he was some way back entering the straight. Rob did manage to get him into top gear in the final quarter mile, however, and this time he finished off his race strongly to be beaten under five lengths back in sixth place. This augurs well for him building for the future and showing some more of his true ability on course next time out.

• Bobby Kennedy back in the places with a fine run

  24 September 2023

  Denis and all the Coakleys were delighted with the Kempton race - a great run from Bobby Kennedy and a great ride from Oisin Murphy. They just met one too good in the race, with Stuart Kittow's charge proving to be a very well handicapped horse after a lightly raced profile. He was able to get first run on the field, and Bobby Kennedy had to settle for second this time, after easing through the pack from midfield and finishing his race strongly. This confirmed that Bobby retains his racing ability and he surely has every chance of a win next time out.

• Too much water for Waterloo Sunset and My Ambition squeezed out of the places

  17 September 2023

  Last Tuesday the rain didn't stop falling all morning at Leicester, so that by the time of the race for Waterloo Sunset the ground had become very soft. The Adaay gelding just couldn't quicken up out of this going and finished only fourth this time. A return to Lingfield is likely on the cards now, where has run so well in the past. At Bath on Wednesday My Ambition ran another very good race, breaking and settling well for Charlie Bishop, who was pleased with the way in which he travelled, with very good rhythm tracking the race leaders with Joe Fanning setting the fractions. He was still in a very prominent position and going well at the distance, looking to be set for the frame just a length or so back, but he then got stopped in his run in the closing stages by rivals from both sides squeezing him up. This left him pushed back to seventh place in a blanket finish, where he was still beaten under three lengths by the same winner as the last day for the father-son trainer-jockey Loughnane pairing. He will be aimed at a couple more races this season, so it is hoped that he will be able to get his head back in front once again for the Harrow Racing Club and owner Barbara Coakley.

• Very good debut at Salisbury and going very close at Kempton

  12 September 2023

  Denis and owner Chris van Hoorn were very pleased wih the debut run of Sweet Sister, their Iffraaj filly, in a warm seven furlong race at Salisbury last week, The Quidhampton Maiden Fillies Stakes is always a target for the highest rated two year old fillies from top local yards, with the Beckett and Hannon charges impressive this year. Sweet Sister moved well through the race and finished off nicely to be seventh under Oisin Murphy, who believes that she will come on a lot for this first run.

  At Kempton over a mile Golden Phase looked to back up her Bath win, and ran a very good race indeed to come a fast finishing second, beaten just over a length. She travelled nicely in midfield for Kieran Shoemark, and looked to move up from seventh turning in to the straight. She switched first left and then abruptly right a little after the cutaway to find a clear run through, and she then showed very good speed inside the final furlong to clear away from two rivals for the places. Unfortunately she had lost a front shoe during the race, without which she might have had her follow up win, and another prominent showing should be on the cards next time for the Gustav Klimt filly and West Ilsley Platinum.

• Round up of recent runners from the yard

  07 September 2023

  My Ambition  went back to Bath even though the ground had been on the soft side of good for a spell, and he ran another very good race, just hitting the front a bit too soon so that he was vulnerable to late closers, finishing fifth, and on the same card Wonder Starelzaam ran no kind of race, fading very tamely after having taken on the leaders before the half way mark and he is now due a break from racing for a good while.
  

  At Kempton on the all weather both Miss Dubai and Milvus got a little too far back in their fields, but both finished off very well to be close up and hopefully they can do better still another day. Lisdarragh ran a fine race to finish a very close fifth at Windsor this week, and jockey Rob Hornby said that he just got stopped in making his run at a vital point, when he was getting going to mount a serious challenge to the leaders. Next time he should be right there if things go his way.

  Party Island had a wide draw at Goodwood which made things difficult for him, and with no cover Oisin Murphy was obliged to go forward from a wide position to take up the going up to the top of the hill. He was then in front much too early as they ran downhill into the straight, which is not the best way for him to race and by the latter stages he had dropped back to finish seventh in a competitive handicap.

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