Coakley News

Phoenix Moon goes so very close at Lingfield Park

24 April 2025

The Keeper's 12 syndicate went very close indeed to yet another victory with their long line of successful horses trained by Denis. Phoenix Moon returned to the scene of her last victory in November, under the same jockey Tyler Heard. This time they had the significant disadvantage of being drawn nine of nine runners, which meant that despite breaking well, Phoenix Moon was obliged to take an outside course throughout the race. Inevitably this meant that she had to run a good bit further than her other rivals around the tight track, and yet she moved up into strong contention early in the straight. Tyler felt that she finished off her six furlong race very strongly, and in a driving finish up against lead horses under Tom Queally and David Egan, this time Tyler just came up short in the photo finish - with Phoenix Moon beaten just two heads into third place. The time of the race was quite good, and the finishing speed that Phoenix Moon showed to close out the run confirms that she is looking stronger and just as speedy at the start of her four year old campaign. The grey filly took the race very well and is sure to be out again quite soon, hoping for a better draw and run of the race to reward her excited connections.
Two good runs on Epsom Downs including a WIN FOR TRIBAL RHYTHM !

23 April 2025

Both Connie Moon, Chris van Hoorn's filly, and Tribal Rhythm, owned by Una Loughrey, headed for Epsom yesterday afternoon to contest good class 4 handicaps over a mile and half a furlong. Under Hollie Doyle, Connie Moon was held up towards the rear of the field and then progressively made up ground in the home straight, to finish very well indeed and run past the favourite inside the last hundred yards. This was a run of real promise to get 2025 underway for her, and the Sea The Moon filly clearly has a lot to look forward to this season.
Tom Marquand took the ride on Tribal Rhythm and also bided his time, racing behind half a dozen in the early stages and coming down the hill well. Seeming to handle the track really comfortably throughout, Tribal Rhythm was brought to the outside for the final quarter mile, and always looked to be going best of all. Tom then brought him past the two leaders with immaculate timing inside the final fulong, to make a decisive run and win by a length and a half. Owners Una and Peter are clearly delighted to have made such a great start to the season, and the nature of this win suggests that Tribal Rhythm could fulfil the potential they saw when purchasing him last year.
Easter ground remains too lively at Bath for yard fillies

22 April 2025

The ground at Bath on Sunday was much too fast for both Miss Dubai and Peace First on Sunday. After a long break from racing Miss Dubai wouldn't let herself down onto the ground at all, and she can do much better next time. On her first run Chris van Hoorn's homebred filly Peace First did very well in the circumstances to be only ten lengths away in her race, and she will look to fare better on nicer ground next time.
Party Island runs another fine Lingfield race

19 April 2025

The first race on the valuable Good Friday card at Lingfield was a highly competitive sixteen runner apprentice handicap over twelve furlongs. George Bass was once again in the saddle on Party Island with a central draw. Coming down the straight first time he lost a little ground on the field and had to find a wider position than ideal, but along the back straight he made a big forward move to race in third, going well. George then decided to take Party Island to the front fully three furlongs from home and leading the stacking field into the home turn. From that point he still was in third place right until the half furlong pole, and only then did he lose places in the final run to the line. Ultimately sixth, but beaten only two and a half lengths, this was a very good run from Tony Killoran's Tagula gelding who was in search of a major prize for his tenth race win.
SHARMA D'AMOUR TRIUMPHS ON HER FIRST STEP INTO HANDICAP COMPANY

11 April 2025

Mrs Christine Young's venture into racehorse ownership got off to the best possible start at Lingfield yesterday afternoon, with her three year old Shaman filly taking out the last race of the card over a mile, under a confident and accomplished ride from George Bass. Sharma d'Amour broke very well from the six stall, and after leading in the early srtides George took her back behind some cover to race in third. Always ready on the quarters of the two leaders from the top of the track, she was comfortably positioned in third as they came down the hill and into the last turn. At this point, when the pace picked up and the Johnston lead horse fell away quickly, George took Sharma forward at the top of the straight three wide. Pushing her out he was readily two lengths clear of rivals, and Sharma ran on well right through the final furlong to win by just a length from the favourite, who made a late closing effort but was never there to offer a challenge. Denis has trained Sharma d'Amour to make significant progress with each of her runs, and the win was a real thrill for Chris Young after Sharma's two runs at two and her third run for a mark just a month back. There is much to look forward to in handcaps in the coming months, and the filly gives the impression that she could be quite versatile in trip, as well as a very progressive prospect. George Bass has now ridden out his three pound claim with this win, and many have commented that he is riding better than ever this term, to the delight of all connections.