At the half way stage last month (see previous diary post), we had seven winners and I hoped for seven more.

As it turned out, we equalled our best ever month, training twenty winners.

New Mandate won the Group 2 Royal Lodge in impressive fashion off a funereal early gallop. He has been a star this year, and it is possible that he could go to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. As a gelding he is ineligible for Group 1’s in Europe until July next year, so making hay now seems prudent.

Antonia de Vega got first run on Alpinista in the Group 3 Princess Royal at Newmarket. Throughout her career she has had various physical issues, but she keeps pulling out more, and is likely to go for the Group 1 Fillies and Mares on Champions Day.

Lullaby Moon won the listed Redcar 2yo Trophy on Saturday. The soft ground suited her perfectly, and she pulled out every stop, having been third in the Group 3 Firth of Clyde a fortnight earlier. She too has a wonderful attitude, and although there is not much of her, I would not rule out her going again this year.

Prince Alex racked up the four timer at Haydock, Lucander ran a screamer to be second in the Cambridgeshire, as did Albaflora in the Noel Murless. Breath Caught was impressive in a 9f handicap at Newmarket, Lady Sansa and Buriram doubled up at Chester, and Impatient finally got his head in front again at Wolverhampton.