The yard is still buzzing after the victory of BLUESTOCKING in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and we are delighted to send her off for a broodmare career as a three-time Group 1 winner. She’s always had a terrific constitution and good mind, but that extra physical maturity got her over the line this season whereas she was knocking on the door last year. Three key members of staff here deserve a special mention - assistant Gary Plasted, regular work rider Josie Mansell and the filly’s groom Eric Ngwane. When you're running a horse that often, it makes it harder at home because you have to pick your moments as to when you turn the screw. My team did a brilliant job with her and I'm proud of them for that. The reason she reached the heights was because she was managed in the best possible way by those closest to her. Another reason why it worked so well was that owners Juddmonte never put any pressure on the way we campaigned or trained her. At no point was my hand forced. We were able to make decisions based on her at every point, and that was why she got as far as she did. On a personal level it gave me great satisfaction and pride as the Arc was the race I most wanted to win apart from the Derby. It’s Europe’s number one all-aged middle-distance race and also coveted by Japan, another top breeding and racing jurisdiction. It meant an awful lot to my family and friends as well as others connected to the stable, both current and previous - I received congratulatory messages from people I hadn’t had any dealings with for years.

I’m pleased to report thatKINROSS remains with us and will race next season as an eight-year-old, a remarkable prospect considering he has been dining at the top table since his juvenile days. He couldn’t quite get it done on Arc day, finishing second again in the Prix de la Foret, but it was still a top effort behind a high-class, three-year-old filly getting all the weight allowances. His record in the race reads 4122 and don’t be surprised to see him having another crack at it next year! He wasn’t beaten far in the Champions Sprint at Ascot subsequently, but six furlongs is probably a bit short for him at his age.

STARLUST was in the process of running a big race in the Prix de l’Abbaye before getting tightened up badly on the rail. It was a traumatic experience for him but we’ve looked after him at home and he should go to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in good shape. It’s a tight five furlongs round Del Mar, so we’ll be hoping for a low draw, which unfortunately Kinross didn’t get when a fast-finishing close third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland two years ago.

DOHA was a comfortable winner of the Prix Dahlia at Saint-Cloud early this month and ran as though the race came too soon when down the field in the Champions Fillies & Mares at Ascot a fortnight later. It was her seventh run in five months and we look forward to welcoming her back as a relatively low-mileage five-year-old next season. Beautifully bred, she remains an exciting prospect.

It was a case of job done with LADY BOBA landing the Pride Stakes at Newmarket recently. Successful in Listed company last backend, she now heads to the December Sales as a Group 3 winner and Group 2-placed.

We’ve always thought a lot of ALBANY, so it was no surprise to see her overcome a long absence in handicap company at Nottingham a couple of weeks ago. She’s got a high-class pedigree and the next step up could be the ten-furlong Listed fillies’ race at Doncaster on November Handicap day.

The feature event there is on the agenda for VALVANO, who should take a step forward from his recent York third. He’s had a truncated season due to a rib problem, but that was a promising effort on handicap debut having only his fourth career start. His pedigree offers plenty of encouragement for the step up to a mile and a half.

We are hoping FOREST FAIRY can end her campaign as she started it following her recent comeback third at Bath. Winner of the Cheshire Oaks in early May, she lost her form in the summer and needed a holiday. It was a decent enough return in heavy ground upped to 1m6f and she’s pencilled in for the Prix Solitude at Saint-Cloud next month. The drop back in trip should suit.

An Oaks trial could await SANDTRAP next spring. Easy winner of a Salisbury maiden on her debut, she lost nothing in defeat behind a filly who appeared to relish testing conditions in the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville this week. A return to better ground will suit and being a late foal, she can be expected to improve a fair bit next year.

I’ll be looking at a Derby trial for STARZINTHEIREYES following his Zetland Stakes win at Newmarket. He saw out the mile and a quarter well and is a good-looking colt with loads of size and scope.

Epsom hopes are also to the fore with STANHOPE GARDENS, who was narrowly denied by a well-backed Aidan O’Brien favourite in the Autumn Stakes at HQ. Another late foal, he’s very much one for next year when he could kick off in the Dante.