Middleham Park Racing syndicates enjoyed a successful week during the All-Weather Championships, headed by the victory of Clarendon House at Wolverhampton on November 22.
Making his first appearance since a gelding operation, Clarendon House looked back on song as he annexed a five-furlong class two handicap by a length and a quarter.
Trainer Robert Cowell has made no secret of the regard in which he holds the 105-rated five-year-old, who contested both the G2 King George Stakes and G1 Nunthorpe Stakes in 2022.
Tim Palin, Director of Racing for Middleham Park, said: “I think the gelding operation has worked a treat for Clarendon House. We were not sure what to expect going into the race as he had never raced around a bend before or on the all-weather. It was a bit of an experiment and thankfully it has paid dividends.
“In fairness to Robert, he has wanted to geld him for about a year but, while he was on the cusp of being a Group horse and therefore a potential stallion prospect, we held fire for as long as we dared. Whether he can finally develop into a Group performer, time will tell, but he is a very useful handicapper at the very least.
“The plan is to go to Southwell on December 21 for another handicap. I think the track will suit his running style as he likes to be up on the speed. Then that will tell us where we go next. Finals Day is certainly something we are thinking about, as well as races in Dubai and Qatar. He would need a third qualifying run after Southwell and something like the Hever Sprint at Lingfield could be an option.”
Progressive juvenile Alfred has won both of his starts for Middleham Park and trainer George Boughey since being purchased at the horses-in-training sale in October.
The son of 2018 Sprint champion City Light scored over a mile at Newcastle on November 19 and followed up four days later in another nursery at Wolverhampton, earning a 15lb rise in the handicap.
Palin said: “Sam Haggas [bloodstock agent] recommended Alfred on the final day of the horses-in-training sale – he was his standout of the day. We paid 25,000 guineas, which was about 5,000 more than we hoping, but at the minute it looks money well spent. He did not get the run of the race at Newcastle but was still able to get the job done. Then he improved again up in trip at Wolverhampton.
“He is up to a rating of 84 now and I think we are entitled to consider some sexier races. There is a 0-85 at Chelmsford on December 14 that we are looking at next. He qualifies for French premiums, so that is something we would like to explore as well.
“The original plan was to buy him in October, win a couple of races, and then re-present him for sale in February, but if he continues the way he is going, we may decide to keep him.”
Palin also nominated Silky Wilkie (Karl Burke), a dual Listed runner-up on turf this year, and recent Wolverhampton scorer Leap Abroad (Paul & Oliver Cole) as two other Middleham Park runners to look out for during the All-Weather Championships.
He said: “Silkie Wilkie has been a brilliant horse for us. He progressed well on the all-weather last winter and carried that on to the turf. He will be back on the racecourse in January, with a view to getting him qualified for Newcastle. With the switch to handicaps, Finals Day is not about being rated 112 anymore, it is about being in form and reasonably handicapped.
“It was nice to see Leap Abroad return to winning ways at Wolverhampton and the handicapper has only put him 1lb to 81. He has run well off marks in the late eighties before, so he still looks well handicapped. He was just touched off at Lingfield’s Good Friday fixture a couple of years ago and I would think that will be his target again.”
Elsewhere, Doctor Khan Junior is a horse going places for Geoff Oldroyd after taking a seven-furlong Wolverhampton handicap by three and a half lengths. The five-year-old is two from two during this season’s championships, having also scored over seven furlongs at Newcastle last month.
Irish trainer Gordon Elliott sent out his first winner at Lingfield Park as Coachello came from last to first in a seven-furlong class two handicap. Coachello was runner-up at same course in November, 2022, before graduating to Listed success in Dubai last winter.
Two-year-olds Billy Webster (George Scott), Habrdi (Jane Chapple-Hyam) and Word Play (Sir Michael Stoute) could develop into a Finals Day contenders after impressive nursery victories at Wolverhampton last week.
Billy Loughnane continued his excellent start to the campaign on the George Scott-trained Prydwen at the same track. Loughnane has moved on to 22 winners for the season, with Rossa Ryan next best on 16.
