Exciting weeks in store as juveniles look promising
| Published date | 26 May 2021 |
| Publication title | Weekender |
"He is a very exciting first-season sire and will always be held in the highest regard here having enjoyed a golden summer in 2016, winning the 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes for us.
"I'm excited about the youngsters who look very promising and
my job is to keep them healthy and produce them spot on at the right moment."
Palmer is keen on increasing the quality rather than the quantity and believes he has done just that this year. He says: "The older horses look strong this season and our Classic generation have some very promising ones among their number."
He is happy with how the stable has weathered Covid and the subsequent economic fallout for his team, but is concerned the prize-money issue is getting out of hand, describing it as "disgraceful".
He says: "Last year we won the Northumberland Plate with a £25,000 first prize, yet Alan King won it 12 months earlier picking up almost £92,000.
"I know we seem to complain endlessly about prize-money but it has become increasingly serious and it has to be tackled urgently. I have been very fortunate to have the backing of some very supportive owners, but things have to change for the future of the sport."
Despite these concerns Palmer is full of optimism for his team and believes "the next few weeks could be quite exciting for us".
Older horses Acquitted 4 bb g Night Of Thunder - Blameless I have been a little frustrated with him as after he ran very well on his debut this season in the
Spring Mile at Doncaster we went to Ascot hoping for a bold show in the Victoria Cup, but it never happened. I know we can improve on that and we may try him in some headgear next. He doesn't want fast ground, which is not going to be a problem for now so we will go to Royal Ascot with either the Buckingham Palace or the Royal Hunt Cup as possible targets.
Doubling Dice 4 br g Teofilo - Garanciere A lightly raced horse who did well last season, winning back-to-back races at Hamilton and Haydock, both over 1m4f. He had a wind operation over the winter as he was a big horse and I will be disappointed if he does not significantly improve this season. He has done tremendously well and is coming to himself now. Golden Pass 4 b f Golden Horn - Lovely Pass Another who has very few miles on the clock but she is definitely going the right way. I was delighted with how well she won on her comeback at Thirsk as the form is working out well, but she takes her races very hard. She came back in looking tired, lost weight and went off her feed, but she is back cantering now and obviously with a rating of 92 we have to be looking towards some black type. I am looking at either the Chalice or Aphrodite Stakes, both 1m4f contests for fillies and mares, for her next race. As we have to be so easy on her after each race we basically have to start from scratch, but I shouldn't complain as she puts so much into her races.
Margaret Dumont
4 b f Camelot - Sapphire Waters She joined us this year from Mark Johnston and is a lovely filly. She won at Chelmsford in April but then ran no race at Doncaster last time, but came back in season, which explained that performance. She has plenty of stamina and I think there is more to come.
Power Of States 5 b g Lope De...
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