NEWS 

It was a promising debut run for Jessie Harrington's Gold Maze at The Curragh last Friday evening. Bought for 550,000gns at Tattersalls Book 1 last October, he was the most expensive Golden Horn to be sold at auction last year. Finishing 5th of 16 runners in what looked a hot maiden with some expensive and well bred horses on show. It was encouraging to see him finish best of the newcomers as the 4 in front of him all had the benefit of experience and he looks certain to come on bundles for the run after being green and slightly outpaced before staying on strongly towards the finish. His future definitely lies over further and what he does as a two year old can only be a bonus as he's sure to get better with time and age. He is by Golden Horn and a second foal out of our Galileo mare Astonishing. She has a Showcasing yearling on the ground and is currently in foal to Dark Angel. Hopefully Gold Maze can progress further and continue to strengthen the family for Astonishing going forward. Gold Maze is also a third runner bred by AppleTree Stud. Our other two runners Three Weeks is rated in the 90s and Funny Man is a multiple winner who is still progressing and Gold Maze looks sure to get Astonishing off the mark before long.

Funny Man Redcar ROBERT (CHOC) THORTON Racing/Stud manager Funny Man Bids To Regain The Winning Thread At Redcar Funny Man heads to Redcar on Saturday evening for the 6:30 Market Cross Jewellers Handicap 1m6f. He is making a relatively quick return after finishing 3rd at Ripon last Saturday. David is very happy with him since then and he is confident that he is not too exposed and can improve further yet. Daniel Tudhope takes the ride [...]

Three Weeks made his reappearance in the Bet Totescoop6 At Totesport.com handicap at Chelmsford on Friday night. Ridden by David Probert he was put in a handy position in 2nd throughout and travelled well until the final 3 furlongs where he was ultimately a spent force turning for home. He was entitled to need this race after a lengthy break, he is clearly a better horse around Southwell so we will be heading back there and it looks like his future lies abroad. He is safe and well and hopefully he can continue to progress further with a bit more time. Funny Man's winning sequence came to and end on Saturday afternoon when finishing 3rd in the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap at Ripon. Ridden by Daniel Tudhope he was held up in the early stages and was on and off the bridle throughout, which has been his style of racing for much of this season. When brought wide turning for home for a clear run, Funny Man struggled to handle the ridges and contours of Ripon and this big and long striding horse struggled to pick up at a vital stage in the race. However, he has still ran a mighty race and finished strongly to push for second at the line. There a signs there that Funny Man has still not finished progressing yet and hopefully he can regain the winning thread soon.

Funny Man bids for the four timer on Saturday afternoon at Ripon in the 4:55 William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap. He steps back down in trip to 1m4f following his victory at Lingfield last time, he was workmanlike that day only getting on top inside the final furlong. Hopefully he will have learnt plenty for that hard fought win. Funny Man is now running off a 16lb higher mark than when he started his winning sequence and even though things are going to get tougher for him we are hopeful he can continue to progress and rate higher yet. David Nolan rides and hopefully he can extend his winning sequence.