Mighty Ulysses back to winning ways

It has been a few days since updating the Diary. The Newmarket July meeting kicked off on Thursday and it was pleasing to see Top 40 entry Mighty Ulysses register his second win of the season in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes. The John & Thady Gosden trained colt had been beaten less than a length in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes and he appreciated the drop in class. Frankie Dettori was looking for a lead during the first half of the race but found himself in the middle of the track without any cover. However, he stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to win comfortably by a length and a half. His next appearance is expected to be in the Group 3 Thoroughbreds Stakes at Goodwood (29th July) and is viewed as a smart four year old prospect for next season. 

Walks of Stars finished last in the Epsom Derby on his most recent start and was subsequently gelded. Returning to action in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy, he held every chance in the closing stages missing out narrowly behind Deauville Legend. Beaten a head and short head, he didn't do a great deal wrong and is capable of gaining compensation at a similar level later in the year. James Ferguson's winner is a progressive type who I had tipped in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot when denied by a head by another Godolphin runner Secret State. The further he goes, the better he looks. 

I was working at Carlisle on Thursday and spoke to Kevin Stott who partners the lightly raced Hala Hala Athmani in the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York on Friday. Returning from an absence of 272 days, the half-sister to Group 1 winning sprinter Hello Youmzain was beaten less than four lengths in the Commonwealth Cup last month. Kevin reported that Kevin Ryan's filly has come on for the run and said she is a big filly who takes a lot of getting fit. I am therefore expecting the three year old to go well on the Knavesmire.