Hayley Turner

It’s been a busy week for me with plenty going on both on and off the track, kicking off last Sunday with a really special day out at Windsor Castle.

I was invited to take part in The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant, along with Steve Drowne, Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore and we had a really fun day.

We got to dress up as if we were going to Royal Ascot and rode in a carriage. The Queen was there and it was a great honour to have been asked to take part.

I was at Wolverhampton on Monday and pleased have a winner for David Griffiths on Sylvia Pankhurst, who was having her first run in the five furlongs maiden fillies’ race.

They went a good gallop from the start, but she travelled beautifully throughout and was running on at the finish, and I think here’s plenty more to come from her.

On Tuesday I was booked to go to Bath, not to ride, but to take part in a photo-shoot with top Irish rider Katie Walsh. She’s a lovely lady and we got on great.

I can’t say too much about what we were doing just now, but it took all day and it meant I couldn’t go to Kempton for the evening meeting to ride my favourite horse Efistorm.

Looking at him in the paddock, you wouldn’t think he was a thoroughbred. He looks more like a pony, but he’s got a great heart and is as genuine as they come.

I had my first ride on him four years ago at Pontefract and he won. He let me down this time, though, as he won without me, but I’m so fond of him that I guess I’ll have to forgive him. He’s 11 now and that was his 23rd win. He is just remarkable and a great credit to Conor Dore.

I’ve got four rides at Newbury today, including a very nice three-year-old filly for The Queen called Momentary in the mile and a quarter listed Swettenham Stud Fillies’ Trial Stakes. She finished fourth first time out in testing ground at Newbury’s ‘Spring Trials’ meeting last month and should improve.

Sir Patrick Moore, my ride in the opening six furlongs maiden, is having his introduction to racing today and I don’t know much about him, but I will be catching up with George Baker to ask him about Greeley House and Bayleyf as he’s ridden both of them.

I will be doing a double stint on Saturday. I travel up to Thirsk where I have four rides in the afternoon and then I’m be off to Doncaster for another two before making my way back to Newmarket.

My best chance on Saturday could be Kashgar in the mile and a half maiden at Thirsk. He got upset in the stalls at Pontefract last time after a decent run at Yarmouth, but he has plenty of ability and I think we can put a line through that.

The weather’s been playing havoc with the racing this week and it was a shame Goodwood was called off on Thursday as I was really looking forward to riding Spirit Of The Law. Fingers crossed Ascot goes ahead on Saturday as I have a good set of rides. The forecast looks bright and breezy.

But first things first as I’m at Lingfield today for five rides. I’ve just spoken to the suspended Luke Morris, who usually rides Instrumentalist. He tells me he’s a nice horse but accepts that this opening classified stakes is a more competitive race so he will need to step up.

His trainer John Best runs Birdie Queen in the next and despite having no form figures beside her name she has set foot on a racecourse, but messed around in the stalls and had to be withdrawn. She has a since passed a stalls test so she will be a lot better behaved.

I’m happy to be riding Best Be Careful for Mark Usher in the five-furlong handicap. His horses are running well, and whenever he does put me up I usually do well for him. Otherwise, I think Opus Maximus has an each-way shout in the handicap over a mile. Conor Dore gave me the choice of rides, as he also runs Satwa Laird.

On to Ascot on Saturday and one I’ll pick out is Tameen, who runs in the Listed race for Ed Dunlop, whose horses are running well. I sat on her this morning and she’s uncomplicated. She was unlucky last time, as the bit slipped, which is a bit of a freak, but she came fourth at this level last season and it doesn’t look the hottest of Listed races.

I reckon I’ve got a great chance of landing the big race, the Victoria Cup on King Of Jazz. He had a nice re-introduction at Doncaster last month and should be spot on for this. I think my housemate Amy Weaver has a chance of training her biggest winner to date with Tariq Too. I know she’s pretty hopeful.

Unfortunately for Amy, she won’t be enjoying any success on Sunday, as she lines up for a racing women’s XI, who take on Tottenham Ladies at Newmarket for Racing Welfare. She’s in goal, and Laura Pike is also playing, who is the most competitive person I know, so I think it could all end in tears!

I saw them training the other day and they all just charge around the pitch following the ball wherever it goes. It was hilarious! They’re taking on a professional outfit and I’m predicting a 40-0 thumping.
Actually, make that 42-0! It’s at Kennett Recreation Ground and gates open at 11.30am, so if you’re in the area, then come along!

It was a shame I couldn’t get up to Chester this week and it seems like I wouldn’t have got a look-in anyway as the jumps boys are taking over. Donald McCain is some trainer, and it was also great to see Graham Lee ride a double. Those wins will get him noticed and show to people he’s making the adjustment to the Flat brilliantly. I’ve only met him a couple of times, but he seems a nice guy and I think the winners will start to flow now. I see he’s now only evens (from 7-4 with William Hill) to ride 50 winners this season.

It’s been a pretty pleasing start to the season so far and I didn’t expect to be in double figures by the end of April and there’s already a lot to be excited about.

I can’t remember the last time I won a race by 11 lengths but that was the winning margin for Suraj at Doncaster on Saturday. It was only his second start and he’d clearly come on a lot from his debut at Newmarket.

I had to give him a couple of smacks but the penny dropped and it soon all clicked for him. He’s owned and bred by Sariska’s owner Lady Bamford and can certainly go on to bigger and better things.

I also had my first Group 1 ride of the season last week, when coming fourth on Wigmore Hall in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp. It was a very breezy, drying day which made the soft ground very sticky and holding and he got stuck in the mud. He couldn’t quicken like we all know he can. The winner though, Cirrus Des Aigles, simply goes from strength to strength and surely will be the one they
all have to beat in the top middle-distance races this season.

Margot headlines Newmarket rides

I don’t have a ride in either of the Classics this weekend but it’s still nice to be part of the two-day meeting and go there with chances.

I ride three on Saturday, including my old favourite Margot Did in the (Pearl Bloodstock) Palace House Stakes. She found the ground too quick inDubai. She handles most types of ground but it was like a road that day. She ran well enough though to suggest she will be competitive again in the top
sprints this season, but everything needs to fall her way – like with most printers – and you’re never quite sure when their day is! She wears a tongue-tie, having worked well in it the other day.

An interesting ride is Danadana for Luca Cumani in the nine-furlong handicap. He was last seen coming fifth at Royal Ascot and has a light weight, which is no doubt why I’m riding, and Luca’s always have to be respected in these type of races. I don’t ride that much for Luca but I remember he very kindly put me up on one to help me when I was chasing the apprentice title a
few years back now.

My other ride on Saturday is Gold Lace for Ed Dunlop, who I won for at the weekend. She comes over from Ireland with some decent juvenile form behind her, and Ed’s horses are in cracking form.

I’m not sure about my confirmed rides for Sunday, at the time of writing, but I am jocked up for Primevere for Roger Charlton. I rode her to win a Listed race at Salisbury last season. She’s a filly who will improve with age and I’m very interested to see how she gets on in the Group 3 (Qatar Bloodstock) Dahlia Stakes.

Let me help you get Racing UK for free!

I am not in a Group 1 race this weekend but Racing UK is doing a promotion this Flat season whereby if I ride a Group 1 winner, then new subscribers can have the whole of their annual subscription refunded. I think that’s £240.

I obviously rode two Group 1 races last year, but it will be a tough ask to match that. One thing’s for sure though I’ll be going all out this season and will be keeping my eye firmly on the ball.

I had a great ride at Lingfield yesterday on Chjimes! It was his 13th win there so he really likes it, one more win and he’ll hold the record! Come on Chjimes!

It’s been a slowish start to the season – as I said last week – but I definitely can’t
complain as I’ve picked up a Group 1 ride in France on Sunday.

I’m on Wigmore Hall in the Prix Ganay, which is great news although it looks a red-hot race.
Cirrus Des Aigles, who won the Champion Stakes and then the Dubai Sheema
Classic last month, will be very hard to beat.

I saw So You Think was in the entries, but he’s not running now, which is a shame in a way
as he would have had a pacemaker, which would have really helped Wigmore Hall.
Those familiar with the horse will know he doesn’t break from the stalls that
well so has to be dropped in and needs a strong pace to make his challenge.

He ran a solid race to come fourth behind Cityscape in Dubai, especially when you consider he
was drawn widest of all the runners. He was a little unlucky in that respect
although I don’t think anyone would have got close to the winner that day.
Speaking of Group 1 races, Racing UK will announce a very interesting promotion
next week – make sure you look out for it!

Three rides at Doncaster on Friday

On to the more immediate future, I have three rides at Doncaster on Friday. I have won on
Spirit Of The Law before but he was rated 51 then and is now 71, but will need
to up his game to take this, while I’ve also won on Bouncy Bouncy, who will
love the ground and is in cracking form so will have a chance.

Creme can rise to the top on Saturday

I’m at Doncaster again on Saturday, and Suraj deserves a mention in the mile and a half maiden.
He looks a good type and will improve for his fifth at Newmarket last week.

I won on Miss Aix at Warwick earlier in the month in good style. The track and ground will
suit her, the form is there for all to see, and she has a decent chance of
following up in the closing handicap.

I think Creme Anglaise will run well too in the 10-furlong handicap. She has developed
through the winter and will be a stronger horse this season and I think the
time off the track as done her good.

That said, John Maxse might be the person to ask. The BHA’s PR man rides her out and is at the
guv’nor’s twice a week so seems part of the furniture now. It’s a good team
there and breakfast is always a laugh.

One important team member is Ian Burns, the apprentice at the yard. He’s just come back from
Gai Waterhouse in Australia and like Creme Anglaise, seems to have really
developed and strengthened up. Working overseas can really advance your career
and I know my time at Godolphin in Dubai and then with Tom Amoss in New Orleans
helped me no end.

Burns can make mark this season

As you can imagine Ian is desperate to get cracking but I’ve told Ian that the rides will
come and not to try and force the issue, especially at this time of the season.
I know Jamie (Spencer) has been helping Ian too, and has been to the British
Racing School with him and given him some tips there.

He’s a name to watch out for anyway.

Have a good weekend!