1 August 2010: What a weekend for Robins Farm Racing Stables! Our first GROUP winner and the narrowest, unluckiest, of defeats in a LISTED race.

SHIMMERING SURF would have won at Newbury today had she not lost vital momentum when being baulked as she started her run (the other jockey being banned for careless riding); it is generally acknowledged that she would have won in the next stride or two. But that's racing!

She is a progressive filly but needs to be wound up in a long finishing straight to produce her best. By the great DANEHILL DANCER she can act on firmer ground but prefers cut, which has been as elusive as the Loch Ness monster this year. We are beginning to dream!

TROPICAL PARADISE won over the tricky 7 furlongs at Goodwood for the second time this Season. And  amazingly at odds of 20/1 & 16/1 respectively. The second, quite comfortable, win on Friday was preceded by a place in a LISTED race at Pontefract and it fulfilled "two" of my dreams :

(i) to win at GLORIOUS Goodwood, my local & favourite track &
(ii) to win a PATTERN race, in this case GROUP 3, incidentally beating the Queen's horse & then the Henry Cecil disqualified 1000 Guineas" winner".

This prestigious win is a huge boost to the Yard and reflects the highest credit on Anton & our loyal & experienced Team, particularly Annalea Parker who rides her & looks after her. I have been inundated with slaps on the back & email messages of congratulations. This lovely grey filly is also only the ninth Pattern winner for her sire,  the consistent stallion VERGLAS, & like many of his stock is another who will do even better with cut.  She is likely to remain in training next year but meanwhile we have our eye on the 7f GROUP 3 at Goodwood (again!!) on Aug Bank Holiday amongst some other interesting alternatives.