Denton Hall News

Dods dreaming of more Group 1 success as new turf flat season dawns

MICHAEL Dods has been no stranger to Group 1 success in recent times thanks to the exploits of flying fillies Mecca’s Angel and Mabs Cross.

And the experienced County Durham trainer goes into the new turf flat season with high hopes of more success at the highest grade with stable standard-bearers Azure Blue and Commanche Falls.

Azure Blue, owned by Anne Elliott and Peter Appleton, showed real star quality at the start of last season, winning a Newmarket listed race in May and followed up by outgunning the legendary Highfield Princess in the Group 2 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York.

Sadly, the grey filly’s tilt at emulating Mecca’s Angel in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York had to be called off on the eve of the race due to a minor foot injury.

She came back for the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket but didn’t fire behind Julie Camacho’s Shaquille and didn’t run again after being found to be suffering with ulcers.

However, Dods was in upbeat mood earlier today, confident that the imposing five-year-old daughter of El Kabeir is back on track.

“She’s cantering away and looks really well. We just didn’t have time to get her where we wanted to be after her problems last year, but she’s fresh and happy, and there are a lot of nice races to aim at,” said Dods.

“We always felt last year that she had the potential to be a Group 1 filly and there’s no reason to change that view. All the signs are that she’ll be back to her best and we know she’s a good filly.”

There’s no plan yet for where she’ll start her 2024 campaign but, with the retirement of Highfield Princess and Shaquille, the sprinting division may have opened up, and the Dods yard has every reason to be dreaming.

Dods is also optimistic that the ultra-tough dual Stewards’ Cup winner, Commanche Falls, can progress again from last season when he reached Group 3 status in Newbury’s Hackwood Stakes in July, sandwiched in between listed victories at The Curragh and York.

“He’s earned the right to have a crack at Group 2 or even Group 1 races,” said Dods of the seven-year-old winner of 12 races for lucky owners Doug Graham, Ian Davison, and Alan Drysdale.

“What he achieved last season showed he’d improved, and he’s never disgraced himself in any of those higher-class races, so he deserves a chance at something better. He seems to have strengthened up again, and is working well, so the hope is that he’s improved again.”

The plan is to kick off the son of Lethal Force in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket on April 18, and further forays across the Irish Sea are again on the cards as the season progresses.

The Denton Hall yard has been busier than usual on the all-weather this year, with five winners already on the scoreboard for 2024. Three of them have come in the colours of Heather Calzini – twice with Marcello Si and once with Abruzzo Mia.

Connor Beasley is back from a highly successful winter in Dubai and will again be in the saddle for the bulk of the stable’s runners, with Paul Mulrennan, Sean Kirrane, and Phil Dennis also riding for the yard, along with apprentice Rhys Elliott.

The stable also has plenty of syndicate interest with Denton Hall Racing and Game On now joined by Ursa Major Racing, which has four-time winner Kalganov and a two-year-old called Mali and Me.

The Dods Racing Club also has a strong hand, with winners Langholm, Stallone, Atomise, and Masterpainter joined by two-year-old Brazilian Belle.

“The focus is on improving the quality each year. We think we’ve bought a nice bunch of two-year-olds and there’s a nice mix of three-year-olds and older horses, so we’re hopeful of another good season. It would just be nice to get some more consistent weather than we had in 2023,” said Dods.

Here are the trainer's thoughts on some of the ammunition for the coming year...

DAKOTA GOLD: The popular winner of 15 races is a 10-year-old now and clearly not the force he once was, but Dods is optimistic there are more races to be won and hasn’t ruled out the possibility of keeping him in training as an 11-year-old.

“We were never that happy with him after the middle of the season, and he seemed to lose a bit of condition. But since the winter break, he’s muscled up and looks really well. He needs help from the handicapper at his age, and just needs to find his level. He runs at Doncaster this Sunday. He’s ready for a start but will need the run on what’s going to be bad ground.”

BRUNCH: The seven-year-old has five career victories but although he didn’t add to that tally in six runs last year, Dods is hopeful of a better season.

“He’s cantering away, looks well, and we’re looking forward to getting him racing again. He struggled to get the right ground last year – it was either too firm or too heavy – and he also had a few niggles. He seems well now and, with a bit of luck, he could have a good season.”

TATTERSTALL: Owned by Dave Stone, the BungleintheJungle gelding won twice as a three-year-old last season, including the Aston Martin 3-Year-Old Dash at Epsom on Derby Day.

“We weren’t happy with him after that and he had a wind operation at the end of the season, which will hopefully get him back on track because we’ve always thought he was talented.”

NORTHERN EXPRESS: The flashy six-year-old chestnut, owned by the Sekura Group, won twice last season, including the Thirsk Hunt Cup in May, before a last-stride victory, off a mark of 99, in a Class 2 handicap at York.

“He was tremendous last season, finishing on a mark of 102, and we might set him off in a handicap at Musselburgh in April, although it’s not his ideal track. We’ll look at races at York and Ascot, and a bid to retain the Thirsk Hunt Cup is a possibility.”

ARKENSTAAR: The four-year-old is another owned by Peter Appleton and Anne Elliott and won three times in a busy season last year – all of them at Hamilton.

“He did really well last year and seems to have come on for the winter’s break. He likes tracks with a stiff uphill finish and he’ll spend a bit of time going up to Hamilton because he clearly likes it there.”

PRAIRIE FALCON: Owned by Bearstone Stud, he won twice in 2022 but couldn’t get his head in front last year. However, he ran really well on his 2024 debut at Newcastle recently, only just failing to get up under Hollie Doyle.

“He can’t handle ground that’s too deep and he struggled a bit with that last year. The run at Newcastle was excellent and we’re looking forward to getting him out again.”

EMERALDS PRIDE: One of the stars of last season, Trevor Scothern’s filly racked up a hat-trick at the back end of her campaign.

“She’s strengthened up and is rated 68 now. We’ll probably keep her to five furlongs, although I’m not saying we won’t step her up to six. We’re hopeful of another good season.”

MIDNIGHT LIR: Won twice and was placed four times to give members of Denton Hall Racing a lot of fun as a two-year-old in 2023.

“When a two-year-old does that well, they’re on a tough mark when they start their three-year-old campaign. He’s on 87 now and will need to find his level as a three-year-old. He’s a very straightforward horse and he’s done well over the winter, so we’ll see how he goes.”

HALE END: A model of consistency for the Game On syndicate, he won at Hamilton last year and scored on the all-weather at Newcastle in January.

“He’s in good form and should have another good season.”

LANGHOLM: Six wins in 53 races, he now runs in the colours of the Dods Racing Club and was second four times in 2023.

“He loves Catterick, which is handy for a lot of club members. He was touched off a few times last season but has dropped in the handicap so will, hopefully, be winning again soon.”

CHALLET: A five-time winner for Dunham Trading, he was second twice last year.

“He started last year too high in the handicap, but he’s dropped to 77 and seems in good form. He’ll hopefully get back to winning ways soon.”

GLENFINNAN: A Harry Angel four-year-old who’s new to the yard, having been bought at the Newmarket sales out of the Andrew Balding yard to run in the colours of CSK Services. He’s so far won twice at Ascot and Yarmouth.

“He’s a nice horse and I’m sure he’ll do well. He’s a nice addition to the yard.”

ROARING RALPH: Gale Force Maya has gone off to stud but the gallant mare’s owner, Frank Lowe, is still well represented at the yard. His Roaring Ralph won twice last year, at Redcar and Wolverhampton.

“He likes fast ground and seems well so, hopefully, he’s in for a good season again.”

Mr Lowe also has three-year-olds A Girl Named Ivy and Happy Helen.

EMILY POST: Owned, like Brunch, by Fiona Denniff, she won at Pontefract in August, and was runner-up at the same track on her final run of the campaign.

“She did well last year and likes a stiff finish over six furlongs, so we’ll hopefully go back to Pontefract with her.”

DIAMONDONTHEHILL: Won at Yarmouth last season, in the colours of The Sekura Group.

"He likes quick ground and has to be produced very late. He has a lot of ability but you have to kid it out of him. He's wintered well and I'm sure he'll do well this season."

ZUFFOLO: Won twice in a busy campaign last year. "He wants decent ground and is suited by a fast-run race."

KING'S CROWN: An addition to the yard from Adrian Nicholls' stable, he's owned by Dave Stone and won at Thirsk in 2022.

"He was too high in the handicap last year but he's down to 72, so the handicapper's given him a chance."

WOVEN AND TINTO: Both are due to run at Doncaster on Sunday and both like slowish ground. "They're not getting any younger but they'll find their level again."

David Metcalfe’s red and white hoops, made famous by Mecca’s Angel in winning back-to-back Nunthorpe Stakes, will again be featured on five-time winner HAVAGOMECCA, MECCA'S DUCHESS, and two-year-olds MECCA'S SYMPHONY AND SANBONA..

• Main picture, horses in the exercise ring at Denton Hall this morning