Jamie Spencer gives the lowdown on six super Saturday rides

In the 3.50 I ride Doctor Sardonicus. It’s like everything; match practice is huge. He went to York the other day and finished fifth, and it was his first run on five furlongs on turf. I think that run will not be lost on him. It was his first run since October. He should strip fitter number one, and number two it won’t be as alien to him running on turf, as he didn’t run on it at all last year. He ran on turf as a three year old but last year only ran on the all-weather. So the experience of sprinting on grass and the benefit to his fitness should be a help to him. It’s a competitive five furlong sprint on a Saturday, so I’m not saying he will win, but I’d like to think he’ll be a good bit sharper.

In the 4.20pm I ride a first time out two year old called Broken Stones for Kevin Ryan. He was quite an expensive Breeze-up purchase over a month ago. They are very happy with him. Kevin was keen to run here and keen for me to ride the horse. Kevin generally introduces his nice two year olds here at York. It’s a watching brief but he’s been to the breeze ups and I’m sure he’s done a couple of bits of work since. When they’ve been to the Breeze-ups you don’t really need to drill them at home, just let them get used to their surroundings as much as anything else.

My last ride on the day is Turning The Table in the 4.55pm. She is a big scopey filly by Mastercraftsman. She won nicely on her debut last year at Chepstow. She then went to Newbury and was third to Nathra on very soft ground over seven furlongs. It was then probably my fault as I said to David that she probably wouldn’t be unsuited for a drop back to six furlongs but it didn’t work out. She then went to Newmarket on Guineas weekend and it just didn’t really pan out for her, but she was disappointing in any case. So we are getting back on track with her. I’d be very disappointed if by the end of the season she’s still hovering around near a mark of 80. I’m not saying she’s going to win this race, as Ed Dunlop’s filly is coming into the race on a hat-trick, but I’m sure she’s going to win this season and you’ll be seeing a much better filly than you saw at Newmarket.

It’s a really good book of rides, but Quest For More has a great chance which is there for all to see, and I’m very much looking forward to riding Walpole and the two year old Broken Stones. I have a mixed bunch of really good rides and I’ll be disappointed if I leave York without at least one winner.

On Sunday I ride Ashadihan in the Irish 1000 Guineas. Kevin has been very patient with her. It was almost exactly twelve months ago that she had her first race. Then she went to Royal Ascot and ran a great race and then she bombed out in the Lowther. She was never going that day but she was going through a growing spurt at the time, and had got really tall and angular. She’s come back this season a stronger filly. She’s filled out really well over the winter. She never looked like winning at Lingfield but then got motoring in the last furlong. She hated the track, everything was against her, but she came home good.  With the run behind her, you’d be hopeful going into the race of a place chance at least. Obviously she’s going to have to find 10lbs with the likes of Ballydoyle and Now Or Never, but we’re not tilting at windmills as she’s won a Group Three, so it’s logical to take on your own age and sex in a Group 2 or Group 1. There are no Group 2s around so this looks a good slot. If she could get in the first three it would be a real achievement.

I’ve won the race three times. I won it for the first time a long time ago. It was eighteen years ago on Tarascon when I was a seventeen year old. I’ve won the race since on Gossamer and Just The Judge so it’s been a lucky race for me.

I then ride one of my favourite horses The Grey Gatsby in the Tattersall’s Gold Cup. The main opposition have all had runs already this season, so that’s to their advantage. The Grey Gatsby is five now so he’ll obviously improve for the run. It’s a good starting point for him. The ground looks like it’s going to be fine for him, good or even good to firm, which is absolutely ideal for him. He’s joint top rated with Fascinating Rock, and obviously we have to give the sex allowance to Found, and she’s had two runs already this season. So it won’t be easy but it’s a good stepping stone to Royal Ascot for him. It would be great for the horse to win another Group 1 in what will be his last season. The fact that he didn’t go to Dubai this year will pay dividends later on, as it means Kevin didn’t have to get him ready in the depths of winter. Also when horses come back from Dubai I always feel that when they have their first run within six weeks or so it’s as if they have a kind of jet lag. They run around 5lbs below their best. Whatever reason I don’t know, perhaps the climate change or the travel?

Jamie