Tuesday 2 June

Native Princess makes the trip to Southwell this evening for their concluding bumper. Originally scheduled to be 9.05 - it has at least been brought forward an hour - so we will not all be still on the road at 'stupid o'clock'!! Native Princess has been in good form of late - it was planned for her to have a spin in another mares bumper on the all weather at Lingfield in February, but a joint injury kept her off games for a while. She had finished a very creditable third there last autumn, which did show us that she seems to prefer a sounder surface. Tonights race is a hot heat, but she seems to have improved at home, and a good run will give us the indications as where to go next with her. The start of June means the two biggest classics of the year loom large - The Oaks on Friday, and The Derby on Saturday. The Oaks this year will have special meaning to all of those who knew Mrs Robeson. Crystal Zvesda, who she bred along with her brother is very much at the top of the market for the Fillies Classic, and looks sure to run a big race. CZ was the apple of Mrs Robesons eye, and she would have so enjoyed seeing her star filly on the downs at Epsom. To add extra poignancy, CZ's dam, Crystal Star lost her life while giving birth to a Frankel foal a few weeks ago, so it would be very special for her daughter to run well in The Oaks! We wish connections, and all those at Southcourt Stud the very best for Friday! The start of June also means that we start to pay the dividends for the horses in Nick Brown Racing. Last season was extraordinary, with some sparkling performances from Dawn Commander and Cloonacool. It means that we will be sharing out over £34,000 this year!! Thanks as ever go to Stuart and the team for making it all possible - and with Bold Conquest added to the ranks, and already off the mark for the 2015/16 season, it means that we have a great deal to look forward to over the course of the coming months!!