James Owen

Derby entrant Wimbledon Hawkeye may head next to the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot instead of Epsom, according to trainer James Owen. The son of Kameko, winner of last year's Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes, has run three times this season to be runner-up in the Craven Stakes before running fifth in the 2,000 Guineas and third in the Dante Stakes. Owen said of the Gredley family's homebred, "He's come out of the Dante really well and he's had three quick runs now and probably ran to a similar...

NEWMARKET, UK -- Galopin Des Champs, you say? He was yesterday's news. Today, and for the next few days at least, it's all about the Guineas. And what better way to start a day bursting with warmth and shiny promise from dawn than by watching the favourite for the Betfred 2,000 Guineas stride up Warren Hill not once but twice.  Field Of Gold (Ire), in partnership with John and Thady Gosden's talented apprentice Luke Catton, had two short, easy canters on Thursday morning. His main work is done, a lot...

5th-Newmarket, £30,000, Cond, 4-17, 3yo, 7fT, 1:26.29, gd. PELLITORY (GB) (c, 3, Sergei Prokofiev--Daphinia {GB} {SP-Eng}, by Kuroshio {Aus}), allowed to start at 25-1 despite having signed off his juvenile campaign with a win in a competitive Doncaster nursery in October, was anchored under heavy restraint in rear off the steady early tempo. Unleashing a 10.78 penultimate furlong to hit the front and a 11.91 finale to wrap it up, he had half a length to spare over Anno Domini (GB) (New Bay {GB}) at the line. "He had done...

The National Stud's Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) was the latest first-season sire off the mark on Wednesday as his James Owen-trained daughter Social Exclusion (GB) dominated the three-runner five-furlong novice at Southwell. Quickest away under Harry Davies, The Gredley Family's 45,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 purchase put in a rapid penultimate split to settle matters and hit the line with three lengths to spare over Museum Piece (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). "She knows her job well and was very professional," Davies said of the 3-1 shot. "When I sat on her...

This week at Cheltenham, Tim Gredley will be taking time out from one type of horse to turn his attention to another. The owner, breeder and leading showjumper has recently returned from Abu Dhabi, where he was second in the Grand Prix, but sport horses will take a backseat temporarily as we he focuses on the Thoroughbreds. "We've had a lot going on with the showjumpers so it's nice to come back and see the racehorses - that's what I love the most really," says Gredley, who, along with his...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features a half-brother to a champion racemare. 14.52 Newcastle, Nov, £6,300, 3yo/up, 6f (AWT) The Gredley Family's 160,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 buy STARDROP (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is a half-brother to six-time elite-level winner Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The James Owen-conditioned debutant encounters two prior winners in...

Last year's Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly (Ire) will be trained by James Owen when he returns to action as a four-year-old, the Racing Post reported on Thursday. The son of Gleneagles (Ire) was saddled by fellow Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe when he chased home City Of Troy (Justify) at Epsom last June, having previously announced himself as a serious Classic contender when he won the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes by four and a half lengths. He later finished third in the Irish Derby at the Curragh, before failing to...

Tweenhills Stud's first-crop sire Kameko (by Kitten's Joy) was off the mark on Wednesday as his son Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) captured Kempton's seven-furlong novice for the Gredley Family who could be in for a big weeekend. Sent off at 28-1, the James Owen-trained son of the useful Eva Maria (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was chased along early by Callum Shepherd behind the leading trio. Getting into gear in the straight, the homebred edged ahead of Ingot (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) approaching the furlong pole and stayed on strongly to account...