It has been a memorable season for Newmarket handler Hugo Palmer and GG.COM were delighted to gain access to Kremlin Cottage stables and get an insight into a yard very much on the ascent.
Hugo Palmer had his first runners as a license holder in 2011, saddling 7 winners from the 55 runners sent out from his pretty yard, nestled right in the heart of Newmarket just a short stroll from the heath. From the 88 runners so far in 2013, with a stable of just 20 or so horses, Palmer has fired in 12 winners, 6 of which have been in the last two months.
Photography
A trainer very much in form, he saddled up two winners on Saturday at Doncaster in the shape of Photography (left) and Cambridgeshire hope Ascription (below), who has been hugely progressive over the last 12 months and continues to flourish into something like the horse he’s always been thought of as. He is on the cusp of being a Group class performer and it was a real treat to see him in such rude health after his impressive weekend excursions.
The 2yo Photography is out in the field looking very proud of himself and is the first horse Hugo brought us over to visit. He is bucking and squealing after his weekend escapades.
Short Squeeze has been a wonderful servant to the yard this term, fulfilling early promise as a 2yo with two cracking wins at Sandown and York last time out, where he made some solid handicappers appear very moderate indeed.
Ascription in his stable 
Unraced 2yo filly – "She’s by Rock Of Gibraltar out of a Galileo mare. She is very immature, I think she’ll be quite nice in time. Cantering away now and we’ll see how she takes her exercise before making a plan."
Flawless Beauty – "Newmarket maiden winner, we’re trying desperately to get some black type into this mare, she’s been fifth in three listed races which is quite frustrating but we’ll keep tapping away with her."
Photography – "Came out of his Doncaster win really well and is due to go up about 9lb for that. We will look for something in the next couple of weeks for him. The should be more to come and he should get 1m2f in due course."
Three Hearts – "Small filly, once raced, she probably isn’t up to winning a Newmarket maiden at this time of year but she was only 8L behind Night Song on debut which was a good effort. She’s not the best eater, but she’ll come on for that run and is a bonny little type. We will look for a maiden further north and she’s entered in at Newcastle."
Making Eyes – "The first horse that we bought and she’s been a star for us. Still the only race we’ve won on Channel 4 was with Making Eyes! She’s won two Listed races and an Ascot handicap and is the apple of my eye as she’s done so much for the yard. We’ll be trying to get some Group race form into her now and she enjoys soft ground."
Short Squeeze – "He’s in good form and there’s high hopes for him following a great season. He has some potentially exciting plans to go racing oversees – those are a long way off but he’s a great horse to have in the yard. He’s a May foal so is only going to improve further. Entered in the Cambridgeshire but may have trouble getting in off his mark and I’m not entirely sold on the silver version."
Ascription – "He’s come out of Doncaster amazingly well. He’ll go up 10 or 12lb for that and he’ll get in the Cambridgeshire off a 4lb penalty so it could make sense to run him in it. Ed Dunlop trained him last year and always thought he was a good horse – he cost £400,000 as a yearling. Had some breathing issues which were rectified but it has been more about getting him to relax. The hood has helped him to achieve that. He was always thought of as potentially Group class and he’s knocking on the door after Saturday. He could go to Dubai in due course and is an exciting animal."
Extremity – "He’s had just the one start when 6th in a decent maiden at Kempton and should improve for the experience. He’ll go to Newbury on Saturday. He’s out of an Indian Ridge mare, which is the same cross as Excelebration."
Khubala – "Fourth in the Wokingham and ran well to be third in the Skybet Dash. He’s in good nick and goes for the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday. He’s been going well this year and you’d have to hope there’s a big one in him at some stage!"
Lobster Pot – "A real nice Dylan Thomas filly. She’s quite light and will take time to furnish and grow into herself. She’ll run in a couple of maidens then we’ll see where we are with her. She’s definitely got an engine in there."
Pyjama Day – "Winner at Wolverhampton and was second at Lingfield. Doesn’t like it soft so we’ll be on the look-out for nice ground or she could go back on the A/W."
Pyjama Day – having just that!! 
Zero Money – "A nice acquisition from Roger Charlton’s yard bought at the sales last year. He is being targeted at a Listed contest at Ascot in October and also has a Listed Kempton engagement pencilled for November and he even could go to St Moritz." – For owners looking for a share in a quality animal with plenty of good days ahead of him, there are 10% shares available in Zero Money. See below for contact details.
High Time Too – "She got rather a bad kick in the knee and has been on the easy list since but she’s back sound again now and will be ready for work again very soon. We’re trying to get her ready for a race at Kempton on the 23rd."
Audacia – "Won a soft ground maiden very well in the spring and ran in a Listed race in France since. She took that race quite hard. She’s a lovely filly and might run at Yarmouth (today). That, or she’s in at Longchamp on Saturday."
Hugo also gave mentioned to a cracking yearling filly by new sire Alfred Noble, a Group 1 winner out of Danehill Dancer. The dam is a Group 2 Cherry Hinton winner, Applaud, who has produced plenty of winners including Listed scorer Jazz Jam. Again if you’re interested in having a share in this filly with a small, but top quality and dedicated training yard right in the centre of HQ, get in touch with Hugo or drop us a line.
Lastly, we visited the box of Tipping Over (below, with Hugo), who runs tomorrow at Yarmouth in the 3.10. She has run well on testing ground before, which it is likely to be and this attractive grey filly could go quite well.
Hugo Palmer, remember the name – a small but beautiful yard with big ambition and lots of happy, in-form horses. We thank Hugo for having us, we look forward to visiting again and wish him and his team all of the very best.
For more information about Hugo Palmer and his stables at Kremlin Cottage, including horses for sale, visit his website at www.hugopalmer.com
Also, Hugo blogs for our good friends at Stan James. You can read his regular insights By Visiting His Blog Section Here.
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