James Tate's Far Above in action

Our Friends in Newmarket - James Tate Stable Tour for 2020 Flat season including Far Above and Top Rank

By Sporting Life

08:31 · THU April 30, 2020

James Tate guides us through his hopes and expectations for the 2020 Flat season once racing resumes.

Our Friends in Newmarket - James Tate

Flagbearer: Far Above
Handicapper: Top Rank
Three Year Old: Under The Stars

Stable Tour

Dream Shot

He only cost 12,000 guineas as a yearling and was great for us last year finishing second in the Flying Childers at Doncaster. He’s come back in bucking, kicking and being generally naughty which with him is a good sign. There’s a slight question mark whether he’s better over five or six furlongs but we look forward to finding out.

Far Above

He’s a sprinter going places. He was quite weak as a two-year-old but looked like a horse with a big future last year, ending up winning a listed race in France. He won over seven and six furlongs last year but I think we’ll see the best of him dropped back to five furlongs as he looks to be getting quicker. He’s done really well over the winter and I think he’s a horse with a lot of ability. We were going to start him off in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and we’ll have to wait and see whether or not that happens. I’m really looking forward to seeing him over five furlongs and think he will be contesting the big group races over the minimum trip this year.

Hey Gaman

He’s been a great horse for the yard and is effective over a straight seven or a mile around a bend. He’s changed his ground preference from previously wanting soft ground to now wanting it quick. He rarely runs a bad race and we’re looking forward to seeing him run this season.

High Accolade

Won on debut at Newcastle, with the front two pulling clear. He’s still a tall, gangly horse who will be better still next year. I think he’ll improve through this season as the older and stronger he gets. We’re not quite sure at what level he is at the moment. He’ll definitely get a mile and we’re looking forward to seeing how good he is.

Magical Journey

She’s a very speedy, talented filly who won first time up despite things not going to plan. I think she should probably have won her listed race and then she would have been two from two. She came from quite a long way back, met interference and then had to start her run again. She couldn’t quite make up the ground but was still only beaten less than a length. Her work is great and she’s very fast. Her pedigree suggests she should get a mile but she does show us plenty of speed so we’ll wait and see.

New Graduate

He broke a hind leg in France in July and had an operation. He’s come back from that well and is in full work. He’s a real Saturday horse, a high class handicapper. We hope he’ll be bigger and better this year.

Shimmering Dawn

She was similar to Far Above in that she was a weak, gangly two-year-old. She had a good year and her rating reflects that now in the early 90’s. Physically she has come on and the work we have managed to do with her suggests she could have improved. The target would be six furlong fillies races and to gain some black type.

Sky Commander

He falls into the category of could be anything. We only got him in May of last year. We did a couple of pieces of work with him, one being with Dream Shot, so we went to Leicester for his debut hopeful of a big run. Unfortunately, he was very green and disappointed us, although we found out afterwards that he was lame. We gave him a good break and took him to Kempton where he was really impressive. He’s still green so we’ll start him off in novices before we step him up in class. He’s an exciting horse to have in the yard.

Top Rank

He’s a little bit delicate and tends to go from one minor setback to another. He’s three from three and his handicap mark looks favourable from what he has shown us on the gallops. If we can get a clear run with him I think he’s a horse to follow.

Under The Stars

Cost 6,000 guineas at Tattersalls Book Three and is already a Group Three winner after landing the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot. She’s come back very well from her winter break and I think she’s strengthened up. We’ll start her off in a seven furlong Classic trial and take it from there.

Wise Words

She won three times last season and just kept improving. She’s a big strong filly who could be mistaken for a colt. She’s rated in the mid-90s and I think she has come on again over the winter. We’d be looking for races over five furlongs and to get some black type in either listed or even group races.

Two-Year-Olds

Final Voyage

He’s by Camacho and although not the best pedigree in the yard he’s a good looking horse who has caught our eye on the gallops.

High Security

A son of Acclamation and a full-brother to a listed winner called Well Done Fox. He cost 100,000 guineas and looks a really professional two-year-old.

Panoramic

She’s out of Helmet from a family that we know. She seems straightforward and shows up well on the gallops.

State Of Play

A lovely Dark Angel colt. He’s quite big, so I’m not sure if he will be an early type. He’s from a really nice family, with his dam a sister to a couple of really smart sprinters in Tangerine Trees and Alpha Delphini.