GOLDEN SWORD (yellow, blue silks) produced an encouraging second place in the Friday Trophy over a mile on the All Weather at Meydan on Thursday, running on late for a 0.75-length second to outsider City Life, with Atlantic Storm three short-heads behind him in fifth, showing that he, too, can pick up a win at the 2011 Carnival.

“I’ve always liked Golden Sword and we’re happy to see he is putting his act together again. He’s one to keep an eye on over the next few weeks,” Mike said about the five-year-old horse by High Chaparral who has raced below his best after a promising three-year-old career in the UK. 

There were no winners for the stable on the night, but another good second in the form of Mr Brock, who ran Herman Brown’s Bronze Cannon to three-quarters in the Inside Out Trophy over 2000m on AW; a good third from Raihana in the XPress Trophy (1600m, turf), and a decent show from Irish Flame, fourth in the Al Rashidiya over 1800m on Turf.

“Mr Brock in fact ran better than we expected, because he has more improvement to come so we’ll have some fun with him still. Raihana was beaten under a length and showed that she’s fine, we can win a big race with her this sesason. Irish Flame, as expected found the 1800m too short, he srayed on and came through his race well so we have a lot to feel positive about.”

Clearly Silver was disappointing in the GNB Sprint over 1200m and Mike said: “He didn’t like the blinkers so we’ll race him without them next time, perhaps over further again.”

The grey Happy Valley faded out in the Aquaruis Trophy over 2200m and Mike commented: “He hasn’t settled down here in Dubai, he’s not himself.”

Wonder Lawn (Jebel Ali Mile), and Mahubo (Handicap, 12o0m), will be racing on the dirt track at Jebel Ali on Friday.