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CANDLE GOES LOCAL TONIGHT

MICK has been reluctant to run the majority of his promising unraced juveniles on the testing ground and will not be sending NAHOODH to Yarmouth today. However, we have an interesting candidate for the six furlong maiden at Newbury in the shape of CANDLE SAHARA. Interestingly, the two-year-olds which worked on the winter grass on Tuesday made quite an impression to the extent that our diligent camera girl Lady Huntingdon decided to take action. With the swiftness of an M Channon hurtle down the wing of old, Lady H reached the bottom of the gallop in the blink of an eye and successfully moved the witches hats to provide fresh ground for second lot. Candle Saraha had worked first lot behind a mature lead horse and was in no way disgraced. Mick says of the daughter of Noverre: "She's been handling the ground at home but is taking on colts including a decent one whose had a run. She has an each-way chance." With Nahoodh an absentee Mick runs NYLLA at Yarmouth and he added: "Nahoodh will wait for the six furlong maiden at Newmarket next Friday. They had 8mm of rain overnight which puts you off running a nice filly. They can usually do it on that ground once but asking them on their debuts isn't ideal."

JUVENILES SHOW PROMISE

IT was a hectic morning on the gallops with Mick assembling his forces on the winter ground grass with the focus on some interesting two-year-olds. DREAM SEA (Eddie Creighton) moved well in company with TOP VISION and the latter may go for the six furlong fillies' maiden at Newmarket next Friday. NAHOODH has ability and went pleasingly with NYLLA and CANDLE SAHARA with the three pursuing an older lead horse. STRAIGHT SETS is a half-sister to Championship Point who seems to be improving with every piece of work while LOOK TO THE STARS is one for later on, a remark which definitely applies to Zafeen's close relative ATLANTIC SPORT.

AUSSIE ACE TO HAVE RACECOURSE GALLOP

MUTAWAAJID is to have a race course gallop on Friday morning at Newbury as part of his preparation for the Darley July Cup. The former Australian-trained horse worked well on the winter ground this morning and a trip to his local course is designed to give him a mental boost for Newmarket as much as anything. Mick said: "He needs one more blow-out before the July Cup and timing-wise this would fit in perfectly. coming seven days beforehand. Hugh Bowman was delighted with him this morning in what I felt was a very good bit of work. He sat four lengths off Royal Power and Majuro and picked-up well at the end to get on top." Bowman is confident Mutawaajid will have the necessary speed for the July Cup and said: "Although he's bred to get further his dam bred a handful of sprint winners and his make-up is all speed."

BOSS PONDERS CUP WITH POINT

CHAMPIONSHIP POINT could go to Haydock for Saturday's Old Newton Cup although Mick will monitor underfoot conditions at the course before committing the Wolferton Handicap winner. Mick said: "After Royal Ascot it was a toss-up whether we would be able to go down the handicap route with Championship. He has top weight of 9st 10lb at Haydock but I haven't completely ruled it out. I think soft ground would suit him but if it was bottomless that might be a different kettle of fish."

RAIN ENSURES QUIET WEEK

IT will be all quiet on the West Ilsley front this week with operations restricted owing to the inclement weather. The boss rightly sees no point in subjecting promising two-year-olds to unnecessary slogs in desperate ground and said: "We'll be taking it quietly this week, especially with the two-year-olds, but it should be an interesting work morning on Tuesday when i'll be looking at some of the ones earmarked for the July meeting at Newmarket."

JULY CUP POSSIBLE FOR TOUCH

SILVER TOUCH could make a quick reappearance at the July course in next Friday's Darley July Cup at Newmarket if there is cut in the ground. The filly revelled in the testing conditions when chinning Major Cadeaux in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes on Saturday but the boos believes she'll be just as effective over six furlongs. He said: She's become a valuable filly and everything came right for her on Saturday. It was a truly-run race, the rain got into the ground and she quickened-up as we all know she can. Her work had been great as had the scopes we had done. She's had some niggling problems while the good to firm ground had been all wrong for her on her previous start at The Curragh. We shall certainly take a look at the July Cup while I imagine the Prix de la Foret will be on her agenda later on. She had no luck in running in the race last year.

SILVER STORMS HOME

SILVER TOUCH produced a terrific change of gear to mow down her rivals in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

NAWAAFF and AAIM IN GOOD NICK

WE have solid chances with the two-year-olds Nawaaff and Aaim For Applause at Carlisle and Bath today. Nawaaff comes from a fast family and is unlucky not to have won already, while Aaim For Applause can't be cribbed for his two cracking runs in defeat at Goodwood. Mick says: "Nawaaff came up against a decent colt of Barry Hills's at York on his first run and then another of Barry's at Goodwood. I think the stiff track at Carlisle should suit him. Aaim For Applause is by Royal Applause out of a Piccolo mare and if he handles the ground he's set to go very close tonight. He's well drawn and has the points on the board."

MUTAWAAJID AT THE DOUBLE

MUTAWAAJID took centre stage on the summer ground this morning as he engaged in a sensible yet very pleasing piece of work with two others. Led by AAIM FOR APPLAUSE, the top notch Australian colt picked-up his stablemate in effortless fashion with his loping stride devouring the ground. Hugh Bowman rode Mutawaajid in the majority of his races in Australia where he was trained by Gai Waterhouse, and he can't wait for Mick to get the three-year-old ready for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket. Hugh said: "He is potentially the best i've ever ridden although because he hasn't won a Group 1 he hasn't quite got the points on the board yet. He's in good order and has put back on the weight he lost travelling over." Hugh believes Mutawaajid will be most effective over seven furlongs and added: "He has too much speed on the dam's side of his pedigree to be running over a mile and I would say seven is his best distance. I hope we get away with the six when he goes to Newmarket." Mick is pleased to see the gigantic new arrival improving in his coat and said: "It's very encouraging to see him coming in his coat and he seems a lot less keyed-up than when he got here at the end of May. We'll certainly look at the July Cup but it's a big ask for a three-year-old and I would have thought going round a right-handed bend in the Prix de la Foret would be right up his street."

AUSSIE STAR ON VIEW THIS WEEK

MICHAEL Jnr is in the process of sorting out a new server to deal with the massive amount of hits the site is receiving and wishes you to know that footage of MUTAWAAJID and other high profile horses working on the gallops will be up and running later in the week. Watch this space for a definite time for this.