A glorious golden sunlight bathed Newbury racecourse on Thursday as owners were greeted with a perfect British summers evening. You could have been fooled into thinking that the calmness was due to the serene atmosphere of the race course, but I think this quiet moment is more akin to a musical "inhale" before a powerful exhale otherwise known as the ‘calm before the storm’ of Concert’s debut.

I had been on the gallops in Newmarket that very morning and William had managed our expectations saying he thought she would run ‘ok’, well if every horse ran this ‘ok’ on debut we would be mopping up! The prelude to her debut had seen her put in some pleasing pieces of faster work at home and William felt this Fillies' Novice Stakes over 6f at Newbury was the ideal place for Concert to make her start.

As the time drew near, owners began to gather in the pre parade, it was lovely to see some familiar faces and some new. Tension mounted as Concert stepped onto the stage. She looked a picture in the preliminaries, a stand out in the parade ring with her iconic grey coat and dark mane. There was only one moment she got a little fractious which was when she was being saddled (apparently she stood on Maureen Haggas’ foot in the process!).

In the parade ring we were greeted by our jockey, one of Japan’s top jockeys Mirai Iwata. A Group 1 winning jockey and the rising star of Japan’s jockey ranks who would be taking the reins and in all sense of the word conducting proceedings with Concert that evening. It was a great honour to have such a prestigious and well-respected jockey on board and he certainly instilled a sense of calm and confidence into our owners as he mounted Concert who proceeded to go to post nice and quietly.

Concert broke smartly from the stalls, so well in fact that she looked like she nearly went to take up the running in the early stages. Mirai Iwata used his experience and skill to settle her without her needing to break a stride as was the plan. The pace of the field increased from halfway and the crescendo began to build, Mirai shoot the reins ensuring Concert kept up to her work. Mirai was so well balanced it was incredible to see him balance and encourage Concert who did not have the smoothest of passages. There was some weaving and leaning in behind her stable mate, and it was a true show of class from both jockey and horse that when Mirati showed her some daylight she took up the challenge and made headway in eye-catching style down the stands rail.

The eventual winner Lope El Fuego had flown but Concert was in no uncertain terms the best of the rest hitting the line in second. She might not have hit every correct note, understandably showing her greenness in the race, but she without question rose to the occasion and produced a thrilling and hugely encouraging debut, one she will no doubt come on from. There was much celebration and a huge welcome back from the owners to Concert and Mirai as they arrived into the winners enclosure. A wonderful evening’s racing and there is no doubt that Concert is an exciting filly for the future!