This is a very restricted auction maiden for colts and fillies costing £15,000 and less over 5f.
Southwell is never a very competitive track for two-year-olds and most of these juveniles look poor. Koo And The Gang will take some beating here although it may be slightly concerning if he runs down the rail (from his high draw) as there seemed to be a low-draw bias at the last meeting and that could be a concern.
Tom Dascombe has been firing on all cylinders with his two-year-olds this season and if there is strong support for Janeiro it would be significant. This colt by Captain Rio has a low draw and in a poor race has to be viewed as one of the more likely types in a race of this nature.
Ginger Ted may be progressing with racing and showed very good speed last time with the addition of blinkers. Clearly going back from 6f to 5f may take the edge of such pace but he is a sturdy-looking gelding and may have a fighting chance today.
I don't think this race will take much winning, however, the draw, surface and betting have to be considered here. Koo And The Gang is the most guaranteed of these but at a short price he is there to be shot at and if they take the rail route (and there is a bias) many people will be pulling out their hair.
A watching race.
Race review: 'This was a poor auction race but won by a deserving Koo And The Gang who made a bold bid from the front to hang on from the late charge of Singeur. If anything, the low draw was a negative (as is usually the case) and Bastiman's juvenile ran a creditable race making up many lengths to hold a fighting chance. Janeiro was always struggling after a slow start and then racing on the far rail, which didn't help. This colt may be capable of better but this race doesn't set the highest of standards. Koo And The Gang is a good, strong colt and may progress from here.'
