Friday, 1 May 2009

4:05 Goodwood (2nd May)

A mixture of two-year-old trainers featured here in this maiden event at Goodwood. Mick Channon’s Di Stefano ran an encouraging race on debut racing in the familiar Aisbitt silks. An attractive colt by Bahamian Bounty costing £60,000 he must be respected. It is additionally interesting that Channon does well at Goodwood. The slight negative is that form is giving rather mixed readings.

It is difficult to know what to make of Kirsty’s Boy, trained by Stan Moore. He wasn’t the biggest price on debut at Kempton and even though showing little he held an entry for the Brocklesby and has, subsequently, been entered for a stakes race. It’s possible this colt by Tagula may prove a better horse today.

Of the unraced a few are worth mentioning. Bob Goes Electric has been entered to run in the Lily Agnes and an additional stakes event. This is an encouraging sign for the Best two-year-old. The downside is that the stable has a poor win rate on debut and as a general rule their juveniles are more likely to win on their second start. This is a juvenile worth watching. Stephen Carson now rides the Peter Winkorth-trained Oil Strike in favour of Eve Johnson Houghton’s Riffelalp, if the five-day declarations are to be believed.

A watching race.

Race review: 'It is difficult to know what this race amounts to at this time although it featured a number of attractive juveniles. Kirsty's Boy certainly showed more on his second start; but for much of the race a win didn't seem that likely. Hard at work for most of the race, Moore's two-year-old showed good battling qualities to fight off a number of challenges and hold on at the line. Oil Strike, a lovely-looking sort, was a shade unlucky and may have won with a clearer path. Admin ran well and once again seemed to have every chance of winning, just edging ahead at one point, before tiring in the last half furlong. Di Stefano was never far away but, in truth, never looked to be quite mastering the others who always held a slight advantage. Of the others, Bob Goes Electric showed tremendous speed but faded quite tamely. It wouldn't be a surprise for this juvenile to show more next time.'