Last year's contest was won by White Lake, a debutante trained by Luca Cumani. A race that was far from a vintage renewal and this gelding proved slightly disappointing although competing at pattern class.
I sense this contest will detail a winner of greater class.
Brian Meehan said he was ''very confident'' about the chances of Perkunas. I've rarely heard him talk about a horse in such terms.
Very Talented ran well on debut at Goodwood and it held in high regard by Godolphin and Saeed Bin Suroor. Definitely worth noting.
Luca Cumani rates Beautiful Morning. This beautifully bred filly cost 650,000. This daughter of Galileo ran well on debut when fourth and sure to improve.
Never easy for a debutante to shine on debut especially against proven, experienced juvenile but I'm very interested in Click And Roll for David Brown. This bay filly sired by Candian Smart Strike out of an unraced mare. A half-sister to Hootenanny this March foal has clearly been catching pigeons on the gallops.Qatar Racing Ltd have a wealth of two-year-olds and it it intriguing this filly is their sole representative. Brown can go well with his debutantes and I would expect a bold show.
Conclusion: A maiden of maidens - class horses vying for a prize that makes trainers, pundits and racegoers look twice. Plenty of winners will come from this contest which displays a field of potentially smart two-year-olds. Very Talented and Perkunas are worthy of note, with valuable race experience and lofty plans. The former, especially so. Beautiful Morning is bred to be a specimen and could go well for connections. Many debutantes catch the eye but Click And Roll is a horse I have mentioned a number of times before and excited to see take part. David Brown can ready a juvenile making its racecourse bow and this filly will need to be street-wise today. All noted have fair win and place claims.