For many, the emphasis of Doncaster's William Hill Lincoln meeting will be the handicap mile, while HCE will focus on the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes, which heralds the start of our two-year-old season. To celebrate the Flat season, we remember a number of talented two-year-olds who have not only won the Brocklesby but gone on to mark themselves as truly talented individuals. Read this year's analysis on 28th March 2015, 1:25 Doncaster. High-Class Equine - the home of two-year-old racing.
Mind Games
Puissance (6.4f) — Aryaf (CAN) (Vice Regent (CAN) (8.8f)
Trainer J Berry
OWNER: Robert Hughes (Shropshire)
2nd foal, half-brother to Able Fun, 1m winner at 2, Prince Ary, 10f winner at 3, & Quiz Show, 1m winner at 3, later dam of smart sprint 2yo Right Answer; dam unplaced at 2-3, half-sister to quite a useful miler Peartree House
On the 24th March 1994, Mind Games won the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes by a neck from Jobran, trained by Gay Kelleway, at 4/1 joint-favorite. Jack Berry - the renowned trainer often noted for his red shirts - had unveiled one of the most talented horses from the vast string. Berry was well known for his early-season dominance of two-year-old races. This son of Puissance ran seven times at two, winning his first three races with a ready success taking the Norfolk Stakes (Group 3) at Royal Ascot over 5f. He suffered his first loss (5th) when competing at Leopardstown (IRE) in the Heinze 57 Phoenix Stakes (Group 1). Mind Games continued to mark himself as a top-class two-year-old racing at Group level and narrowly losing by a short head in the Flying Childers (Group 2).
A successful career at 3 & 4 saw him race from Listed to Group 1 level, winning a further four races, with the Temple Stakes (Group 2) at Sandown being a notable success. Mind Games raced at Group 1 level on nine occasions but never won at this level albeit finishing 4th in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) at York, beaten by two lengths behind Pivotal.
Berry's star raced once as a five-year-old before being retired to stud.
In his career, Mind Games raced 20 times, winning 7 races and won total prize money of over a quarter of a million pounds and an official rating of 112.
Great to see the new Flat turf season under way.
A couple of two-year-old races to review. It's very early days to try and come to any conclusions although My Boy Bill won the Brocklesby Conditionals Stakes with ease. A good-looking gelding by Dutch Art he was quite a costly yearling at 65,000gns. However, that looks a wise purchase. A half-brother to the smart Penitant he comes from a multi-winning family with scope to improve with racing.
It's a positive how easily he was switched-off at the back of the field. That is key to many a talented juveniles - finishing a race. Mick Easterby isn't renowned for having two-year-old debutante winners. In fact, such is its rarity it may well speak volumes for this youngster. It is intriguing there was substantial money for this bay (10/1 - 7/1). There is little doubt in my mind they knew this youngster had an abundance of ability but I get the feeling they had no intention of pressing any buttons and if a win came it would be on natural ability. For that reason I would imagine they were quite philosophical about the day win or lose.
Interestingly Easterby commented: ''I told the owners not to back the gelding, despite being the most expensive in the field, as he did not think he would be forward enough.''
Easterby jnr said: "We had a big discussion whether to run or not as we like him a lot, but Brocklesby winners rarely progress through the season and the rest of his family turned slightly shifty. It could do him more harm than good. We came here for a hands and heels introduction but he obviously has so much ability. We also came here for the nice ground.''
''Mick's upset because we told the owner we didn't think he'd win."
My brother reminded me of a similar early-season winner for the stable from many moons ago. A number of race fans may remember Poolesta. You have to blow the dust from the archives of 1991 to find her debut victory at York over the minimum trip. She, too, was fancied in the betting on her racing bow, priced 11/2, winning by a head. A true talent, she went on to be placed in the Lowther Stakes (Group 2), Moyglare Stud (Group1) and a consistent Pattern-race performer at two and three with total winnings of £66,736 and official rating of 106.
It is intriguing to consider whether he was gelded for being a difficult juvenile to handle because he was coolness itself at Doncaster. However, Easterby gave some concern about the future saying: '' the rest of his family turned slightly shifty.''
Bred by Cheveley Park Stud, there will no doubt be a few trainers wishing they had this prospect in their team.
