A Conditions Stakes race over 5f on good to firm going. Six two year olds takes part: three unbeaten, one placed and unseated rider plus a debutante from Hannon's stable.
Last year this race was won by Escalating, trained by Pat Eddery, on his third start. He disappointed on debut when made favourite in the Brocklesby Stakes, victorious on his second start at Kempton. This son of Three Valleys ran at Group 3 but disappointed.
A trio of winning debutantes make this a fascinating race - almost certainly the best race we have seen this juvenile campaign.
Gifted Master was tested at Stake class when racing at Newmarket on debut against the Brocklesby Stakes victor Ravenhoe. This son of Kodiac was pretty fancied in the betting [4/1]. The favourite didn't have much luck in running but it would have made little difference to the result because Hugo Palmer's colt surged clear of the field after being held up just behind the pace. He was coltish that day which often puts pay to a horse's chance. However, it was a sparkling display and by all account Dr Ali Ridha horse could have a glowing future.
Buratino was similarly stylish on his debut at Chelmsford City when winning readily by over three lengths. The form of that race has yet to be tested but the second and third both held entries for the Brocklesby Stakes and one cost a considerable amount at the yearling sales. Mark Johnston had a treble with his two year olds that day and all look good prospects. This son of Exceed And Excel was very inexperienced that day. Turning courses can be hard work for a horse learning his craft and in many respects that made his performance all the more outstanding. This bay colt is likely to improve a good deal for that first run and difficult to limit his ability. A talent who should be a worthy challenger to the favourite.
The last of the trio is Handytalk, who is trained by Rod Millman. This Irish son of first season sire Lilborne Lad was backed on debut at Winsdor when the stable fielded two horses, the other more fancied in the betting. Raj To Riches looked to have the aces up his sleeve but April foal nabbed him on the line. The form of that race doesn't look in the same class as the two mentioned. It is worth noting that Millman's two year olds are not pressed on debut and this youngster could well improve. On balance, I would take a watching brief.
Mark Usher's Arlecchino's Rock finished third behind Handytalk and needs to improve. Usher's horses usually come on for their racecourse bow and this colt looks up to winning this season. Another horse who is best watched although he, like the other juveniles, do not carry a penalty.
Interesting to see Aragon Knight making his return to racing after unseating his rider on debut at Newbury. Heather Main doesn't train many two year olds but this son of Kheleyf was well backed that day. That maiden often features a few decent juveniles. This looks a stiff ask and there is always a concern horses who show temperament will act in a similar manner. It is also true that a lot of horses who fluff their lines on debut come back all guns blazing. This bay colt has a lot to prove and best watched.
Richard Hannon has been relatively quiet this early season. It is intriguing they have Log Out Island making his debut at this level. This Irish bred son of Dark Angel is out of a twice-winning mare. He was purchased at the yearling sales by Ross & Peter Doyle Bloodstock for £95,000. This stable should always be respected with such a huge string of juveniles and the betting will give a good idea of the merit this horse is held. However, it would have to be significantly backed for me to view it as a worthy challenger and if weak in the betting is best left alone. It would be a supreme effort to win against this opposition.
Conclusion: A race to savior this early season - two potentially smart two year olds in the shape of Gifted Master - who was sparkling at Newmarket - and the untapped ability of Buratino who was clueless at Chelmsford City. I will be watching and enjoying this contest as a purist. Gifted Master would get the nod if pressed. Stakes races are a law unto themselves - never say never. It is unlikely Handytalk will tarnish the hopes of the major fancies. Arlecchino's Rock and Aragon Rock have a mountain to climb, while Log Out Island is set a stern test to beat such promising opponents on debut. All have it to prove. It looks a duel between Gifted Master & Buratino. Enjoy.
An EBF Maiden Stakes over 5f 10y on good going. Eight debutante two year olds take part: six colts and two fillies. A varied mix of horse trainers. Last year, this race was won by odds-on shot Magic Roundabout, trained by Richard Hannon, who proved to be a very disappointing horse thereafter.
Windsor is a popular hunting ground for Richard Hannon. Fit is one of two fillies in the line up - a daughter of Kodiac. The mare didn't race until three but won on her second start, trained by Hannon Snr. This bay filly is an early foal [20th January] and racing in the familiar silks of Mrs Julie Wood. She was purchased as a foal for 12,000eur. The stable have a 23% win rate with their juveniles here over the last five years [9 from 40]. Subsequently, their two year olds at this course are often priced to chance and, perhaps, not great value. It often takes a fair filly to beat the colts but a horse to give worthy consideration.
Mark Johnston has continued his flying start to the two year old campaign with Delizia who won on Saturday. Beaverbrook is a home bred colt from Darley. The mare won a couple of races over a trip. Kingsley House Stables are in the limelight and with an increased string of two year olds will be fancied in the betting. On breeding, this bay colt may appreciate 6f. I'd take a watching brief.
Rod Millman fields two colts: Concur is an Irish bred son of Approve out of an unraced mare.This April foal cost £24,000 at the yearling sales purchased by Geoffrey Howson and Rod Millman.
Handytalk is also Irish bred, a son of Lilbourne Lad out of an unraced mare. This bay colt cost £32,000 at the yearling sales. In general, Rod Millman has a poor strike rate with his debutantes with around 3 winners in 130 or so two year olds since 2007. However, two of those victories came in recent years with Master Carpenter (2013) & Bonnie Grey (2014). The former was a class horse, which can often defy the stats. The tissue price [Sporting Life] suggests they will be relatively fancied in the betting. I would have to take a watching brief because they usually improve for race experience.
Interesting to see Marcus Tregoning with an early juvenile. Port Gaverne is an American bred in the ownership of the trainer. This bay colt is a son of Lord Shanakil out of a poor mare who needed a trip. He cost 15,000eur at the yearling sales. This stable can win on debut when priced 14/1 & less. They feature fair place claims when priced at 13/2 & less although the win rate is poor. On balance, I'd take a watching brief.
Raj To Riches could well be a dark horse. David Evans is a canny old stick and this horse was one of two who were engaged to run in the Brocklesby Stakes [Silver Wings]. This chestnut colt, a son Iffraaj, cost 60,000euro as a foal.The trainer and jockey have decent statistics at this course. If priced 13/2 & less has fair win and place claims.
Zeeoneandonly looks to be second string for the trainer.
Arlecchino's Rock cost £21,000 when purchased at the yearling sales by Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock. This chestnut colt is bred to need further and Mark Usher's juveniles are likely to need the run.
Conclusion: Interesting to see how the ground goes with regard to what could be a good or bad draw. An intriguing race. Richard Hannon does well here and even though Fit is a filly taking on colts she should be respected. It can be difficult to pick the wheat from the chaff but one for the shortlist. Beaverbrook hails from a stable who can do little wrong. I find Johnston's two year olds difficult to assess - the classic easy winner or poor loser. The breeding of this colt suggests he will be better over 6f+. I would take a watching brief. Concur, Handytalk and Port Gaverne come from stables who are better second start. It doesn't mean they cannot win but I wouldn't back them. Raj To Riches catches the eye and his entry for the Brocklesby Stakes may be a pointer to ability. This colt cost 60,000euros at the sales and entered to race at Newbury [Friday]. The trainer and jockey have fair win and place claims at this course and feature a decent strike rate when priced 13/2 & less. Evans always has a fair early horse but whether this is it only time will tell. I would have to consider Fit & Raj To Riches as most likely with the latter most intriguing, especially if backed.
An EBF Maiden Stakes over 5f. Seven juveniles take part: five colts & two fillies, including three form horses who have shown promise. This is one of the better two-year-old maidens of the season and I'm sure a handful of trainers hoped this would be easy prey.
David Evans has been in fine form with his juveniles and Smugglers Gold's win at Lingfield [Friday] would have given the stable plenty of confidence. I have little doubt that Vodka Time is one of the stable's better juveniles. This bay son of Indian Haven was a 20,000euro purchase. Evans knows his horses and it could well be telling that they kept this youngster in their ownership. He was fancied to run a big race when competing in the Brocklesby on the first day of the Flat turf season. Mick's Yer Man, who won that race in style, has since made it two successes from two. In truth, a couple of other runners have not franked the form. However, they were so far behind they cannot be considered a fair measure. Physically, Vodka Time is a compact horse, balanced, and professional. He ran a sterling race, especially from a wide draw. Adam Kirby wasn't hard on him when Turner's winners sprouted wings. That was a sterling effort and a bold show should be expected.
That said, this could well be a tough race and there will be opposition.
Dovil's Duel finished fifth in the Brocklesby, a good few lengths behind the above mentioned. This son of Clodovil was a cheap yearling purchase at £5,000 but started favourite that day. This was Rod Millman's first Brocklesby runner since Phantom Whisper won the contest in 2005. There was a fair word for this April foal and I am convinced the stable expected more. He showed good pace before being outpaced in the final two furlongs. The stable often struggle to win on debut so it could well be prudent to give him a second chance. This yard have the knack of winning second time out and if their juveniles have ability this is the day they shine. I was lucky enough to have a chat with James Millman on Twitter and he said they have a good string of two-year-olds and the recent debut victory of Master Carpenter adds to those thoughts. On balance, most form readers will consider this bay colt has no chance against Vodka Time. However, his re-opposing could magnify his starting odds. It wouldn't surprise me to see a much-improved performance today and if you want a speculative punt this could go well.
It will be interesting to see how Richard Fahey's juveniles go this year because he has been quoted as saying they have bought a different type of horse, which often means they are more three-year-old types. Kevin Ryan had a similar transition, a few years back, which proved disappointing. Skye's The Limit, a son of Pastoral Pursuits, cost 32,000gns and definitely a two-year-old in the making. This youngster jumped in the deep end when competing at Stakes class on debut, when second to Brocklesby victor Mick's Yer Man. Make no mistake, that was a noteworthy performance. He was a tad slow from the stall but threw down a challenge in the final two furlongs. Once Turner's talent was pushed out, Skye's The Limit was eased in the final furlong. I like the look of this colt. He is a determined sort, professional, with a fluent stride. It will take a fair juvenile to beat him today.
The debutantes hail from influential two-year-old stables. However, they will have to be primed to win at the first time of asking. In addition, turning courses are much more difficult to win on debut and reason why experience is a big advantage.
It's good to see Mrs Fitri Hay having two-year-olds in training with Paul Cole after their falling out. Meritocracy cost 40,000gns at the yearling sales - which is pocket money for this owner. Cole has commented that their juveniles have just started galloping on grass and going well. The betting is the best guide for this early [January] foal, a son of Kheleyf. If priced 8/1 & less he would have fair win and place claims. However, he is weak on the exchanges [Friday]. The betting is key.
Montaigne is the first runner for Ralph Beckett who is a horse trainer I respect with his debutantes. This home bred is well related being a half-brother to Pabusar and half-sister to Fillionaire. Both competed at Group class. The mare won on debut when trained by Michael Jarvis, with narrow losses at Pattern grade. The stable have a good strike rate at this course and I can see this January foal winning this season. The type to go well on debut but it will take a smart horse to win on its racecourse bow.
Richard Hannon has failed to hit the winning target with his few two-year-old runners this season. No surprise - he will have plenty by the end of the season. Fig Roll is one of two fillies in the line-up. She is well bred being a daughter of Bahamian Bounty out of Cake who was similarly owned and trained. The mare won on her first two starts before narrowly losing at Royal Ascot in the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2). She won at Listed class and a narrow loser at Group class on a couple of occasions. Richard Hannon said:"We have been careful with the two-year-olds because of the cold weather, but we have Fig Roll going in the opener. She is home-bred by Des Anderson and is out of his fast racemare Cake, who won first time out on the all-weather herself (at Lingfield) and also won the Listed St Hugh's Stakes at Newbury and finished third in the Cornwallis at Ascot. Fig Roll is by Bahamian Bount so it is a speedy pedigree, and, though she is a filly taking on the colts, we hope that she will run well.''
The other filly is Rough Courte. This 15,000gns yearling purchase is trained by Mick Channon. This daughter of Clodovil is clearly ready to run with a number of engagements but a recent Selling entry doesn't inspire confidence and unless this is a red herring I would expect her to be outclassed.
Conclusion: This looks a competitive heat and one of the best maidens seen this season. The form horses set a decent standard and it would take a pretty smart debutante to lower their colours. It isn't beyond the realms but it would dampen my spirits. Fig Roll & Montaigne look to be the better debutantes. However, I would stick with the three raced. It is a tough call to pick between them although most people will ignore Dovil's Duel after his loss to Vodka Time. He may well be put in his place but Millman's juveniles can improve markedly on their second start so don't be surprised if he runs well. Vodka Time & Skye's The Limit will be winning this campaign and look natural two-year-olds. Both caught the eye on debut and it could be a battle. At the prices, I would rather take a watching brief and enjoy the contest. If Dovil's Duel drifted to huge odds he may be worth a speculative punt.
Please share this post.
Other 2yo races:
1:50 Doncaster
