An EBF Maiden Stakes over 5f 10y on good going. Ten two year olds take part: one gelding, fiver colts & four fillies. Two juveniles have race experience. A selection of top trainers.
Last year this race was won by talented colt Justice Good, trained by David Elsworth. He won this race on his second start achieving three victories with a best performance when fourth behind The Wow Signal - beaten less than three lengths - in the Coventry Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot.
Good to see Paul Cole's allegiance with Mrs Fitri Hay going strong. Archimedes is a bay colt sired by Invincible Spirit out of a talented multiple-winning mare [Waveband] who won at Listed class. This bay cost 240,000 at the yearling sales when purchased by Hugo Merry Bloodstock. Whatcombe Estate have fair win and place claims with debutantes 8/1 & less although few prove victorious outside that betting guide. Fitri Hay's two year olds always demand respect.
Mark Johnston has a huge string of two year olds this season and already has potentially smart juveniles with the likes of Buratino, Rah Rah & Delizia. Bathos is sired by Poet's Voice out of a twice-winning mare [Santolina] who won at Listed class and far from disgraced at Group 1. Bathos was purchased as a foal for 62,000gns, racing in the familiar silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. The Johnston debutantes are a law unto themselves and although respected I'd take a watching brief. A wide draw makes life a little more difficult.
Charles Hills fields his first juveniles of the season at a course he has sent a number of decent horses. Shanghai Glory is a chestnut son of Exceed And Excel out of a winning mare who enjoyed a trip. This colt cost 115,000 at the yearling sales. The stable have fair win and place claims if priced 13/2 & less.
Their other runner is the bay filly High Speed. She is a daughter of Kodiac out of a winning mare. This juvenile cost 65,000gns from BBA Ireland and half-sister to Mary Fildes. Similar comments apply to their other horse.
David Evans has two horses: the once-race filly Silver Springs & the debutante colt Silver Wings.
*Silver Springs has course and distance experience and quite well backed when racing just over a week ago. This grey filly wandered and her jockey eased down in the closing stages when all chance had gone. It wouldn't be the biggest surprise to hear that much better was expected. The form of that first race may be fair but much more is needed here.
Silver Wings hails from the same stable and interesting because this grey colt, a son of Zebedee out of a French-raced mare, held an entry for the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster. Raj To Riches held a similar engagement and suffered a narrow loss at Windsor on his racecourse bow. This 17,000 yearling purchase has a good draw and worth noting in the betting. This March foal could well be subject of a gamble. Interesting.
The other form horse is trained by Brendan Powell and ridden by Fergus Sweeney. Sparky Jack was sent off 40/1 when racing on debut in a competitive maiden at Newbury. The first three or four horses have fair ability. This son of Holy Roman Emperor was purchased at the yearling sales by the trainer for 5,500gns. This bay colt was never competitive and although experience is advantageous a watching brief is advised.
Dream Dreamer is trained by Jamie Osborne. This bay filly is the oldest in the field [14th Jan] by first-season sire by Dream Ahead out of a Listed-placed mare costing £35,000 at the yearling sales. On balance, the stable have few debut winner. It is interesting to see Frankie Dettori taking the ride. Best watched.
Mark Usher isn't renowned for debut winners although his horses can run well at a price. Indigo is an early foal [9th Feb]. This grey filly is a daughter of Medicean out of an unraced mare. This horse didn't go through the sales ring. An extreme draw isn't the best start. Best watched.
Deer Song is trained by John Bridger and the only gelding in the field. The stable usually have limited two year olds although their debutante Stormflower ran well on her racecourse bow. Best watched.
Conclusion: An interesting race. The form horses need to improve although Silver Springs may be capable of better and may be backed. I'm quite interested in David Evan's debutante Silver Wings who held an entry for the Brocklesby Stakes. The stable can ready a two year old and likely to be fit. Watch the betting. If backed could go well. A low draw is a positive. The other debutantes are best judge by the market. Archimedes is well bred from a noted owner. The stable can win first time out and this bay colt has fair win and place claims if priced 8/1 & less. Charles Hills' juveniles often go well here and Shanghai Glory and High Speed have fair win and place claims if priced 13/2 & less. The others are best watched.
*NR [Silver Springs]
A Maiden Stakes over 5f 59y on good to firm going. Six two year olds: two colt and four fillies. Silver Springs ran at 4:55 Windsor [Monday] so unlikely to take part.
A couple of juveniles have race experience including one from Ireland.
Last year, this race was won on debut by Bronze Marquette, shooting clear by five lengths, Gary Moore's filly had a trio of victories on her formative season. The most prestigious being at Listed class, while unplaced in the Flying Childers (Group 2), She attained an official rating of 104.
Taexali hails from Irish-based trainer John Patrick Shanahan. This is his first Great British runner of the season. However, this County Kilkenny handler has fielded 75 runners over the last five years with twelve winners. This February foal, a bay colt, is a son of Raven's Pass is out of a four-time-winning mare who won at Listed class, while unplaced six times at Group level. Taexali finished a respectable fifth on debut at the Curragh on heavy going.That first race had win prize of almost £10,000 and Plus 10 Bonus. He led but tired in the closing stages, beaten three lengths. By all account that was a promising debut and he sets the standard. On breeding a stiffer test of stamina may be needed and the ground is markedly different from his racecourse bow.
Jet Setting is one of four fillies taking on the boys. Richard Hannon has seen a few juveniles go well this Flat season although a little quiet in some respects. This Irish-bred filly is sired by First Company out of a winning mare. A February foal, she races in the familiar silks of Mrs Julie Woods, a bargain buy at just 7,000eur [foal]. She finished fourth on debut when relatively fancied. It is difficult to assess the standard of that maiden although Gin In The Inn won easily and looks a talent. The second [Twisting Hay] and third [Willytheconqueror] were both fancied and money for the latter named. Clearly, this is a matter of opinion and with all early-juvenile form you are taking a gamble. However, time may tell this filly has enough ability to win a small race.
Bill Turner fielded what is likely to be his best two year old in the Brocklesby and while Just That Lord finished fourth [has just about enough ability to win a race] it does temper my enthusiasm for his string who may be lesser types. Certainly, many of his juveniles to race this season have proved limited. Mustn't Grumble is sired by Intense Focus out of a four-time winning mare [Lough Mist (IRE)] who disappointed at Listed class. This chestnut colt was purchased at the yearling sales by the trainer for 14,000eur. He races in the familiar red & white silks of E A Brook. That gives some aspect of hope. Ryan While takes off a valuable 5lb claim. Although Turner is reputed as a good trainer with juveniles first start their statistics are relatively poor. After a few disappointments, I'd take a watching brief.
No Body's Fool is owned and bred by T Taplin who has horses with a number of trainers - his best horse Pedro Pete. This chestnut filly, a daughter of Sixties Icon out of a multiple-winning mare [Ownership of Taplin] won her first two starts for Mick Channon, placed in the Hilary Needler Trophy, then halfway down the field in the Albany Stakes (Group 3). Not bad breeding at all. Michael Madgwick has a small string of just five two year old. He had one winner in 2012 when Multitask prevailed, comfortably, at odds of 100/1.
The last filly of the field is Just Emma. This home bred was interestingly sent through the sales ring for just £1,100 [to gain entry to auction races]. Owner A A Byrne has had a good few winners with Joseph Tuite. I have a lot of time for this trainer. This handler from Great Shefford, Berkshire, has six two year olds in training. The stable's youngsters can go well on debut and worth noting in the betting, if supported.
Silver Springs is likely to be a non runner so analysis will not be given.
Conclusion: Interesting race in its own way with all horses having some aspects worth noting. Taexali is difficult to assess with not only early-season form but coming across the Irish sea. That was most likely a fair race with regard to prize money and he showed speed before tiring. On breeding this colt may need further and a marked difference in going is a question mark. Jet Setting was beaten by a potentially class colt on debut and time may tell those placed are up to winning standard. I wouldn't back Mustn't Grumble as the stable's juveniles have been poor beyond the Brocklesby fourth. The two outsiders do have aspects of interest and at huge odds may figure if this race if no more than average. A watching brief.
