An EBF Stallions Maidens Stakes over 5f 34y on good ground. Twelve two year olds take part: nine colts and three fillies. Two juveniles have race experience with a first outing.
Last year, this race was won by Kasb, trained by John Gosden in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum. This colt went on to disappoint at Royal Ascot when competing in the Coventry Stakes (Group 2). He achieved an official rating of 95.
This race has been won by a number of talented horses. For all your latest trainer news visit Horse Trainer Directory.
Sixth Sense is a fair-looking juvenile who showed promise when finishing third in the Scottish Brocklesby. This son of Shamardal was fancied to go well that day and showed promise. The winner is held in high regard but difficult to use as a measure because he left the rest toiling in his wake. The fifth [Smart Mover] let the form down when unplaced at Ripon although I had fears she was slightly flattered when running on debut.
Richard Fahey has been in good form with his juveniles and *Sanaadh is of particular interest. This chestnut colt is a son of Exceed And Excel out of the exceptional Queen's Logic, who retired from racing unbeaten in five races taking the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2), Lowther Stakes (Group 2), Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) & Fred Darling Stakes (Group 3). Jaber Abdullah is a fantastic owner who often finds bargain buys but this colt would have fetched a huge price if he had gone through the sales. Sanaadh held an entry for the Brocklesby Stakes and received another similar entry of late. These are confident pointers of ability and with such a regal pedigree is worthy of note.
Ginger Joe is the first two year old to representative for Peter Chapple-Hyam. This son of Medicean is out of an unraced mare. He cost £32,000 at the yearling sales. Chapple-Hyam is an star trainer of juveniles. His debut statistics detail a good strike rate with fancied runners. The betting is important and if priced 13/2 & less has good win and place claims.
Another top trainer dipping his toe into the two year old racing pond for this season is Brian Meehan who fields Harvard Man. This February foal, is a bay colt sired by Equiano out of a Grade 1 winning mare [Fabulously Fast]. This horse was bred by Newsell Park Stud and owned by The Honourable Earle I Mack. The tissue price suggests this horse will be unfancied in the betting but he would be of interest if strong in the market. Manton House Estate can win at more speculative prices [10/1 - 12/1] although very few over 16/1.
Charlie Appleby had a couple of two year olds race at Newmarket [yesterday] but neither showed much promise. Hawkbill is an American bred son of Kitten's Joy out of a mare who was a narrow loser on debut at Grade 2. Godolphin do not waver when it comes to money and this horse cost $355,000 at the Keeneland Yearling 2014 September Sales. I find this stable difficult to predict with debutantes but they field many winners. One for the shortlist.
Another Boy hails from Ralph Beckett's stable who can go well when making their racecourse bow. This home bred son of Paco Boy is out of a Group-raced mare [similarly owned].This colt was sent through the sales for £5,500 [bought in by vendor].
Interesting to see Marcus Tregoning making a brisk start to the juvenile season, this being the second runner. Thaqaffa is a bay son of Kodiac out of a poor mare. He was purchased by Shadwell Estate Company [racing in the familiar ilks of Hamdan Al Matkoum] for 80,000GNS at the yearling sales. This stable have a relatively poor strike rate with debutantes but they can win when priced 14/1 & less. A wide draw is never ideal for a two year old making on its first start and best watched.
Finally the three fillies. Richard Hannon has been a touch quiet this early season but this race has been a very good hunting ground over the years. It has been used as a stepping stone for Royal Ascot. It is never easy for a filly to beat colts. Ring Of Truth is a bay filly sired by Royal Applause out of a debut-winning mare trained by Sir Michael Stoute, placed at Listed class and unplaced at Group 3. Racing in the Royal silks, this filly is owned & bred by The Queen. This stable often send a fair sort to contest this race and if priced 13/2 & less has fair claims.
David Evans usually starts the Flat season all guns blazing but he has been a little more sedate this term. Sweet Taboo is sired by Approve out of a Listed-placed mare. This yearling was purchased by Wayne Clifford for 14,000eur.
Evans fields the once-raced filly Zeeoneandonly who trailed home last when making her debut at Windosr when looking second string. Will be a huge price if you fancy a speculative punt.
Aragon Knight & Sarky Jack are best watched.
Conclusion: Let the betting settle before jumping in unless you fancy something at big odds and anticipate a gamble. This race has been won by some decent juveniles over the years and a good few winners will come from this contest. This looks a tough race to call but a few horses are worthy of note. Sanaadh is exceptionally well bred and a couple of entries for stakes races suggests this colt will go well. He was entered for the Brocklesby which suggests he has been on the gallops and ready to go. Few trainers have debut statistics like Richard Fahey. Must run a big race. The betting is the best guide for the others and if priced 13/2 & less Hawkbill, Ginger Joe & Ring Of Truth hold fair claims. A race to take note for future winners.
*NR
The Scottish Brocklesby over 5f on good to soft going. Just six runners: fives colts and one filly for a respectable first prize of almost £10,000. This race was won last year by Mukhmal, trainer by Mark Johnston, a dual winner and highly tried colt unplaced in the Norfolk Stakes (Group 2), Molecolm Stakes (Group 3) & Flying Childers (Group 2). His best performance came at Sandown's Dragon Stakes (Listed) when second of four.
Johnston has started the juvenile Flat turf season in imperious form with his first three two-year-olds winning (Ravenhoe, Rah Rah & Burantino). Kingsley House Stable have an interesting recruit here with Sixth Sense, ridden by Joe Fanning. This chestnut colt, a son of Shamardal bred by Darley, in the ownership of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, is out of an unraced mare. It is interesting to note this April foal was originally entered to run in the Brocklesby Stakes (Doncaster), a contest won by the stable's Ravenhoe. This factor is all the more intriguing regarding David O'Meara's entrant First Bombardment, which finished runner-up behind the said Johnston victor. Sixth Sense is likely to be fancied in the betting, which is as much to do with Jonhston's flying start to the two-year-old season. As many bloggers have noted, you have to question whether this means the stable juveniles are likely to be poor value.
O'Meara's First Bombardment is owned by Northern Hart Racing & Partner. This son of Pastoral Pursuits is out of a twice-winning mare costing £18,000. This bay colt (not two until the end of the month) was quite fancied in the betting when contesting the Broclesby Stakes at Doncaster. He ran a sterling race when finishing second to Ravenhoe, looking the winner in the closing stages (touched big odds-on in-running) only to be denied in the last strides. First Bombardment was quite keen in the early part of the race, travelling well and a straightforward juvenile. Experience often brings a marked advantage over debutantes. In truth this horse sets the standard. However, it is worth noting that the form of the Brocklesby is yet untested. It could well be the case this horse will eclipse the opposition but it doesn't pay to imagine a juvenile's standard of ability until you can appreciate where it sits in the pecking order and at the very least has proven to have enough ability to win an average maiden. The Brocklesby featured less runners this year and only four juveniles showed ability. First Bombardment will be fit,savvy and primed to run a big race and the 7lb apprentice is no doubt on board to make this a winning day. Nevertheless, it pays to be cautious, especially at Stakes class because you can never quite tell the standard of opposition.
What are we to make of the other debutantes?
Brian Ellison fielded a horse in the Brocklesby (General Alexander) which showed promise and must give connection a fair line with their debutante, Mr Morse. This brown/roan colt is sired by Hellvelyn out of a multiple-winning sprint mare. This May foal was purchased as a yearling by Phil Martin for £34,000. The stable usually struggle to win with their debutantes although a betting move would bring more confidence.
David Brown and John Fretwell have made a great partnership when it comes to finding talented two-year-olds. Tribesman is a son of Equiano out of a poor race mare. This chestnut foal cost 12,000gns, later purchased at the yearling sales by Fretwell for £35,000. This stable's juveniles often go well with their debutantes and if priced 13/2 & less hold good win and place claims.
One of the outsiders is Zephyr Breeze trained by Noel Wilson. This son of Piccolo was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales for 22,000GNS. The stable have few debut winners and although being Stakes entered is a decent sign I would advise a watching brief.
The only filly in the field hails from Bellwood Cottage Stables who made an impact last season with The Wow Signal (pictured) who at Group 1 and fancied to go well in the 2000 Guineas. Smart Mover is an Irish-bred daughter of Fast Company, purchased at the yearling sales for 35,000EUR by Richard Knight Bloodstock/Sean Quinn. Fillies are often smaller horses and fitter than the colts although can be outclass by bigger, stronger colts. The betting is the best guide to this juvenile. If priced 13/2 & less this horse has fair win and place claims.
Conclusion: Early two-year-old races can often be tricky affairs and stakes races can bring even more dilemma because they are often targeted by trainers who fancy they have a decent thoroughbred. Form at this time of year is a big positive and First Bombardment, being a narrow loser, ticks a lot of boxes. David O'Meara will be disappointed if this colt doesn't win. He may well win but it is difficult to make assessment of his first effort. Certainly the final furlong of the Brocklesby was pretty slow. On the positive side, this horse looks straightforward and sets the standard. It's always interesting to read the latest stable news via trainer websites & blogs. It is intriguing to see Mark Johnston field Sixth Sense who was considered for the Brocklesby but stablemate Ravenhoe won, representing Kingsley House. Johnston had three two-year-old runners that day - all winning and looking fair sorts. He made the headlines with his impressive trio and the stable have a bumper string of talent. Connections must have a line with First Bombardment and it could be telling if Sixth Sense starts favourite. The downside is that the bookmakers are likely to give little value. Tribesman and Smart Mover hail from stables that have a fair win and place strike rate when priced 13/2 & less. Mr Morse & Zephyr Breeze are best watched. A difficult race to assess with the favorites likely to be little value while all horses still have something to prove. A watching brief.
