A Conditions Stakes race over 5f on good ground. A small field of five two-year-olds, four with form, three winners, one debutante, a mix of colts & fillies.
A stiffer test for these debut victors. With early-season form thin on the ground Stakes races can be hellishly difficult to call.
Mark Johnston has started this campaign on a positive note with a couple of debut winners, including Split Rock who ran out a tidy winner at Southwell. This son of Shamardal, out of a Listed-winning mare, was professional that day and sure to improve with racing. The problem is trying to assess the merit of that form. He looks a well made colt and will make the fillies look on the weak side. This stable should be respected.
Tobias Coles is a talented trainer who does well with his small string of two-year-olds. Orton Park, a daughter of Moss Vale, is a good-looking bay and fair yearling purchase at £19,000. She was quite fancied on debut at Kempton and certainly knew her job. Held up, just off the pace, Stevie Donohoe gave a superb ride. A couple of cracks of the whip saw her charge at the line, beating Go Glamorous who looked to have the race won until the last stride. The third won next start and a couple of others have gone well. In truth, the horse who finished third, Kodafine, was an unlucky loser herself after a terribly slow start. Orton Park is likely to progress from that first start and a determined type.
The Trainer of M'Selle, Ron Harris, should have a fair idea where he stands with Orton Park because he trained the runner-up Go Glamorous. Lingfield isn't the easiest of courses for a debutante and especially so from a wide draw. She wasn't best away and ran to her right which for a few strides gave the impression she had little chance. However, this filly sprinted to the first bend and got to the rail. Harris' juvenile is a speedy sort because she had all the others off the bridle and won in comfortable fashion. The form of that race has been franked with the five, sixth & eighth winning although it is worth noting a few of those were in desperate need of experience. The second, Diamond Lady, has been beaten next start although that wasn't a bad race. M'Selle looked inexperienced on debut and will be wiser today. She shouldn't lack for pace. The negative is that she looked a little on the weak side and I just have concerns if it comes to a battle she may falter.
Vodka Time makes his third appearance after a beaten favourite on his last start at Kempton. This bay colt from Indian Haven was fancied and run creditably when second in the Brocklesby. David Evans [trainer] chatted to RUK before this colt's second start and seemed bullish about his chances. At times, you have to take these comments with a pinch of salt but I'm pretty sure they like this youngster. It could well be the case the Kempton race had a touch of class. The winner looked very professional and the unlucky second has her sights set on the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2). Time may tell the first five have ability. Evans should know where he stands with regard to Orton Park because he had a debutante thrash Go Glamorous on her next start. He could be a live chance and if well backed it would bring more confidence.
Clive Britain has never been afraid of a challenge and often his boldness has reaped rewards. Bahamian Heights starts his two-year-old career at Stakes level. This son of Bahamian Bounty cost 50,000gns at the yearling sales out of a listed-winning mare who was trained by Rae Guest. This April foal will need to be smart to beat winning opponents and it would seem a tall order. The majority of their debutantes win when priced 13/2 & less.
Conclusion: Stakes races can often be a law unto themselves and a tricky race type. The form horses should have the edge over Clive Britain's debutante. However, for many trainers this can be a positive entry if not illogical to many race fans. I wouldn't consider Bahamian Heights unless he is priced 13/2 & less, which I imagine to be unlikely. It is difficult to assess the form of those raced. Split Rock is a decent-looking colt but what he achieved on debut is difficult to know. Only time will tell what he achieved. It is difficult to second guess. However, he does appeal against the two fillies with size and scope. M'Selle ran well on debut and looks to have plenty of pace. I just fear she may be a little bit weak, which could find her out. Stakes races are tough so don't be surprised if the field is strung out. Orton Park is a battling type and done well to win on debut. The form of that race looked to take a knock when Go Glamorous was comprehensively beaten by one of David Evans' newcomers. Ron Harris had stated that he thinks Go Glamorous is bound for the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2). This may seem an optimistic statement or could it just be that Evans winner [Majestic Alexander] is a class horse? Vodka Time has been beaten twice but I am pretty sure that Kempton defeat was to talented juveniles. He could go well at a price. I would stick with Vodka Time & Split Rock but it's not a race I would bet.
Other 2yo races:
3:10 Beverely:
Pointers: Hickster has been entered for a Stake race so positive sign. Captain Midnight has fair win & place claims if priced 13/2 & less.
3:45 Beverley
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.
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Other 2yo races:
1:50 Doncaster
