NOTEBOOK
Right, I'm trying something different and I think it will be better if I start a new post/section to site it.
Rather than reviewing a 2-y-o race underneath the preview, I will be noting, in here, what I feel are interesting runs.
I will be updating on a regular basis but not necessarily every day.
Friday July 15
Newbury 1.00 Classic (DUBAWI) a nice debut by this colt, slowly away but made smooth headway to get into contention and ran on well for 4th. place. A lot more to come I think.
Newbury 1.00 Lenormand (DUBAWI) given an unusually negative ride for a horse from this yard (C.Appleby), held up out the back early, didn't get a clear run when trying to move forward, switched to the stand side and ran on for 6th. I would expect a bolder showing next time.
Newbury 1.33 Classic Speed (KODIAC) as I noted in the preview for this, the mare of this colt has produced mostly stayers so it must have been encouraging for connections for him to lead this field until approaching the final furlong. he was fit, or sharp, enough to get involved in the finish but he was only four lengths back in sixth at the death. Connections will have learnt a lot from this.
Newbury 2.08 Trillium (NO NAY NEVER) a rather bloodless victory for this filly, showing the benefit of the experience of finishing second at Goodwood on debut. Quite keen and held up in the back she was moved to the far side of the group and made smooth headway to take the lead approaching the final furlong and was going further away at the line, looking to be a couple of grades superior to her rivals. Looks to have a future.
Newbury 3.53 Chateau (HAVANA GOLD) may be one of those horses who seeks out trouble in running, even in this relatively small field. with about two furlongs to go he was 'trapped' behind three of his rivals but his huge saving grace is the ability to accelerate when necessary which he did here and was almost back on the bit as he crossed the line in front. That burst of speed is going to win him more races, surely.
Haydock 2.25 Batal Dubai (PROFITABLE) not convinced of the strength of this event but this colt, who was making his debut, won it quite impressively. Rather keen early on he was switched to the far rail approaching the final furlong, finding a nice turn of foot he ran right away from his field to win by three and a half lengths.
Nottingham 2.00 Gaallib (TERRITORIES) who had run at Newbury only eight days previously appeared to show much improved form here. It may be down to a change of tactics held up out the back in last place until making headway if. out and when the horse that was giving him a lead wandered off the rail Gaallib was like a "rat up a drain pipe" finding a nice turn of foot to go clear and win by two and a half lengths. you could see him a couple of nurseries at least.
Saturday July 16
Newbury 1.15 Hectic (FSS MASSAAT) made quite an impressive debut, always prominent went on with two to run but had to deal with a strong challenge from the runner-up (see below), the first two could be decent.
Newbury 1.15 Alpha Capture (COTAI GLORY) , already gelded raced midfield until making headway and putting in a strong challenge late on to keep the winning favourite honest. Also making his debut and can only improve.
Newbury 3.30 Eddie's Boy (FSS HAVANA GREY). Normally I'm a little wary of these valuable big-field sales races but Eddie's Boy seemed to win this with no hint of a fluke. He had run well at Royal Ascot and did have the luck of being drawn on the stand rail, which he took advantage of by breaking and just about making all and remarkably going away again at the finish. He beat some decent animals in a convincing manner, you can't ask much more than that.
Curragh 1.30 Hans Andersen (FRANKEL) obviously improved for his first run where he had missed the break, quickly away here he made just about all quickening clear one and a half out and putting the race to bed.
Curragh 1.30 Al Riffa (WOOTTON BASSETT) making his debut but not neglected in the market caught the eye with a very strong late run from nowhere, was never going to catch the winner but took second, finishing one and a half lengths behind the favourite.
Curragh 2.03 Little Big Bear (No Nay Never) what a beast this horse is. Watching the July where he was due to run but was taken out very late, the cameras showed him walking away and he looked like the finished article, almost looked a 3-y-o. In this race it wasn't a matter just looks, always in the van on the main group he just accelerated away from them when asked. I don't think he will be at a price you will back him at for the rest of the year but he should stay a mile and an early price on the Guineas (whichever) might be worth looking at.
Thursday July 14
Leopardstown 5.15 Queen Maedbh (GLENEAGLES) - a nice debut by this filly, keen early on, ridden but ran on really well to take second place in the final half-furlong. Sure to improve for the experience.
Saturday July 9
Ascot 1.50 Defence Of Fort (STARSPANGLEDBANNER) - a big flashy (lots of white on legs) chestnut colt who made quite an impression on debut. Drawn on the stand rail, he was taken back and tucked in for some cover early on, two furlongs out he was switched back on to the rail and rushed forward to challenge for the lead after a short battle he found another gear and was sprinting away from his rivals close home. "flashy chestnuts" traditionally have a bit of a reputation but on this evidence he has a lot more to come.
Chester 2.33 Dickieburd (FSS CRACKSMAN) - showed much improved form here (stewards wanted to know why - "drop back in trip", says trainer. "Noted", said Stewards. This was his third effort finishing 8th. on both his previous outings over 6f. Quickly away here he made all and won unchallenged, probably not strong form but the colt showed a lot of speed here and will be, no doubt, able to pick up moreraces over a sharp 5f.
Friday July 8
Chester 6.30 Metahorse (FSS HAVANA GREY) after a promising debut at this course he was a rather disappointing beaten favourite on his second run, at Newmarket's July course but back on this turning 6f. he fulfilled the promise of his first run. Out the back and looking a bit tapped for toe he still had only one behind him as they rounded the final bend but brought with a run on the outside he showed a nice turn of foot to catch and leave the rest of the field behind, winning by an ever increasing two and a half lengths. Does he need a tight course? We will have to see.
Thursday July 7
Newmarket 1.20 Funny Story (FSS HAVANA GREY) - Throughout the race this filly, by the way she carried her head first to one side and then the other, gave the impression she wasn't appreciating the firmish ground. despite that she raced prominently throughout up the centre of the course, took the lead one out and ran on to win comfortably. If she does improve for a bit of give she could be decent.
Doncaster 2.35 Mill Stream (GLENEAGLES) - I watched the race on Sky Sports Racing and the pundits, who I thought went overboard, were very impressed with this performance, probably because they had been "bigging-up" Endeared, who finished second, beforehand. I've had a couple of looks at the replay and even though Mill Stream had to be ridden quite vigorously and hung right, he did show a great deal of determination in his quite low head-carriage. It was his debut and he should be winning again.
Doncaster 2.35 Royal Cay (FSS EXPERT EYE) - as I mentioned above I watched the race live and I didn't hear Royal Cay mentioned, on the second viewing I failed to pick him out again (poor vision, colour blind!), so for the third look I checked his stall number noted his white blaze and was able to follow him through the race. He was given what is sometimes called an "educational run", slowly away, out the back, headway 2 out never going to get competitive. With Dalakhani as his Damsire you would think 7-8f. would suit but the only entry he has is for one of those valuable sales races over 6 furlongs.
Newbury 6.38 Candle Of Hope (CABLE BAY) - a nice debut by the Queen's filly, travelling comfortably just off the pace, made headway approaching the final furlong to lead and then pull away from her field. Difficult to assess the strength of the form but she looked a couple of classes above the rest of them.
Tuesday July 5
Ffos Las 6.20 Immortal Beauty (COTAI GLORY) this was the filly's third run, after a promising debut at Ascot, everything went wrong when she re-appeared at Nottingham, after getting very upset in the stalls she was virtually un-steerable in the race. Again in this race, in deepest West Wales, things didn't quite work out for her, racing quite keenly she was unable to find a way through as they approached the final furlong, when the opening came she ran on really well but just failed to catch the winner. I think she would have won with a clear run and, hopefully, compensation awaits.
Saturday July 2
Carlisle 6.20 Hougoumont (FSS RAJASINGHE) probably not the highest quality form but the son of RAJASINGHE who was making his debut showed quite a bit of promise. Looking pretty green early and running a little wild but under riding came with a challenge up the stand rail and in another couple of strides would have been in front, had to settle for second but should soon lose the maiden tag at the right level.
Friday July 1
Beverley 6.23 Mrs Trump (FSS JAMES GARFIELD) was making her debut and was soon at the rear, making gradual progress down the far side, she had to be switched to the centre of the course to get a clear run, once she found the space she ran on really well for a very creditable second. Can only improve.
Sandown 1.50 Cuban Mistress (FSS HAVANA GREY) having her fifth run is rather exposed but this form looks sound with the first , Rocket Rodney, and third, Eddie's Boy both placed in their respective races at Royal Ascot so to split those two in finishing second looks to be a step up on her previous form. Held up early she was brought with a run on the srands side and ran on well without ever looking likely to threaten the winner.
Sandown 2.55 The Parent (FRANKEL) making his debut showed quite a bit of greenness, swerving and slow from the stalls, in last place until coming wide into the straight then started to make ground relentlessly closing on the leaders but was still almost three lengths back in fifth. He's sure to have learnt a lot from the experience.
Thursday June 30
Bellewstown 4.35
SEMANTICS (BROKEN VOW), making her debut, was given a very strange ride, held up in last place then making very rapid progress around the outside of the field to take the lead, she ran on well from there but just failed to hold off the favourite All Things Nice by a head. You would have to feel that if the move from the back had been a little more conservative that she would have got her head in front. A winner without a penalty perhaps?
Haydock 2.30
DESERT HERO (SEA THE STARS), on debut, was toward the rear early but was soon travelling well just off the pace, when asked for his effort he soon hit the front and was going away at the finish. Not sure about the quality in depth of the field but it was visually impressive.
Newbury 5.53
CLOCHETTE, a NO NAY NEVER filly making her debut, was towards the back of the field early and didn't have the clearest of runs when trying to make headway, when she did eventually get clear air she ran on very well to go down by a diminishing half a length in second place. Should improve for the run.
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