Pierre Lapin Oozes Class In The Mill Reef (Plus Reviews)

TRACKER AND EYE-CATCHER UPDATE: 

It's been a great few days for the blog with a few nice winners from my tracker list and my weekly eye-catchers. 

13:15 Fri 20 September 2019: NEWBURY: 33/1 SHOT TOTHEOTHERSIDE ROMPS HOME. 

First up was Tommy Rock who was an eye-catcher after a promising debut at Bath last month. I also had Tommy Rock as a tracker after Clive Cox had given this Society Rock colt a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry back in August. This was a definite step backwards and I think that Group entry might have been a little ambitious, time will tell. The early morning drift was a worry and Tommy Rock never turned up and finished a disappointing twelfth. I am hopeful we will see a better performance next timeout because I feel this wasn't the real Tommy Rock that turned up today. 

In the same race, I had Totheotherside who I noted as a tracker after Richard Hannon had given this Dandy Man filly two Class 2 entries. This was a really nice performance and how she started at 33/1 is beyond me. I guess somebody had a few quid on though as she was 50/1 earlier in the day. Totheotherside ran out an easy winner when making all to win by a length and a half from the promising King Ragner and looks a horse to follow. 

13:40 Fri 20 September 2019: AYR: 8/1 SHOT GRAVITY FORCE HANGS ON FOR WIN.

Same again here with two horses I had noted down. First was Gift Of Kings who just like Tommy Rock I was expecting a much better performance this time. To be fair Gift Of Kings ran a decent debut race at York last timeout and I thought the Kevin Ryan trained Kingman colt would be in the shake-up at least. The heavily backed favourite finished second to last and it was another mystery and disappointment. This is another potentially nice horse and hopefully, Gift Of Kings will come back strong next timeout. 

The winner was the Karl Burke trained Gravity Force who was on my eye-catcher list after a promising debut at Newcastle at the beginning of the month. At Newcastle, I noted that jockey Clifford Lee had earned his money after he was pushing hard on Gravity Force as soon as he left the gates. This time he travelled much better and held on gamely to win at 8/1. I do love a second timeout Karl Burke 2-year-old. 

14:55 Newbury 21 Sep 2019: NEWBURY: PIERRE LAPIN OOZES CLASS IN THE MILL REEF. 

I think I enjoyed this tracker the most even though I didn't have a bet. I have been waiting to see the exciting Pierre Lapin for a while now, in fact since the 24th of May. I think that’s what makes this victory even sweeter. Pierre Lapin is trained by Roger Varian and a half brother to the speed machine Harry Angel. His debut race at Haydock back in May was promising and despite a string of significant entries throughout the season, Roger gave him time to mature and strengthen up. It was race time and Richard Hannon had been talking up his exciting prospect Mystery Power. The betting couldn't separate the pair as they were sent off 9/4 joint-favourites. It was a race I had been waiting a while for but was over in what seemed a second as Pierre Lapin showed the racing world what he was all about. To be honest I was slightly worried until he picked up a furlong out and quickened up to beat his main rival Mystery Power by a length and a half. An impressive victory and worth the wait as the Roger Varian colt won the Dubai Duty-Free Mill Reef Stakes with ease. I for one can't wait to see what he can do as a 3-year-old next season. 

See what the stable said before the big race. 

Learn more about the Mill Reef Stakes (past winners and more) 

Thanks for reading and good luck

Related post: How Good is Roger Varian's Race Horse Pierre Lapin