Two-Year-Old Eye-Catchers 19th - 26th July

Quick update on my latest selections and eye-catchers. It pains me to say it but a visit to Specsavers could be in order after a disappointing eye-catcher over the weekend, Nurse Dee looks limited, to say the least after finishing down the field at York on Saturday. It did get better though as two trackers got their heads in front. The Cheveley Park owned Ice Sprite ventured into handicap company and the William Haggas trained Zoffany filly made no mistake at Newmarket winning easily. Top Class Angel finally got her first win for trainer Richard Hannon after being placed twice this season. The Dark Angel filly dug in deep to also win at Newmarket. 

Saturday’s headline post was Godolphin at the double and the first leg of it came in when the well-thought-of Charlie Appleby Frankel colt DHAHABI held on from the fast-finishing Dinoo who will be winning his Maiden soon enough. I took 9/4 the night before with Dhiahabi and had a winning bet so it was a profitable day for me personally. I expected Declaring Love to win easily after being well-supported but the Gosden filly Bizzi Lizzi had different ideas and won well with Declaring Love finishing second.

Dhahabi 🏇
✅By Frankel
✅Winning debut in the @BritishEBF Maiden Stakes with @the_doyler aboard for Charlie Appleby. pic.twitter.com/MZROBJxZA8

— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) July 25, 2020

Eye-Catchers 16:25 Sandown 21 July 2020 

First off congratulations to The Middleham Park Syndicate after Ventura Tormenta won the Prix Darley Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) at Chantilly last week when holding off the challenge of the Norfolk Stakes winner The Lir Jet. That brings me onto my first eye-catcher this week, VENTURA DIAMOND, who was purchased for 100,000 gns at the Tattersalls 2019 October Yearling Sales. The Richard Fahey trained Dandy Man filly made an eye-catching debut at Sandown last Tuesday in what looked a pretty nice fillies Maiden. The winner Miss Jingles and second Zoetic are both nice types and the way Ventura Diamond was staying on at the finish I can see a winner sooner rather than later for this nice looking filly. 

12:00 Newmarket 24 Jul 2020

OLYMPIC THEATRE is a Michael Bell Mayson gelding I had noted down on my shortlist for the Newmarket race last Friday, Why? Because owners The Fitzrovians had a first timeout debut winner in 2018 called Nuremberg at Ascot. The price 40/1 well and truly put me off but luckily enough I backed the winner Jadwal anyway but was still disappointed I didn’t have a few quid each-way on Olympic Theatre who ran a stormer to finish third despite being slowly away and running green. Another who should be up to winning soon enough. 

12:20 York 25 Jul 2020 

Richard Fahey has a good relationship with owners Clipper Logistics with plenty of 2-year-old winners over the years including the exciting Space Traveller. STATE PATROL has some way to go to be even mentioned in the same breath as the Bated Breath colt but there was a lot to like about the Zoffany colts debut at York on Saturday. A 50,000 euro purchase at the 2019 Orby Sales State Patrol is a half-brother to the brilliant The Last Lion. A drifter at York on debut from 11s to 14/1 and it showed he was in need of the race when slowly away before finishing well to finish third. Considering the start and traffic problems along the way It was definitely an encouraging debut and one to look out for the next start. 

More Eye-Catchers: 

16:20 Doncaster 25 Jul 2020 RAADOBARG 

2:20 York 25 Jul 2020 PATIENT DREAM 

13:15 Ascot 25 Jul 2020 SNOW LANTERN 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.