O'Brien Looking To The Future with Horoscope

In my last post my headline horse was the Hugo Palmer trained Iffraaj colt SPIRIT OF IFFRAAJ, it wasn't a confident selection but as I said I do like following owner and trainer combinations as part of the selecting process. It's always worth noting Palmer and Dr Ali Ridha. The 14/1 early price was worth a small each way and come race time Spirit was 10/1. 

Mark Johnston and Mr Hussain Alabbas Lootah are getting on my nerves lately haha and Spirit Of Iffraaj was denied by the easy Johnston winner Dark Company who was a great price at 2/1 after being odds on early in the day. 

My other selection was NATIONAL BALLET who disappointingly finished out the places after being well-supported. I’m pretty sure we will see more of the O’Brien trained Deep Impact colt sometime next year so don't give up yet.

A couple of other winners to note, INTRUSIVE won at Ayr last week and was an 8/1 shot from my Karl Burke post on his 2-year-olds to follow plus ORGETORIX from the Ralph Beckett yard was an eye-catcher and won yesterday at York at 5/2. 

I mentioned Creedmoor on Twitter and the Roger Charlton filly could only manage third at Chelmsford, finally it was nice to see ST MARK’S BASILICA win the Darley Dewhurst Stakes today after writing about the A P O'Brien colt back in May.

It's a 1-2 for @Ballydoyle in the @DarleyStallions Dewhurst Stakes!

St Mark's Basilica gets the better of his stable companion Wembley to win the Group One contest under @FrankieDettori 👏 pic.twitter.com/KPu6mh6WS7

— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) October 10, 2020

14:55 Goodwood 11 Oct 2020 

A tasty little Listed race here and hopefully inexperience won't count against the John Gosden filly LEAFHOPPER. The twice raced John Gosden Dark Angel grey filly was only seen once as a 2-year-old when making a winning debut at Newmarket last August. The 480,000 gns purchases made her appearance at Catterick two weeks ago and showed she could still play a hand here. John Gosden rated this filly last year giving her entries for the Rockfel and the Fillies Mile, yes she lacks the experience but hopefully she can at least hit the frame here. 

13:10 Curragh (IRE) 11 Oct 2020

I missed out last week on not having a little dabble on Carlisle Bay after a big drift, so this week I’m going with the No Nay Never colt HOROSCOPE even though KHARTOUM looks to be the number one for the O’Brien team but as I have said before you just never know, whatever Horoscope does today another one that should be capable of winning soon enough.  

14:40 Windsor 12 Oct 2020 

Pure Dreamer has run a few nice races this season without getting off the mark, could hose up here but going to stick with the Andrew Balding colt SKIBO CASTLE. The Shalaa colt cost 130,000 euros at the Arqana 2019 October Yearlings Sale. I’m pretty sure more was expected of this well-bred colt last timeout, but he finished down the field but to be honest both starts so far have been contested by a few nice horses and hopefully after a few days off the track will bring improvement here. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.