Two-year-old (2yo) Eye-catchers (July 13 -19th)

Update on my weekend selections. 

Cosmic Princess was a horse I had been waiting for what seemed an age for, entered to run at the beginning of the month at Kempton before being declared a non-runner late on when being well-supported. The Hughie Morrison Kingman filly put in an eye-catching display last October over an inadequate trip and stepped up to 10 furlongs last Saturday. Hollie Doyle taking the ride, what a jockey she is, by the way, timed it to perfection when delivering Cosmic Princess perfectly to win by a neck. 

Two trackers in the 13.05 at Newbury in which could work out to be a nice Novice Stakes race. Calcutta Cup took a huge step forward from his debut run in the Woodcote when never involved, quickly away this time, and even though the Andrew Balding Territories colt finished fourth just outside the places I think Calcutta Cup still has a lot more to come once he learns to settle better. My next tracker was the well-touted joint-favorite Rushmore and I guess you would be disappointed if you backed the Andrew Balding Lope De Vega colt but watching the race a few times I think he was definitely green and will come on plenty for that debut run. The winner that day was the John Gosden trained Guru who looked professional and won well. 

Eye-Catchers 

Catterick 13:50 

Wednesday 15 July 2020 

Richard Fahey's two-year-olds look to have come into form lately with Gorytus, Rhythm Master, and International Girl all winning this month, so I will be keeping an eye out for the Kodiac filly NURSE DEE after a promising debut in a rough-looking race at Catterick. Richard Fahey actually ran three in this and Humid also showed promise and should be winning soon. The 7/1 shot was backed from 11s and was slowly away before being blocked in and running on when eventually finding her way out. The 52,000 gns purchase will hopefully pick up a small race soon. 

Newbury 13:40 

Sunday 19 July 2020 

ALKUMAIT looks a nice type for Marcus Tregoning and Mr. Hamdan Al Maktoum after a promising debut in what could be a nice little race at Newbury. The Showcasing colt did plenty wrong on debut when slowly away but still managed to finish strongly and get within a length or so of the nice Clive Cox colt Royal Scimitar. Alkumait was a 150,000 gns foal whose price rose to 220,000 gns as a yearling. 

York 12:15 

Sunday 19 July 2020

I actually had a split stake bet in this race with the winner Gorytus and my next tracker DEXTER BELLE. The Kevin Ryan trained Ajaya filly looked to be giving jockey Danny Tudhope a torrid time and was pulling for the first few furlongs like crazy. The 55,000 gns purchase was up with the pace until tiring pretty quickly the final furlong to finish seventh. Dexter Belle wasn't fancied in the betting that day and I will be keeping a close eye on the market next timeout to see if she attracts any support. 

AESTHETE trained by Michael Bell. 
HUMID trained by Richard Fahey. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Michael Bell More than a Motivator

“There's only one winner, its Motivator” rewind back to August 2004 trainer Michael Bell introduced a Montjeu colt in a 2-year-old Maiden Stakes race at Newmarket. Purchased for 75,000 gns at the 2003 October Yearling Sales for owners The Royal Ascot Racing Club the Epsom Derby was still a dream away but dreams come true and an emphatic 6-length win on debut was followed by another victory in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. Dreams had become a reality when 4th June 2005 Motivator lined up for the biggest test of his career in the richest race in Britain, the Epsom Derby. Johnny Murtagh rode the perfect race and tracked the leaders before quickening away to win by 5-lengths in a memorable win for all involved. Big Orange ended his career in Meydan 2018 after sustaining a leg injury with an official rating of 120 in what was an impressive career.

Michael Bell has trained some top horses over the years, Motivator of course who won the Derby and the Dante Stakes in the same year, Sariska won the Irish Oaks back in 2009, then we have Zanzibar and Revenue both group winners and who can forget Big Orange who had plenty of group success including the Group 1 Gold Cup Stakes in 2017. 

Talking of Big Orange brings me nicely to a couple of Michael Bell's 2-year-olds that I will be adding to my trackers this season. The first is AESTHETE who is a half brother to Big Orange. Owned by W.J and T.C.O. Greadly the Muhaarar/Miss Brown To You colt will have to be special to come close to Big Orange. I will be interested to see what distance he runs and one worth keeping an eye out for. Football agent and racehorse owner Kia Joorabchian, who races his horses under the Amo Racing Limited banner has had plenty of success with his 2-year-olds over the years. Flying Sparkle who was a 70,000 gns purchase in 2016 won the first timeout at Windsor in 2017, then went onto finish a gallant second in the Listed Redcar trophy. Maxi Boy was an expensive purchase for Amo Racing Limited at the 2018 yearling sales. The 380,000 purchase was clearly well-thought-of on debut when starting 11/4 at Yarmouth last season. The Oasis Dream colt took it all in his stride and won with a bit in hand. Maxi Boy then finished third in the Superlatives Group 2 Stakes at Newmarket. 

The next 2-year-old to go in the trackers is the Amo Racing Limited Frankel colt TONY MONTANA who was purchased at the tatts last October for a cool 500,000 gns. The grey colt's dam Tropical Paradise won the Group 3 Supreme Stakes and the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes in 2010 and ended up with an official rating of 103 for trainer Peter Winkworth. Tropical Paradise offsprings have looked an average bunch so far but David Simcocks Fiji who won at Lingfield on debut in January looks a type to do well this season. 

Thanks for reading and good luck for the season ahead.