Winners, Winners,Winners for Trainer Quotes 2021

It’s been another great flat season and I for one won’t be resting on my laurels after another exciting season for craigsbettingblog. I will be hoping I can put more effort in next season and make it even better. I always love getting in touch with trainers and finding out about their new crop of 2-year-olds for the season ahead. Taking a look back at what horses they mentioned before they even set foot on the race course is always interesting. 

Eve Johnson-Houghton kindly forwarded information about her 2021 crop as early as February and one stand out horse was the Havana Gold colt CHIPOTLE who gave owners the Woodway 20 an unbelievable season winning £139.000 in prize money. As mentioned in one of my recent posts the Brocklesby is normally a good indicator that the horse has some level of ability and it proved the case for Chipotle who made light work of the other eight runners and went on to win the Windsor Castle and finished the season in style winning the Listed William Hill Trophy at Redcar. NUVOLARI, another mentioned by Eve as one for the future, won first timeout at Epsom in September and could be worth following as a 3-year-old.

New trainer Edward Bethell, another who forward some invaluable information on his first crop of 2-year olds. Edward mentioned that FEARBY was an early straightforward type and he wasn’t wrong when an eye-catching fourth on debut in May before going on to win the Dragon Stakes and finishing an excellent second in the Molecomb Group 3 Stakes Goodwood bringing in a total of £93.000 in prize money. Young Winston, Reel Rosie and Exminister, another three who got wins on the board in what was an excellent first season for Edward.

Charlie Fellowes chipped in with ATRIUM who grabbed a couple of wins who Charlie described as a strong, nice well made colt. 

George Scott, a trainer who always has time for the blog, gave MISTRIX as a horse to follow and the Vadamos filly won a nice class 3 Stakes race at York in September and might have more to come. 

Karl Burke, one of my favourite 2-year-old trainers never disappoints and had good things to say about the Dandy Man gelding KORKER and described him as a sharp 2-year-old who moves very well. Korker finished second on debut then added three wins in a great season for owners Fine Claret and More Turf Racing. GIFTED GOLD another winner for Karl who won first timeout in September. 

Marco Botti only mentioned a few but ODISSEO found his way the second part of the season. The £26.000 Ulysses colt took time to warm up and find his grade before winning two on the bounce and running his best race when stepping up a level last timeout. 

James Tate always gives a winner or two with his horses to follow and this season it was the same again as HIGH VELOCITY followed his promising debut at Yarmouth with a cosy win at Chelmsford last timeout and definitely has more to come. EL HADEEYAH took a few attempts to break her duck but got off the mark at Lingfield in July. 

AMAZONIAN DREAM had a great season for Rod Millman who finished second on his debut way back in April then went on to run with credit in a few tough races before finishing the season instyle winning back to back races at Newbury and Sandown and looks like a nice horse for the future. 

I managed to get a few owners on board this season and I love the way owners Quantum Leap don’t rush horses. It was nice to see the Ralph Beckett trained SPEYCASTER win on his third start after being given a nice write-up here back in February by Niall O'Connor and another to look out for next season. 

It was to get Qatar racing on board and they came up trumps with SUNSTRIKE who won second timeout for John Gosden then went on to run at group level and recent Hugo Palmer winner CUBAN BEAT another second timeout winner who looks a nice type going forward. 

The 2022 season is still a good few months away but next year I will be working harder to bring the best 2-year-old information to my readers. 

I would like to thank all my readers for making craigsbettingblog the place to go to for top 2-year-old information, without you my motivation would soon go.

5:40 Salisbury Racing Tips (29th May)

An interesting race over 5f on good to soft going.

Second Wind ran out a fair winner at Yarmouth on debut, taking advantage of Robasta who was 4/7f and struggled to play catch-up after a slow start. William Haggas [Second Wind] hasn't seen many two-year-olds on course this early season but this son of Kodiac was earmarked for a York Class 2 race but heads to Wiltshire with a win penalty. In my opinion it is always difficult to assess a winner. How do you limit a winner? That was a small field and the runner up [Robasta] has been placed twice since. It will be interesting to see if Second Wind can defy the burden. 

This looks a competitive race.

Rod Millman sends many of his better juveniles to race at Salisbury and Amazonian Dream is probably one of their better two-year-olds. In fact, I would go so far to say that the form of his first two starts is easily good enough to win an average maiden and it wouldn't be a surprise to see this son of Bungle Inthejungle contest pattern class. A good-looking colt with size and strength, he ran a sterling race on debut at Newbury. That was a decent race. He was very unlucky to bump into Tom Dasacombe's Flaming Rib when seemingly dropped in class at Haydock. The way the winners cruised past the opposition, I can only image he is group class. Amazonian Dream is a straightforward horse who has a level of ability. That is usually enough to win a race. Without doubt, he will run a race but will he win is another question. As always, it's about price to chance and value. I would rather bet on this horse each-way (if prices allow) but it's unlikely to get to that price. 

To add to the mix we have another trainer who I associate sending talented two-year-olds to Salisbury. Ralph Beckett unleashed Hello You who won impressively at Wolverhampton. Owner, Amo Racing Ltd have been splashing the cash like no ones business and Lovely Mana is worthy of respect. Beckett can win on debut, especially when his juveniles are strongly fancied in the betting (to be fair he is one trainer who can go well at a price). This daughter of Dabirsim out of a winning mare cost 115,000 guineas at the yearling sales. A horse I would fear. 

We don't stop at these three juveniles. There could be a dark horse hiding in the mist. Bosh, trained by Richard Hannon, may be a talented two-year-old. In fact I would go as far to say this bay colt has a level of ability. This son of Profitable out of a winning mare wasn't the most expensive yearling purchase at 62,000 guineas but money isn't always the answer to a talented two-year-old. Hannon has been in good form with his two-year-olds this season with five debut winners and plenty of others on their second start. If priced 10/1 and less sp has a fighting chance although I am always a little apprehensive about betting on horses on their first time outing. It's never an easy feat to beat an experienced horse. 

Saeed bin Suroor has been quiet this early season. He had his first two-year-old runner at Pontefract (28th May) and that colt disappointed. Home City doesn't look to be fancied in the betting but may have a hope if backed. The mare enjoyed a trip so whether this start over the minimum trip is up for question. However, the sire was a sprinter through and through. Home City has been earmarked for three decent races. A couple of Class 2 stakes races and even thoughts of going to Beverley for the Continental Two-Year-Old Trophy (Beverley 3:10). Those entries could well detail a talented horse. I think the betting will tell the story. If fancied to go well, I would consider this colt has to be priced 7/1 and less sp. 

Conclusion: Even a mundane looking race can hide potential stars of racing. Whether that will be the case here only time will tell. However, make no mistake this is a decent race with strength and depth. Form horses always have a distinct advantage and that's why Amazonian Dream and Second Wind (even with a win penalty) should be respected. It could be the case there are three debutantes heading here with hopes of a perfect start to their racing career. Lovely Mana, Bosh and Home City all catch the eye. The betting will seal the deal for Home City. If weak in the betting I would suspect he needs the run or a step up in distance. I would give Beckett's Lovely Mana a big shout if starting favourite and would be a live chance if not. I'm half interested in Bosh if available on the exchanges at a price. However, there is money for this colt and I would just fear betting at shorter odds because this race won't be a walk in the park. I would have to take a watching brief. 

Author: Jason Coote