Could Potapova Be Sir Michael Stoute's 1000 Guineas Horse?

You wouldn't normally get too excited about an EBF Novice Stakes at Chelmsford on cold Thursday afternoon. 

No one told Potapova, as this daughter of Invincible Spirit left her rivals some six-and-a-half lengths behind to take the spoils at 5/1. 

Racing in the familiar silks of Cheveley Park Stud, this home bred out of a four-times raced mare [Safina], was ridden to perfection by Ryan Moore. 

Although weak in the betting (drifting from 7/2 - 5/1), this May foal finished with verve to crush a six-strong field. 

Racing Post reporter, Steffan Edwards, commented:

'' POTAPOVA, a May foal, is a sister to 6f AW 2yo winner Panova (RPR 94) and half-sister to five other winners. She was weak in the betting but defied the negative vibes with a highly promising debut, travelling best throughout and quickening right away from a furlong out to win with ease. She could be smart.''

Racing Post Result:

''Tracked leaders, switched right home turn, led and going easily over 1f out, ridden 1f out, quickened and went well clear inside final furlong, ran on well, impressive (op 7/2 tchd 11/2).''

The signs were there. 

This bay filly had clearly been working well at home and it was a sign of interest that Sir Michael Stoute unveiled this horse so late in the season. Due to the late start to the Flat turf season, many trainers have struggled to get their better juveniles to the racecourse and a recent article in the Racing Post suggested next year's Classics, especially the 1,000 & 2,000 Guineas were likely to go to horses with no racecourse experience at two.

However, I suspect many of the big stables will be looking to introduced talented colts and fillies to get valuable experience for next year but also a sprinkling of pattern-class horses. 

There has been no mention of Potapova being targeted for next year's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, I suspect this is the plan for this horse. 

Take a look, below, to see what a sparkling debut it was.

What a debut! Sir Michael Stoute trained Potapova goes eight lengths clear in the closing stages to win the British @BritishEBF Novice Stakes under Ryan Moore. 🏇💨 pic.twitter.com/TpMEX2CAT5

— Chelmsford City Racecourse (@ChelmsfordCRC) November 26, 2020

Guest post: Jason Coote

Cheveley Park And Sir Michael Stoute 2-Year-Olds To Follow 2020

The 2020 flat season is upon us and as always I have been busy trying to find any information to beat them, god-damn bookies, this season. As you well know it’s the 2-year-olds I love to look out for and this year I'm hoping to unearth a couple of unraced beauties to go in my tracker for the season ahead. I always love to see what exciting prospects Cheveley Park Stud and Michael Stoute have lined up for the seasons ahead and this year is no different. Over the years they have produced some nice 2-year-olds and are always worth a second glance. 

REGAL REALITY was a nice 2-year-old for the Sir Michael Stoute yard in 2017. By Intello out of Regal Realm, the bay colt made a pretty impressive debut at Yarmouth despite drifting from 15/8 to his eventual starting price of 9/4. Ryan Moore dictated the pace and kicked on to win well. Regal Reality was put away after that success for the winter and since then the 5-year-old gelding won the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood in 2018 and last year added the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. 

Another Sir Michael Stoute horse that made a big impression as a 2-year-old in 2017 was the Frankel filly VERACIOUS. The bay filly was easy to back in a nice looking Class 2 event at Newbury on debut despite taking a slight drift from 5/2 to 3s, Veracious could only manage third that day after looking a touch keen. Next timeout Veracious looked a different horse with that run under her belt and stormed clear to put the Newmarket contest to bed for Ryan Moore gaining her first win for the Cheveley Park team. As a 3-year-old she only raced four times but all at Group level and gained her first Group win in the Group 3 Atlanta Stakes at Sandown. Next year the hardened Group performer got her rewards with a much-deserved win in the Group One Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and continues to race at the highest level. 

2019 seen Stoute and the Cheveley Park team unleash another Frankel filly in the name of MELNIKOVA. The chestnut well-bred filly was surprisingly sent off 8/1 for her debut in a Kempton Novice Stakes race in August, even though she ran green James Doyle managed to get a nice tune out of her and Melnikova stayed on to win by a neck. A host of nice entries followed but her next race was a Class 2 at Newbury where she could only manage third to another Frankel superstar QUADRILATERAL. I imagine we haven't seen the last of Melnikova and will be back stronger this season. 

I for one will be looking forward to seeing the firepower that Cheveley Park and Sir Michael Stoute bring to the new 2020 flat season. Let’s hope a couple of these can make a name for themselves in the future: 

QUEEN’S FAIR - 2-year-old bay filly by Dansili - Queen's Best by King's Best 

POTAPOV - 2-year-old bay filly Invincible Spirit - Safina by Pivotal 

IRREPROACHABLE - 2-year-old bay colt by Frankel - Infallible by Pivotal

INIGO JONES - 2-year-old bay colt by New Approach - Spacious by Nayef (2021 Investec Derby Entry Group 1) 

DIVINE HERALD 2-year-old bay filly by Frankel - Heaven Sent by Pivotal 

DEGREE 2-year-old bay filly by Dubawi - Echelon by Danehill 

Thanks for reading

Threat Heads to Royal Ascot and Gives My Tracker a 14/1 Winner

As the saying goes you wait forever for one bus then two come along, well the same can be said about my winning trackers this week when I had an alert for both Threat (pictured) and Dylan De Vega. In my last post, I wrote how Threat was entered in a Class 2 race at Ascot last week but passed the opportunity in favour of running in the four runner Class 3 Maiden Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday. 

I wasn’t going to have a bet on Sunday, to be honest, as I did a 22-mile training run in preparation for my up-and-coming marathon and couldn’t walk, but all the talk on Twitter about the 1000 Guineas gave me itchy feet and I miraculously felt good enough to walk to my local bookmakers. I had my eye on two for the Guineas, both Aidan O’Brien’s, but standing to wait for the off I still couldn’t decide and in hindsight, I should have done both but kept with my original selection Just Wonderful and, of course, the other O’Brien horse Hermosa made all and won impressively. 

I don’t normally back 2-year-olds in a four-runner race especially a 14/1 shot, but after missing out on a 2-year-old last week that I fancied I wasn’t letting it happen again, so I had a win bet on the Richard Hannon trained Threat, and it was back home to watch the race. My wife must have a sixth sense because she’s in and out all day, upstairs, downstairs but of course that exact minute the race is off she decides to come in and want a full-blown conversation with me, am well on to this by now and it’s yes and a shake of the head while one eye on the television, sorted. 

It’s been a quiet start for the Richard Hannon 2-year-olds this season with Temple Of Heaven the only one winning out of 14 runners at 11/4, so to expect a 14/1 debut winner against the experienced Electrical Storm and the Charlie Appleby newcomer Path of Thunder and to add to the mix the Balding outsider Spanish Angel. I wasn’t that confident, but a bit of market support for the Footstepinthesands colt give me some hope. 

Threat broke smartly and looked professional from the off with Tom Marquand settling him in before taking it up two furlongs out and staying on to win by just over 2-lengths. 

Get in! 

Threat you little beauty. 

Owners Cheveley Park Stud has a very nice colt on their hands here and looks like he could be heading to Royal Ascot, the Coventry Stakes could be the target and according to trainer Richard Hannon he will appreciate the step up to six furlongs. 

It goes to show sometimes you have to take a punt whatever the price.

Other trackers Dylan De Vega was entered to run in a Class 2 at Chester this week but took what looked an easier option, a Class 5 Novice Median Auction Stakes race at Beverley. The Richard Fahey trained Poet’s Voice Colt won by 3-lengths and also looks a nice prospect. No bet for me at the price but nice to see another tracker win. 

I did have another tracker Summer's Way but was a non-runner. 

Timeform Early Declaration Alert.  Not sure I can be as lucky as last week but I will be taking a closer look at these on Friday 10th May. 

6.00 Ripon: Birkenhead has had a busy start to the season and finished sixth In the Brocklesby first time out, I doubt I will be back this Mick Channon-trained Colt. 

10th May 

6.40 Wolverhampton: Ocasio Cortez, entered in a Class 2 earlier in the season but didn’t run, I imagine will have to improve a bit to win in what looks a good field. 

10th May 

2.00 Ascot: Aroha For the Brian Meehan yard who was also entered for a Class 2 race but didn't run, actually ran a good race to finish fourth on debut despite running loose and also slowly away. 

I will check the market before I decide if I am betting. 

Thanks for reading and good luck this week.