CLAREHAVEN THIRTEEN - TO FOLLOW IN 2025

We would like to thanks David Pidduck for his hard work and forwarding his Lucky 13 to follow in 2025. David has been detailing his insight on our blog since 2022. Please take a moment to follow him on X @DarRemi. Firstly, a short recap of the 2024 list. We made a small profit (ROI 8.6%) thanks mainly to finding FRIENDLY SOUL and QUEEN OF THE PRIDE , with the group as a whole winning 16 times from 52 runs (30%) . 

The profit follows the 12.2% ROI profit from the 2023 list. 

So, the usual rules apply – 3yo ’ s can only have ran NO MORE THAN ONCE and 4yo ’ s that haven't ran more than twice, though I am breaking that rule this year! 

3yo’ s 

BANYAN (Lady Bamford) [Siyouni] 2/3/22 b f 2 - Her only start was over 7f on GS ground at Newmarket in early November and she finished a 3.5l second to a very promising Beckett filly, Bright Times Ahead, who already has two Classic entries . Her homework had been good before her debut and she will improve considerably for a step up in trip. From a family John & Thady know extremely well, her full sister Shiva Shakti ran with promise as a 2yo and was given an Oaks entry at three. Her classic season was blighted by injury, so her full potential wasn ’ t seen. I would be hopeful that BANYAN, with a clean injury free season, will be up to running in pattern races. 

BOWMARK (Lordship Stud) [Kingman] 13/3/22 b c 1 - The impressive winner of his only start as a juvenile, BOWMARK would have gone into plenty o f notebooks. With plenty of physical scope to improve upon over the winter, I hope he has grown and filled out, as he has the potential to be a Group class colt. He is laid back at home and does everything you ask of him without being flashy, which is normally a good sign. Ten furlongs will not be a problem and he already has a Prix du Jockey Club entry. 

CAJOLE (Cheveley Park) [Dubawi] 24/2/22 gr/ro f unraced at two. I was able to visit Clarehaven four times last year and on the final two visits, CAJOLE ’ s name was mentioned on more than one occasion as an unraced filly to follow. She is a lovely physical type with a good mind and is the fourth foal from the Group 1 winner, Persuasive, who won the QEII for John in 2017. I expect to see her start her career in April at either Newmarket or Newbury.

DAMYSUS (Wathnan Racing) [Frankel] 20/3/22 ch c 1 - An expensive Tatts Book 1 purchase, he was entered and declared for races in the summer but stiffness on the morning of his intended debut scuppered those plans. He did get a sole 2yo start in December though, which he won over 7Tap at Southwell by 2.5l and 6.5l. The second is a Godolphin gelding now rated 81 but the third has a mark of just 65. A step up in trip will most certainly suit and he has entries in two French Classics and the Betfred Derby. 

HOT FLAME (Sir Anthony) [Too Darn Hot] 30/4/22 b f 1 - I was alerted to her at the Clarehaven Open Day as ‘ a fighter ’ and I was not disappointed when she won her only start just over two weeks later. The second that day carried a 7lb penalty for a previous win and now has a mark of 84, whilst the third, another debutant, won well on her second start earning a RPR of 90, so the form is already looking to have some substance. Rab said afterwards that she has a lovely attitude and she will stay 10f no problem next season. I wonder if she could be a Pretty Polly ( listed) contender on 1,000 Guineas day. It’s a race John and Thady love to run one of our better fillies in. A further note was that her division was two seconds quicker than the one Zanzoun finished 3rd in 35 minutes later. 

KAIZEN (Qatar Racing, China, Howden & Newsells) [Kingman] 9/3/22 b c 6 - This colt was the subject of some glowing reports before his debut in late October and his 6th place finish at Southwell was underwhelming. He cost a lot and his pedigree is excellent, being a half - brother to the 2023 Fillies Mile winner Ylang Ylang. However, David Redvers and Oisin Murphy both suggested in separate interviews earlier in the year that this colt could be special and they are normally correct with their assessments. In addition, whilst talking to John in September, the initial thought was to run him in a mile maiden / novice either at Newmarket or Nottingham and although he was entered, he was never declared. So his run round a sharp seven at Southwell may well have been far too sharp for him and th e first three all have decent form to their names. For those reasons, he deserves to be on this list. 

KALEIDO (Prince A A Faisal) [Make Believe] 20/4/22 b c 2 - A full brother to MISHRIFF, this colt made a very promising debut in late October over 7S at Donny, chasing home a once raced Godolphin Dubawi colt called Music Of Time. He has been given two French Classic entries and a Derby entry so far and if he can progress anywhere close to what his full brother did at three (and four), then he will have an extremely bright future. He has also been given a 2,000 Guineas entry this week, and is the only one of our four that has yet to win a race. 

KENNETH (Normandie Stud) [Kingman] 2/3/22 b c (At Clarehaven 3/10/24) unraced as a juvenile Philippa Cooper (Normandie Stud) is one of my top three owners. Her interviews are always interesting and her passion for her horses shines through every time. Since her first big race win in 2002, she has had 12 Group winners and 15 listed winners. Incredibly, 11 of those Group winners have been trained by John (and latterly with Thady) and eight of the Listed wins have also been with the Gosden’s. All three top flight wins and all four Group 2’ s have been gained with John training her horses. Philippa has scaled down her st ring in recent years but she has kept the 2022 foal from her beloved Gretchen who entered training at Clarehaven in October last year. Her horses are always so well pre - schooled so the lateness isn’t a problem. Being a half - brother to Gregory and Lionel, who have won at Group 2 and Listed level respectively , the pedigree page is strong. Those pair were sired by Golden Horn and Lope De Vega, so I am extremely interested in seeing how this Kingman sired colt will go. In a Racing Post Weekender interview with Rab Havlin in mid - January, he was asked for an unraced 3yo to follow and Rab chose Kenneth. Rab will be riding him, as he does all of Philippa ’ s horses that are stabled at Clarehaven, so I would have expected him to have ridden him on more than one occasion before the interview. 

MUDBIR (Shadwell) [Kingman] 1/5/22 b c 2 - John and Thady know this Shadwell family extremely well and Mudbir ’ s top four siblings have all been trained at Clarehaven, all achieved a RPR of 99+ and the top pair, Mostahdaf and Nazeef won four Group 1’ s and two Royal Ascot races between them. Neither of them ran at two, so Mudbir ’ s encouraging performance at Newmarket ’ s traditional 2yo ’ s day meet in the latter part of October was another positive. The performances of the next three home behind Mudbir has strengthened the form of the race as well. Both Mostahdaf and Nazeef ’ s form rose to another level from September of their 3yo careers, through to the following season, so Mudbir may be a slow burner for the first half of the sea son. But I still expect him to be winning races in 2025. 

SAND GAZELLE (Thoroughbred Racing Corporation) [Frankel] 8/3/22 ch f 1 - The form of her only race, which was a winning one, doesn’t seem that strong and after opening at 9/2 24 hours before that race, she drifted alarmingly, all the way out to 20/1. But the positives for this filly more than outweigh those points in the previous paragraph. I spoke to John & Thady on separate visits last year and both liked Sand Gazelle back in July and September respectively. She is sired by Frankel and cost a fair bit. The 7f trip of her debut was on the short side for her and she will improve for a step up to a mile, even 10f. Finally, she has been given French Classic entries over a mile and 10.5f, suggesting she has talent and she has wintered well. 

TYCOON (Bjorn) [Kingman] 10/2/22 b c 3 - The form of his only start as a 2yo is good and the two that beat him that day are both well thought of. Finishing off his race well, a step up to a mile plus would be an obvious plus. In addition to those points, George Baker described him a lovely big type, “ takes your eye out ”, and he felt he would tighten up for the run, and was very much a 3yo, unlike the race winner. Although he got an entry in the 1m Doncaster maiden at the St Leger meeting, he didn’t run in the race, but John has always targeted that race with his most promising juveniles, so I still take that as a good sign. We still had a runner in that race, and he is the next horse on my list. Finally, Thady likes this colt a lot. I spoke to him at length at the Open Day about Tycoon and nothing he said to me then was anything but a positive. He was given a Group 1 Futurity entry, has a Prix du Jockey Club entry and is in the initial entries for the Betfred Derby. These last two suggest he has wintered well. 

VALEDICTORY (Godolphin) [Cracksman] 29/3/22 b c 3 - This colt was the chosen one for the Doncaster maiden that I mentioned in the Tycoon section. John has targeted this race for 25 years, going back to Theatre Script, who was our potential 2001 Derby horse before injuries took their toll. Our best horse to run in the race has been Nathaniel who finished second at Donny, but his career was a terrific one. From a family John and Thady know well, this colt was sold at Book 2 and Godolphin sent him to Clarehaven. Now the form of the race hasn’t worked out, but Valedictory finished his race off well after being second last at the three furlong pole. He has been given Prix du Jockey Club and Betfred Derby entries already this year, so I am pleased by those. 

4yo ’ s 

SARDINIAN WARRIOR (Marc Chan) [Saxon Warrior] 17/2/21 b c 2 - 111 - I make no apologies for having this colt on my To Follow list for the second year running, and for breaking my self - imposed “4 yo ’ s no more than twice raced rule ”, as we still haven’t seen the ceiling of his ability. Unfortunately, he is a little fragile, and he doesn’t get to the track as often as any of us would like, but when he does race, he progresses and improves by 10lb+ , according to RPR ’ s. He has an OR of 107, and personal best RPR of 113 and he has only ran in one handicap and not at all in a pattern race. 

Clarehaven Ten To Follow 2024

I would like to thank David for taking the time to detail this year's 10 To Follow from the juggernaut that is Clarehaven Stables, John & Thady Gosden. You can follow David Pidduck on Twitter @DarReMi. Excellent work, as always. 

 
Firstly, a quick Review of 2023’s List. We found the Betfred Oaks winner (Soul Sister) and a Royal Ascot winner (Coppice) amongst them. Combined they ran 58 times, winning 14 (24%) and producing a LSP of +£7.35.

For reference, here are his 2022 Clarehaven 10 To Follow. 

So, the usual rules apply – 3yo’s can only have ran NO MORE THAN ONCE. I have added 4yo’s this year (regretting not flagging up COURAGE MON AMI in last year’s list). These older horses can’t have ran more than twice.

1) FRIENDLY SOUL -1

This homebred Kingman filly won her 1mPoly Kempton maiden beating Izipizi. Described by Matt Chapman as a “big, lovely type”, John himself called her a “big rangy filly”. John attended that meeting on a mid-December Wednesday primarily for her (although she was withdrawn two weeks before after being restless in the stalls). 

She will start at 10f and has been given a Prix De Diane entry.

2) LAUTREC -1

This colt was a rare purchase by Juddmonte and is a half to St Mark’s Basilica and Magna Grecia. I know he is well thought of, he won his 1mTap Newcastle maiden despite greenness and he looked tall and unfurnished. He can only improve and if he fills out over winter he could be very good. Early signs are promising as he has been given a Prix Du Jockey Club entry.

3) MUTAAWID unraced

This Shadwell homebred is full brother to Mostahdaf, and a half to Nazeef and Mostabshir. Well thought of at Clarehaven, he had a problem at two but has returned to training recently. Mostahdaf and Nazeef didn’t run as juveniles and were highly progressive with racing and age and hopefully Mutaawid can follow in their hoofprints.

4) SARDINIAN WARRIOR -2

I would ask anyone reading this to watch his only start of his juvenile career, as after watching, you will see why he has to be on this list. An EYECATCHING debut run over 1mPoly at Kempton in early December, he has been given a Prix Du Jockey Club entry and that suggests he has gone the right way over the winter.

5) SEA JOURNEY -4

John and Thady know the family very well and this well-bred George Strawbridge filly ran a reasonable debut effort at HQ over 7Hy in November. Kieran Shoemark said afterwards that she is a nice filly going forward who just got tired.

The dam has produced two winners from two so far, both with RPR’s in the mid-80’s. I think being sired by Sea The Stars, she has scope over further than both her racing siblings (best over 10f) and Journey, her dam, improved considerably with age.

6) SWORD -4

This Book 1 purchase by David Redvers is well thought of by many people connected to this colt. He was given one of the strong names Qatar Racing reserve for horse’s they feel have the best chance to do the name justice.

He ran with promise on his debut over 1mPoly Kempton in mid-November finished 4th. John & Oisin were on duty at this Wednesday evening. He has been given a Prix Du Jockey Club entry.

7) TEN DIMES -2

This 600,000 Gns Book 1 purchase had worked better than the promising Beeley, in a mid-October gallop, before making her debut in mid-November. Running well in a 7Tap Newcastle Novice with Rab, she was always thought of more of a next year horse. She is another with a French Classic entry, in her case the Prix De Diane.

8) DOLCE COURAGE (4YO) -11-

Unraced at two, and gelded in April of his 3yo season, he was two from two last October and has already got a handicap mark of 89. He has had a similar patiently handled campaign as did the same owner’s Courage Mon Ami. He could be anything, from a decent handicapper to a pattern performer.

9) MAHBOOB (4YO)-1-

Gelded in the September of his 3yo season, he made debut last December and won a 1m2Poly Lingfield Novice with Jim Crowley showing two turns of foot. He the potential to improve further being by Sea The Stars and he had a Derby entry until the six day stage (was still entered 4th April 3yo career).

He must be well thought of otherwise he could easily have been entered in one of the Horse’s In Training Sales last year, but that wasn’t the case, despite his issues (didn’t run at two, gelded).

10) QUEEN OF THE PRIDE (4YO) -81-

Well thought of by David Redvers, she was originally sent to Ralph Beckett. Sent to Clarehaven in late August of her 2yo season, she ran twice as a 3yo, winning her second start with a RPR of 83. The placed horses are now OR’ed 96 and 92. Unraced over further than 10f, her dam won the St Leger and she is sired by the late Roaring Lion, so you can be certain that Qatar Racing want to do the very best they can with a filly this well bred.

WORTH A MENTION, just missing the 10 to follow cut.

DIVINE PRESENCE -4 Ran once at Lingfield with Kieran O’Neill over 7Poly, she was slow away, green and hampered in her run up the straight at least twice. The fact that she has been given a Prix De Diane entry peaked my interest and the same owners Star Of Seville started her career with an average debut run before winning the mentioned Classic in 2015.

FIREBLADE unraced

This homebred is Cracksman’s full brother and is named after Sir Anthony’s family aviation business in South Africa apparently! He didn’t make it to Clarehaven until September last year which would help to explain why he hasn’t run yet.

HIGH ORDER -2

Bred by The late Queen, Rab Havlin, before his debut run over 1mTap at Newcastle said “He is big, raw and we quite like him. He will be a mile and a quarter horse next year.”

He looked a fine physical specimen when I saw him in May and those looks certainly held true in December. Another pointer was the fact that the Novice he ran in is a race John & Thady had won four times since 2018, most notably with Without Parole.

KALEIDOSCOPE -1

She is a well related Qatar homebred who won her only start in early December with Osin over 1mPoly. She is a lovely tall type with scope who will get 10f in time. Oisin was impressed with her on that start and she is sired by Kingman.

MONYAT GALBY unraced

She is named, apparently, after an expensive handbag brand and is extremely well bred and must have had the looks as she cost over 1m Guineas at Book 1. Shadwell are certainly on the up again in recent seasons and this filly has the potential to be smart over 8-10f.

ROI DE FRANCE -2

This Bjorn Neilsen homebred ran with promise in a November 1mPoly Lingfield Novice, finishing second. He has been given a Prix Du Jockey Club entry.

Author: David Pidduck 

Clarehaven Horses to Follow 2023 Flat Season

I'd like to thank David Pidduck for forwarding his pick of the John & Thady Gosden 3yos for the forthcoming season. 

Readers will remember David's excellent post last year: John And Thady Gosden (Clarehaven) Ten to Follow 2022 which proved a big hit noting a number of supreme talents.

David said: ''Like last year, I am not going to pick the obvious ones (Commissioning, Arrest, Epictetus…) but pick out those once raced or unraced 3yo’s who merit attention.''

Follow David on his twitter Account @DarReMi for his latest news.

Click horse's name to follow via the Racing Post. 

ADUBLIN LAD (sired by Ulysses) 3^rd April 3-

Was going to debut on the 22^nd September at Newmarket and was well backed into favouritism until he cut his leg within an hour of post time and he was withdrawn.

Recovering quickly, he ran nine days later in another mile maiden at HQ and he was again supported the night before. However, rain changed the ground from Good to Good To Soft and he drifted.

He finished a respectable third and he has the physical and mental scope to leave that fair start well behind.

AUGUST (Almanzor) 28^th Feb 7-

I visited Clarehaven three times last year and two prominent members of top tier experienced staff liked what they saw of this colt. Although his debut was not particularly good, he was well backed from opening prices of 8/1 the day before down to 5/2.

I fully expect him to improve markedly this year.

BRIDESTONES (Teofilo) 21^st March 1-

It’s rare for John and Thady to get a decent Godolphin horse as they need to be, effectively rejected by Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor before they come to Clarehaven.

This filly may buck that trend.

She made her debut at Yarmouth in an October fillies race, over 1 mile, that the stable have targeted before. She won well, picking up nicely.

John said afterwards that she would be suited by a mile this year and she has been given three French Group 1 entries over 8-10.5f already, suggesting she has wintered well.

COPPICE (Kingman) 13^th April 1-

A lot of horses to follow lists will have this filly. A full brother to Calyx, she was well backed on debut despite there being a rival already rated 83 in the field, she won well despite being green.

Rab Havlin said afterwards that her homework had been good, and she had been working with previous winners.

Likely to start off in a Guineas trial if she is forward enough, she could be the yards Coronation Stakes runner at Royal Ascot this year.

GOVERNOROF INDIA (Dubawi) 19^th March UNRACED

Another who got a good mention by two experienced staff at John and Thady’s last year, he is extremely well bred and likely to be out over 10f with the likelihood of going up in trip to 12f.

There are a couple of obvious races at the Craven and Greenham meetings in mid-April and I would expect to see his name among the six day declarations then.

HUMANITY (Roaring Lion) 22^nd March 3-

One experience staff member alerted me to him before his debut at Newcastle in November over 10f. Described by Simon Mapletoft on Sky Sports Racing as “a big unit”, he got tired when finished a promising third, beaten a length.

He is likely to start his 3yo career at the same trip of 1m2f and his pedigree suggests that would be his best trip.

Being from the only crop of the 2018 Horse Of The Year, the Owners and the Gosden’s will be extremely keen to place his to best effect.

INNERSPACE (Siyouni) 23^rd February 1-

This extremely well bred filly won her debut at Kempton over 1m impressively. Rab Havlin said afterwards that she does very little at home (as did her dam, Journey) and that may explain why she drifted on in the betting through race day.

However, she was thoroughly professional in the race and Rab didn’t need anything more than hands and heels riding. She looked a little small last year, so fingers crossed she has grown, but she looks a decent prospect and has two French Classic entries to her name in 2023.

INTINSO (Siyouni) 30^th March 1-

I was fortunate to meet Lord Grimthorpe on one of my visits to Clarehaven last year and I spoke to him about this colt. The best juvenile that Blue Diamond Stud had last year, he didn’t beat much on debut at Newcastle, but he won with the promise of plenty to come this season.

Rab said after that he had a great mind, and he has plenty of physical scope.

He has been given a Prix de Jockey Club entry.

MOSTABSHIR (Dark Angel) 11^th April 1-

This colt is a half-brother to Mostahdaf and Nazeef, both of whom have done extremely well under Clarehaven care in the past few seasons. Looking a little small last year, hopefully he will grow.

When Mostahdaf won his Group 3 on Saturday in Saudi, John mentioned this colt and described him as a ‘promising colt’.

He is another with a French Classic entry (2,000 Guineas).

TONY MONTANA (Kingman) 27^th April 2-

Two experienced top tier staff mentioned him as a colt to follow to me last year and the owner has also mentioned that he is looking forward to what this colt can do in 2023. He is a sizable colt with plenty of scope and he finished a decent runner up to a well thought of Juddmonte filly who could be destined for an Oaks campaign, in his only start of 2022.

He has been given a French Jockey Club entry and that may be his best trip as Kingman doesn’t seem to be able to get a top class colt or filly over 12f (best progeny over that trip is 111).

Others to note are:

NAAEY (Lope de Vega) 2- Well thought of, two French Group 1 entries

QUEEN FOR YOU (Kingman) UNRACED – Normandie Stud really were positive about this filly last year, as was John.

SHIVASHAKTI (Siyouni) 2- ran well in a race John likes to target, ground a little dead for her and she gfot tired. Done a lot of growing, will be a 10f filly this year.

SLIPOFTHEPEN (Night Of Thunder) 1- couldn’t have been anymore impressive on only start, James Doyle really impressed with him.

SOULSISTER (Frankel) 1- middle distance filly 10-12f filly this year, won well on only start, works well at home.

SUNBELT (Zoffany) 1- beat Shiva Shakti on their respective debut’s/only starts of 2022 and they raced in the different division of the fillies Novice that Bridestones won. Another filly who will be suited by 10f this year.

Good luck to connections. 

John And Thady Gosden (Clarehaven) Ten to Follow for 2022

Great to have David Pidduck forward his ten John and Thady Gosden horses to Follow for the Flat Turf Season 2022. 

Visit his Twitter profile: @DarReMi 

Comments by David Pidduck 

John And Thady Gosden (Clarehaven) Ten to Follow For 2022 

I have chosen not to put Inspiral or Reach For The Moon on this list, as the world and his wife know how good those two are, and that would not be educating anyone. I have picked ten that are either unraced or have had just one start. 

JUVENILES 

1: LMAY 

8/3/20 b f 2nd foal, Frankel (RPR 143) – Alienate (unraced) 

“She was brought from the premier yearling sale, Tattersalls Book 1, last October for 650,000 Gns by Thady Gosden, for a new client. She is three parts to Logician, the 2019 St Leger winner (peak RPR 121). By all accounts, she is a lovely moving filly and a good friend of mine, who attended the Sale, said that she was the second best looking yearling of the entire Book.

Alienate’s dam, Scuffle, was best over 1m-1m2f, and her sire was top class sprinter, Oasis Dream. Her full sister, Sleep Walk, was lightly raced by Roger Charlton and kept to sprint distances, producing a decent peak RPR of 90. 

I suspect, with Frankel’s influence, Lmay will start getting entries over 7f in July/August time.” DP 

2: UNNAMED 

Out of the dam RECKONING 7/4/20 gr/ro c 

6th foal, Roaring Lion (RPR 127) – Reckoning (RPR 104)

“David Redvers brought this colt from the aforementioned Tatts Book 1 Sale for 450,000 Gns. From the much-missed multiple Group 1 winner’s only crop, John Gosden liked this colt the most out of all the Roaring Lion’s that were brought to the Sale. 

The dam has already produced three black type performers from five foals, two of which achieved RPR’s of 120+ in Subjectivist (2021 Ascot Gold Cup winner, by Teofilo) and Sir Ron Priestley (by Australia). 

All the dam’s five foals have raced at two, and I expect this colt to as well, probably getting entries from August onwards.”DP 

3YO’s 3: 

ANTARAH 

(Shadwell Stud) 13/3/19 ch c FORM FIGURE 1- 

2nd foal, Sea The Stars (RPR 138) – Adool (RPR 100)

“He is a Shadwell homebred who created a very good impression on his only start. Jim Crowley only went to Newcastle to ride this colt on a late October evening, and he gave him a superb introduction, educating him in every possible aspect of a 2 yo's first day at school. 

Whilst the time of the race was poor, over the straight 1m Tapeta track, the style of his performance was classy, beating a promising three race OR’ed 85 colt by over 3l, whilst coming from last to first. His work on the Limekilns in the lead up to the race was noteworthy, and he had already been impressing high ranking staff at Clarehaven before his only start. 

He has been given a Prix du Jockey Club entry (French Classic entries came out in mid-February) and I take that as a positive indicator that he is still heading in the right direction. It will be interesting to see if he gets a 2,000 Guineas entry in early May, but he looks certain to progress given his sire.”DP 

4: AUDIENCE 

(Cheveley Park Stud) 17/3/19 b c FORM FIGURE 1- 

4th foal, Iffraaj (RPR 125) – Ladyship (RPR 105) 

“Another homebred, he was impressive on his sole start at Newmarket in late October. Given a masterful ride by Rab Havlin (who is one of the best jockey’s around giving juveniles their first start), he won by nearly 4l from the Godolphin favourite, who is now OR’ed 80. Nothing has come out of the race since, except for the runner up, but ten of the 12 runners were from Newmarket yards and at least nine of the runners came from yards who are capable of housing a top-level performer. 

John said after the race that Audience had always been well thought of, and a couple of little niggles had kept him off the track until then. Mentally, he was a little immature, so the experience would bring him on a lot, and it was always John’s intention to put him away until this year and get him out in April for a Novice over 7f-1m. Another plus is the fact that he has proved he can cope with Newmarket’s Rowley mile undulations, and it will be of great interest to see if he is given a Guineas entry in early March.”DP 

5: EMOTION 

(Qatar Racing) 26/3/19 ch f UNRACED AT TWO 

6th foal, Frankel (RPR 143) – Molly Malone (RPR 112) 

“This filly has always been well thought of, and was always going to be a 3yo, so it was not surprising that she has yet to make the track. John was looking at giving her a run and I do think that she will be aimed at the first Newmarket or Newbury meetings in mid-April, to get her career started. 

Her action is extremely good, she has exceptional presence and strength plus a good attitude to her work. 

The dam has an abundance of stamina, being placed twice in Group company over 1m4f before posting a personal best RPR when winning the 2m4f Prix du Cadran (on heavy ground). The sire needs no introduction and I think John and Thady will start her off over 1m2f. There is a maiden over that trip, on the first day of Newbury’s Greenham meeting, that John has targeted with decent fillies in the past.”DP 

6: KING'S JOY 

(Sir Anthony Oppenheimer) 12/3/19 b f FORM FIGURE 1- 

3rd foal, Kingman (RPR 128) – Golden Laughter (RPR 66) 

“The dam was moderate for John and has produced two foals so far, both of which have shown some promise with RPR’s in the 70’s. After being paired with Oasis Dream and Dark Angel, it piqued my interest that Kingman was this fillies sire, given his connection with Clarehaven. She is a homebred and she made her only racecourse start on the 1st December in a 1mPoly Lingfield fillies Novice. 

Given a lovely ride by Rab Havlin, from her widest draw, she was green, tall, and towered over much of the field in terms of her physique. She won, beating two fillies with experience and fair form in the book. 

Rab said afterwards that she had been working well enough at home beforehand and that the race was the stronger of the two divisions on the card, adding a little more depth to the form, even though the subsequent runs of those behind her have not set the world alight. 

She will need to fill into her frame over the winter, but the fact that she has been given a French 1,000 Guineas entry in mid-February suggests that she is progressing in the right direction.”DP 

7: KNIGHT OF HONOUR 

(Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum) 8/2/19 b c FORM FIGURE 3- 

4th foal, Decorated Knight (RPR 121) – Princess Noor (RPR 110) 

“John had trained this colt’s half-sister so had some knowledge of the family before he made his racecourse debut in mid-October at Leicester over 7GS. 

He finished third, beaten half a length. However, when you watch the race, he came from much further back than the front two, had to be switched round runners and finished off the race well. To add to further positives to his CV, the pair that beat him are both well thought of, he raced away from the principles and the winner had already had the experience of two starts. 

But the most interesting development was from the French Classic entries, where he was given a Prix du Jockey Club entry. Clearly, he has gone the right way over the winter.”DP 

8: MIGHTY ULYSSES 

(Saeed Suhail) 3/4/19 b c FORM FIGURE 1- 

3rd foal, Ulysses (RPR 127) – Token Of Love (RPR 108) 

“John has sent some Group 1 performers to Yarmouth to make their racecourse debut’s, and this grandly named colt could be another. He made his debut in mid-September over 1mG and the turn of foot he showed to put the race to bed in the final furlong was impressive, especially as he was away from the main protagonists when making his run. 

Rab Havlin was excellent again in giving this colt an excellent education and he commented after the race that the colt had always shown plenty of ability at home. 

Well respected paddock watcher, Ken Pitterson, described him as a sizable colt and he was also impressed with the run. 

Once again, my hopes for Mighty Ulysses increased, when I saw him in the list of entries for both the Prix du Jockey Club and Grand Prix de Paris. A very well-respected, high-ranking employee at Clarehaven, has also said that he is one of two he is looking forward to taking racing this season.”DP 

9: MORNING POEM 

(Mrs Rebecca Philipps) 2/3/19 b f FORM FIGURE 1- 

2nd foal, Kingman (RPR 128) – Mill Springs (RPR 104) 

“John trained both the sire and the dam, and she made her debut at Kempton over 1mPoly with Rab Havlin. Slowly away, like most of John and Thady’s, she was settled at the rear until entering the straight. Rab was weighing up his options before the cutaway and decided to come wide, down the stands side, whilst the front pair, who were prominent throughout, went for home. She made up considerable ground, under hands and heels to get up close home, beating both the well backed, well thought of favourite and the eventual third, who both had the benefit of experience. 

She seemed to have a lovely frame and size on the Racing TV pictures that I watched, and she seems to have gone the right way, given she has been given an entry in the Prix de Diane. 

Her ideal trip would be difficult to predict, given that Kingman’s progeny seem to struggle in the top-class races over trips of 1m4f+. But given the dam’s abundant stamina, producing three figure RPR’s over 1m6f and 2m4f, Morning Poem may buck that trend. The Diane trip of 1m2f would seem to be her minimum in my opinion, but she remains a filly of extreme promise.”DP 

10: SAMBURU 

(Juddmonte) 1/2/19 b c FORM FIGURE 1- 

1st foal, Kingman (RPR 128) – Tempera (RPR 89) 

“This homebred is another 2yo that made his debut at Yarmouth, and this was in mid-October over 7GS. Kieran O’Neill rode him as Rab Havlin rode another of John and Thady’s debutants, Salvator Mundi. Towards the rear, he made smooth headway on the outside to win well with Kieran only having to give one smack with the persuader. Those placed behind are of the 78-84 range in terms of ability, but Samburu had been impressing those at Clarehaven on the lead up to the race and he was expected to need the run too. 

Jason Weaver, on Sky Sports Racing, made Samburu his paddock pick, saying that he was physically impressive. 

Kieran said after the race that he was surprised that he picked up as well as he did, as he hadn’t come off the bridle at home. That is a positive sign, in that he is working so well and well within himself. 

A very well-respected, high-ranking employee at Clarehaven, has also said that he is one of two he is looking forward to taking racing this season, the other being Mighty Ulysses.”DP 

An impressive post by David Pidduck.

Photo: Twitter