Unraced Three-year-olds To Follow (2022)

First of all I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Personally it's been quiet and that is just how I like it, spending time with the family, drinking beer and trying to sort my trackers out. In total I have over one hundred and sixty three-year-olds to follow for this season which is a ridiculous amount, obviously I will narrow them down. Let’s take a quick look back at some of the highlights of last years three-year-olds to follow: 

EMPRESS JOSEPHINE was one of my unraced 3yos to follow and didn’t disappoint when winning first time out way back in March for Aidan O’Brien and then running at a decent level in pattern races for the the rest of the season. I would love to say I backed her for the 1000 Guineas but I never and the rest is history as the Galileo filly won by a short head at 16/1. Total earnings: £268,841. 

THIRD REALM went in the notebook as a 2yo with after a nice debut back in 2020. The Roger Varian colt got off the mark on his reappearance then went onto win the Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield at 14/1. Third Realm ran a great race in the Derby finishing fifth and another who ran to a decent level the rest of the season. Total earnings:£98,943. 

GEORGE PEABODY was a nice winner for the George Scott team when winning first time up as a 3yo last March at 11/1. It was nice to see him follow up with another win before finishing down the field in a nice race at Ascot. Total earnings:£5,724. 

SNOW LANTERN was in everybody's 3yos to follow and the Frankel filly didn’t disappoint when winning her maiden and going on to run some brilliant races last season in all the top races. I was pleased to see her win the Group one Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket when quickening up nicely to beat Mother Earth under a brilliant ride by Sean Levey. Hopefully Snow Lantern can bounce back as a 4yo after a lacklustre run in her final race of the season. Total Earnings:£356,236. 

Time to look at this season's 3yos to follow, I will start off with a few unraced 3yos who will hopefully make their mark in some of the top races. As always, the first time out you just never know so personally I will be taking a watching brief. 

1: EXPRESS WAY is by Dark Angel and out of Alluring Park, trained by Paddy Twomey. Dam Alluring Park has produced some great offspring, five out of the eight are all rated above 100 so the signs are good for the Dark Angel filly. Express Way is a half-sister to a few nice types including Aidan O'Brien's Was who won the Oaks in 2012. Well regarded by Paddy so hopefully Express can get a win on the board this season. 

2: FIORELLINA is by Galileo and out of Sapphire, trained by Dermot Weld who has had success with dam Sapphire before. Dam Sapphire was top class herself for Dermot winning plenty of nice races in a decent career including finishing her career in style winning the Group 2 Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes race at Ascot in 2012, offspring include full-sister Federica Sophia who ran some decent races for Dermot. 

3: WHISPERING ROMANCE is by Kingman out of Sante, trained by Charlie Appleby. Dam Sante wasn’t anything special winning once in her career but Appleby does rate this filly so I'm pretty sure she will get a win this season. 

4: NEWFOUNDLAND is by Deep Impact out of Best In The World, trained by Aidan O’Brien. Wow a full-brother to the brilliant Snowfall and one I will be really looking forward to seeing on the racetrack, I Imagine a few of these will be short prices but sometimes it's not all about betting for me. Interestingly Snowfall didn’t come into her own until tackling longer trips as a 3yo so I will be keeping that in mind. Another one is well regarded by the trainer. 

5: TASHKENT is by Acclamation out of Colour Blue, trained by Richard Hannon. Dam Colour Blue ran to a decent level in her three year career, her other offspring is the Simon and Ed Crisford trained Melancholy who came third on her debut at Lingfield in November and looks sure to improve. Tashkent is another who I will be looking out for this season. I have plenty more 3-year-olds to follow and will write another post soon. Hopefully these posts will keep a few people from going mad while the National Hunt season is in full swing. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Read Part 2 Here

George Scott And My 3yo's To Follow Weekend Double (29th March)

It’s back and what a great weekend it was for flat racing, yes maybe some of you are not as excited as me to see 2-year-olds but for me it beats watching National Hunt for sure, each to their own I guess. 

The Brocklesby started us off this weekend and even though I wrote a post last week I was still undecided and ended up having a small each way on Kenyan Commander. The money came but despite a touch keen and showing early pace my selection faded. It was nice to see the Eve Johnson-Houghton trained Chipotle win easily as Eve gave the Havana Gold colt as a horse to follow in her post last month. Pretty sure the Richard Fahey Vintage Clarets will come on plenty for that run after being slowly away. 

As we all know we have had a bit of negativity the past few months with a certain trainer but personally I have found they are willing to help and chat any time so it was great to see George Scott have a great weekend with a couple of nice winners. George is a great approachable guy always willing to talk, I think he probably wishes he never gave me his number to be honest. 

Too Friendly was his first winner of the weekend who was given a great ride by jockey Callum Shepherd, what a jockey by the way. 

Next up was George Peabody who I noted as a 3-year-old to follow in one of my past posts. 

This looked a nice race with some potentially nice newcomers none more so than the Stoute newcomer Thaler who was supported throughout the day. 

I thought George Peabody ran a cracker on debut and would have gone closer if not meeting a bit of trouble so it was nice to see him make headway and with a clear run he quickened up in the style of a nice horse, I couldn’t believe the price but wasn’t arguing with a nice each way at 11/1. I did mention this horse on twitter and thanks for the kind messages. 

George Scott kindly sent me a voice note with a few words on Too Friendly and George Peabody “ I think George Peabody will probably run in another novice before we decide with race to go for at Royal Ascot either the Britannia or the Jersey and Too Friendly will certainly go for a Derby Trial but not sure which one”. 

Smashing prospect! George Peabody shows a sharp turn of foot to win tidily on his second start for @GScottracing under @CallumSheppy at @DoncasterRaces pic.twitter.com/LKC3Fqfar3

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 28, 2021

A couple more from the 3-year-old list ran over the weekend and both Aidan O’Brien. I was pretty disappointed with Hms Seahorse who was beaten odds on. The Galileo colt who is well-thought of at Ballydoyle was never involved and I will be keeping an eye on the market next time for sure. My next one was the unraced Empress Josephine who was another well-thought of type for Aidan, even though I didn’t have a bet it was nice to see her win on debut at 3/1. I will be looking forward to seeing which way Aidan takes her as she has entries for the Irish Guineas and the Irish Oaks. 

Eye-Catcher. The Race at Doncaster in which George Peabody won might just throw a couple of winners, obviously the second and third look promising but I thought the Richard Hannon newcomer and expensive Dandy Man colt Lafan ran a race full of promise even though he never landed a blow, he did attract some late support and under a tender ride plugged on. I will watch the market with interest next timeout. 

Not much catches the eye with only a few 2-year-old races trickling through but I’m sure it will be busy again soon. Thanks for reading and stay extra safe during these uncertain times.

Three-Year-Olds To Follow (2021)

1: FLYIN' HIGH is by Siyouni (FR) out of Zee Zee Top (GB), trained by Andrew Balding and owned by Castle Down Racing High. Purchased at the Tattersalls 2019 October Yearling Sales for 150,000 Guineas. The Siyouni Bay colt comes from a lovely family most notably the John Gosden mare Izzy Top who ran at group level for most of what was an outstanding career winning the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet along the way. Flyin’ High made his debut at Sandown back in July last year in what turned out to be a pretty hot race with the winner Etonian winning the Group 3 Solario Stakes a month later. Despite a slow start and several lengths down Flyin’ High did well to finish so close to Etonian and with an early entry for the Derby a step up in trip looks on the cards this year. 

2: MUTARABES is by Dark Angel (IRE) out of Relation Alexander (IRE), trained by Charlie Hills and owned by Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum. Purchased at the Goffs 2019 Premier Yearling Sale for £145,000. Mutarabes is a full-brother to the Godolphin colt Future King who also looks a nice prospect for the season ahead. Mutarabes started off in another hot race at Newmarket in June when a relatively unfancied 14/1 shot, the fourth, fifth and six all winning nice races since. Jim Crowley gave Mutarabes a nice educational ride that day without being too hard on the Dark Angel colt who looks to have a nice turn of foot and will hopefully progress this season. 

3: HMS SEAHORSE is by Galileo (IRE) out of After (IRE), trained by A P O'Brien and owned by M.Tabor/D.Smith/Mme J. Magnier. I have to say if Hms Seahorse can’t win his maiden at least I will show my ass! Only kidding, not a sight to see. The Galileo colt is another who comes from a nice family being a full-brother to Armory who had a smart career winning over £800,000 in prize money. It’s tough trying to pick out an Aidan O'Brien 3-year-old to follow with the amount of firepower and lovely pedigrees they have at the Ballydoyle yard but I thought it was a pleasing debut finishing fourth in what wasn’t to bad of a race considering the winner Mac Swiney went onto win the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster. Hms Seahorse remains with promise and one to consider this season. 

4: THIRD REALM is by Sea The Stars (IRE) out of Reem Three (GB), trained by Roger Varian and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. The Sea The Stars colt was well-supported for his debut at Kempton in November, not really sure about the form of the race but the Beckett winner Lord Protector certainly won well with Third Realm finishing a never nearer fifth. Third Realm is a half-brother to Cape Byron, another Varian runner who got better with age and won the Group 1 July Stakes at Newmarket last year. The Derby entry is worth checking out this season and can hopefully get a win sooner rather than later. 

5: CATCH UP EFFECT is by Oasis Dream (GB) out of Daana Qatar (GB), trained by Ralph Beckett and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Tha. The Oasis Dream colt made his debut in a hot race back in June at Haydock Park and hasn’t been seen since. Pretty weak in the market that day going off a 16/1 shot. Catch Up Effect will have learned plenty from that experience and stayed on one pace to the line but with the winter behind him hopefully he has grown into a nice type for the season ahead.

6: EVALUATION is by Dubawi (IRE) out of Estimate (IRE), trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by The Queen. Hopefully Her Majesty has a nice one here and it’s pretty obvious to see the Bay colt needs a bit further than his two previous outings, well I say plain to see actually his latest run at Kempton I couldn’t see a thing with the fog. Evaluation is a full-brother to Calculation who took a few runs to get going before winning three handicaps on the bounce as a 3-year-old so I will be keeping an eye on how he progresses.

7: FIREWORKS is by Kingman (GB) out of Miss Plimsoll (USA , trained by William Haggas and owned by Mrs Fiona Carmichael. Pretty sure the Kingman colt will be a short price when next seen but as I was thinking shall I put him in my selections or not some fireworks came on the film I had on tv so if that's not a sign I don’t know what is! In all fairness Fireworks debut run at Newcastle in December looked promising when finishing third behind a nice Palmer horse called Oz Legend, well-supported in the market that day Fireworks was a touch green but finished well. The 850,000 euro purchase looks to be one to keep on the right side of this season. 

8: GEORGE PEABODY is by Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) out of Swordhalf (GB), trained by George Scott and owned by W J And T C O Gredley. Purchased for 90,000 gns at the 2019 October Yearling Sales. George Peabody is a half-brother to a nice type in Germany named Satomi who has done very well winning the Group 2 Grosser Hansa-Preis. George Peabody ran a great race at Kempton when in with a chance a furlong out before being squeezed up and losing all momentum, if you looked at the race report in the Racing Post it says no extra but I’m not having that so I will be checking out this geldings next run for sure. 

9: GOOD AND PROPER is by Dansili (GB) out of Grace And Glory (IRE), trained by William Haggas and owned by Mr Nicholas Jones. J Haggas. I will be very surprised if this Dansili filly doesn't go onto better things this season after two decent efforts last year. A half-sister to the Haggas trained Give And Take who wasn’t too bad herself winning the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York. Good And Proper stepped up to a mile last timeout and despite being a touch keen stayed on steadily to finish a close up fourth to Love Is You who won the Radley Stakes next timeout at Newbury. 

10: MAYTAL is by Sea The Stars (IRE) out of Midsummer (GB), trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by Mr K Abdullah. I'm pretty sure Maytali will be losing her maiden tag before long after a pleasing debut when unfancied at Kempton back in November. The Sea The Stars hombred will have learnt plenty from that experience when a never nearer third after running about a bit the last furlong. Maytal is a half-sister to the top class Midday who was trained by the legend Sir Henry Cecil of course. A step up in trip will hopefully bring further improvement to Maytal and another to keep on the right side of this season. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.

George Scott's 2yos to Follow in 2020

George Scott is a horse trainer who needs little introduction since launching his career at the end of 2015. 

Based at Eve Lodge Stables, Newmarket, off Hamilton Road, he has made a favourable impression with the racing industry and punters alike. 

Scott has made his name as a trainer of class horses including two-year-olds. 

James Garfield won the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and contended the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, United States. 

Racing at the highest class at three, this son of Exceed And Excel now stands as a stallion at Rathbarry Stud, Ireland. 

George has been good enough to detail a few of his two-year-olds for the 2020 Flat season.    

REVERENTIAL Lope De Vega filly out of Fifth Commandment. She was purchased at Deauville, France, for 160,000 euros from Arqana Sales in August 2019. She is bred by Ballylinch Stud. She's a physical type and her full-sister won first timeout. I think Lope De Vega is one of the best stallions that is accessible to most trainers. This filly is a forward type with a fantastic attitude. I hope she will be ready for early summer.

GEORGE PEABODY is a colt by Holy Roman Emperor out of Swordhalf from Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearling Sale. He was purchased from Stauffenberg Bloodstock. Now in the ownership of W J and T C O Gredley (90,000 gns). The mare was a champion two-year-old in Germany. He’s a lovely rangey colt with a very good action. He’s currently enjoying a break back at the stud to strengthen up. I do think he's going to be a lovely backend two-year-old and a particularly nice three-year-old for next year. He’s a flashy horse with a white face and moves very well.

GREAT VIBES is a homebred daughter of Showcasing out of Whazzat, which makes her a half-sister to James Garfield. He's a fantastic stallion, who had plenty of speed. She's very athletic, tall and leggy and finds life relatively easy at this stage. I’m looking forward to galloping with her in six weeks. She goes very well. 

LATIFFA is a Kingman filly out of a mare called Lady Nouf, who was Listed-placed. I believe she was purchased at Tattersalls Book 2 for 72,000 gns. Wonder sire Kingman is quickly becoming one of the leading stallions in Europe. Latiffa is an excellent moving filly although she is from a late-maturing family so I don't think she will be out till later in the year. She does everything easy and she's a very pretty filly with a good constitution.

PERFECT COUNTRY is a filly by Australia out of Scarlet Empire and cost 40,000 euros from Goffs Yearling Sales. She's a huge grey filly with a long stride. She’s from the family of Sky Lantern. All she’s done is grown and she's still got plenty of maturing to do but I am confident she can be a lovely staying filly for next year. 

PUNTA ARENAS is owned and bred by the Niarchos Family. He's by Quality Road out of a mare called Absolute Crackers. It’s pretty exciting to have a Quality Road colt. He's a fantastic sire in America and this is a very very good looking horse with a very good action. The mare was useful - she was rated in the 90s. I believe her first foal who ran last year is above average. This horse will be a nice middle-distance horse in time.

SMASH HIT (70,000 gns) is sired by Territories out of a mare called Sell Out who I believe was rated 109/110 mark and won a Listed race in France. She produced a couple of stakes horses and Territories is a stallion I thought made a lot of sense. This horse has quite a lot of Invincible Spirit in him. He's an easy-moving horse and very very good looking and goes well at home. He will be a nice summer two-year-old. 

SIMULATION THEORY is a nice colt. He’s by Starspangledbanner typically out of a mare called Barawin and cost 30,000 gns. He's typical of the sire: chest out horse and huge long stride. I’ve been very pleased with his progress and he's an enormous horse and going to be a monster one day and a very easy-moving horse with a good attitude. He won't be ready until later in the summer but I think he's going to be a nice fast horse who will progress over the next year or so. 

TEQUILA TEQUILA filly out of Tequila Sunrise, sired by Iffraaj. She's a half-sister to an unraced three-year-old in my yard who I like. She was a cheap purchase at 11,000 gns but goes very well. She's just started some light work and should be ready to run when the season starts.

BUNGLEDUPINBLUE is a filly sired by Bungle Inthejungle out of Generous Heart and cost £23,000 at the yearling sales. She's very sharp and would have run in the first two-year-old race of the season (Brocklesby Stakes). She goes nicely and has a really good attitude and I think she will be one who could be very competitive on debut.

Thank you, George. Have a great season and thanks for your support.  

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Author Craig Newton

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