Man Of Promise, On Guard, Magical Morning, Fiesta De Vega, Creative Force, Inhaler, and Renaissance Queen all nice winners for the blog the past week, let's hope a few more nice types come out my horses to follow this season.
12:15 Sat 13 June 2020 Newbury
Interesting little race this with the favourite likely to be the John Gosden trained Kingman colt Tsar. The form doesn't look anything special but with winter behind him any amount of improvement is possible. A couple of interesting trackers in the race are Lord Campari and Turaath.
Lord Campari is also a Kingman colt out of 98 rated Blanche Dubawi and cost 350,000 gns. The Roger Varian trained March foal contested a pretty hot contest in August last year with another Gosden horse Palace Pier winning impressively then going on to win next timeout and making a huge statement for the season ahead when winning a Class 2 Handicap at Newcastle with ease last week. Lord Campari was a no near sixth when they met but despite being a touch keen Lord Campari stayed on steadily and the extra distance will hopefully bring improvement to be involved at the finish.
Turaath would have to improve dramatically here to figure after not showing much on debut at Leicester last September. The Charlie Hills Oasis Dream filly takes on the boys here but is well-bred being out of 110 rated mare Fahdhayyil. A bit clueless on debut I would have liked to see her in an easier race than this and a market check is needed here.
15:45 Sat 13 June 2020 Sandown
Most of the top yards turn up for this Maiden Stakes race at Sandown. We have a Gosden newcomer, a Varian Irish Derby entry but I’m giving Gosden's other runner Byzantine Empire a final chance after finishing a pleasing third on his comeback race at Newcastle two weeks ago. The Golden Horn colt is a half-brother to Crazy Horse and Richard Pankhurst who both ran to a decent level under the guidance of John Gosden and hopefully, Robert Halvin can guide Byzantine Empire home here at Sandown.
16:10 Sat 13 June 2020 Newbury
Cosa Orga is another who is on last chance saloon here after another no show last timeout. One positive thing is this looks a slightly easier race than the Golden Horn colt contested at Yarmouth the last timeout when having his first run for new trainer William Haggas. I will have a minimal stake and hope for the best for a place at least.
15:15 Sun 14 June 2020 Newmarket
Nice days racing on Sunday and my next two trackers I guess will be short so no bets but two I've been looking forward to seeing for a good while now and hope they both run well.
Althiqa made a favourable impression when making her debut at Thirsk in April last year. The Dark Angel Charlie Appleby runner has had wind surgery and hasn't been seen since her winning the fillies Maiden, hopefully, Althiqa can win here and go onto better things if her long absence isn't a problem and she has no issues.
17:00 Sun 14 June 2020 Newmarket
Any regular readers of the post will know I have waited a while for Do You Love Me to run for Karl Burke and owners Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited. The well-thought-of Galileo filly makes her debut in what looks a tough little contest but hopefully, she can do herself justice first time out here.
Thanks for reading and stay safe.
ALASH ORDA is by Kodiac (GB) out of Albanka (USA), trained by Roger Varian and owned by Mr Nurlan Bizakov. The Roger Varian bay filly ran a race full of promise on her anticipated debut at Salisbury last September. The surprise Michael Stoute winner Snow Shower looks a nice type. Despite being on and off the bridle Alash Order finished the race well and should pick up her maiden win this season. A half-sister to another Roger Varian filly Altyn Orda who ended her career with an official rating of 112.
ASFURASAGIRA is by Night Of Thunder (IRE) out of Oriental Melody (IRE), trained by Owen Burrows and owned and bred by Hadi Al-Tajir. The Owen Burrows chestnut filly is a half-sister to Oriental Song who only ran three times for the same connections, the highlight being her last run when finishing fifth in the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes (Group 3). Afurasagira did attract slight support before the start when backed from 11/1 to 9/1 but I think the price showed she needed the run that day and so it proved when slowly away and carrying her head to the left before staying on to finish fourth on her debut at Leicester. An injury kept her off the track for the rest of the season so as long as she has recovered from that injury Asfurasagira will hopefully lose her maiden tag this season.
BOMA GREEN is by Iffraaj (GB) out of Dubai Cyclone (USA), trained by J Noseda until May 2019 and now trained by Charlie Fellowes and owned by Mrs Susan Roy. The £105,000 purchase made a favourable impression when making his debut in a Class 2 Maiden Stakes race way back in May. Showing inexperience and missing the break Boma Green made steady headway under a considerate ride by Frankie Dettori and kept on well into third. The winner Repartee has since finished third in the Gimcrack Stakes and also looks a nice type for this season. As long as the layoff isn't a problem Boma Green looks the type to improve after a promising debut last May.
COSMIC PRINCESS is by Kingman (GB) out of Galaxy Highflyer (GB), trained by H Morrison and owned by Helena Springfield Ltd. The 3-year-old filly went into my trackers with an eye-catching performance in her only race at Kempton last October. Hollie Doyle steadied Cosmic Princess at the start and the 33/1 outsider was given a learning process before running on late to finish six behind some promising types from the big yards. The third that day was Shimmering for John Gosden who easily won her next race at Lingfield and another who will do well this season. A step up to a mile could see further improvement and hopefully, she can get her first win on the board.
DECLARING LOVE is by Dubawi (IRE) out of Wedding March (IRE), trained by Charlie Appleby and owned by Godolphin. I don't think I will get rich backing this Dubawi filly on her next start but I’m really interested to see how far she can go this season for the all-conquering Godolphin team. I was looking forward to seeing her run after a promising debut at Newmarket in May. Little did I know at the time that the winner of this hot race Daahyeh would go on to win the Albany Stakes next timeout and the second Raffle Prize would go on to win the Queen Mary. A step up to a mile should see this filly improve again to be involved in some pattern races this season and hopefully after the layoff she has strengthened up over the winter.
FRANKENSTELLA is by Frankel (GB) out of L'ancresse (IRE), trained by John Quinn and owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited. The Frankel filly made her debut at Nottingham last September and came with a huge price tag around her neck. Purchased for 480,000 euros at the Arqana 2018 August Yearling Sales. Frankenstella is a full brother to the 118 rated Master Of Reality who won the Sequence Events Vintage Crop Stakes (Group 3) at Navan last April. Frankestella was never on terms on what was her first day at school, slowly away and always behind. A step up in trip should see Frankenstella make significant progress this season and hopefully pay some of that price tag back.
LORD CAMPARI is by Kingman (GB) out of Blanche Dubawi (IRE), trained by Roger Varian and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. The Kingman colt was bought for 350,000 gns at the 2018 October Yearling Sales. Lord Campari looked to be given a nice introduction by jockey Andrea Atzeni after pulling his chances away early on. Lord Campari plugged onto finish six in what looked a nice enough race. The winner Palace Pier won again next timeout and looks a useful prospect for the season ahead. Another who could benefit from a step up in distance.
Thanks for reading and look out for my next 3-year-old Maidens to follow.
The first part of my Roger Varian 2-year-old review I mentioned an unraced 2-year-old filly who I thought would be making a name for herself in the future. Delta’s Royalty made her long-awaited debut at the beginning of the month and if you were quick off the mark a tasty 7/2 was available the night before, the Galileo filly ended up 4/5 favourite at the off and made a winning debut despite surviving a steward’s enquiry after running green the final furlong and hanging left. Delta’s Royalty will come on plenty for that and should be one to follow next season.
Roger Varian unleashed three nice 2-year-olds towards the end of July.
The first a Dansili filly called Stylistique who made her debut in a Maiden Stakes race at Newbury. Stylistique was well-supported on debut and backed into 5/2 favourite for her debut and despite running green it was a promising debut, I thought it was only a matter of time before she got her head in front.
The phrase always the bridesmaid and never the bride springs to mind with Stylistique after she filled the runners-up spot three times in her next five races. That said, it’s fair to say she has bumped into a few nice types. A superb second in the Group 2 Shadwell Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket when running on late and only beaten by her stablemate Daahyeh her best effort in a promising first season.
I hope she can get the win she deserves next season and I won’t be giving up on her just yet.
The July Ascot meeting saw Roger unleash a couple of his big guns. Queen Daenerys is a superbly bred Frankel filly who is owned by H H SH Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa and bred by Coolmore. Ryan Moore was on board the 6/1 shot for her debut and despite running green she ran a race full of promise. (For all of you who don't watch Game of Thrones (me included) Queen Daenerys is a major character is this acclaimed production).
The second start saw William Buick take over and Queen Daenerys won a shade cosy from the nice John Gosden filly Wasaayef.
The Group 1 Fillies Mile was Queen Daenerys next stop and ran a great race to finish sixth.
One who will also improve next season and not to be taken lightly.
William Buick said: ''Queen Daenerys did it nicely and is a nice prospect for next year. The trainer will decide if she runs again this year - Oliver St Lawrence, spokesman for owner Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.''
The second race on the card saw a Night Of Thunder colt make his debut. How Molatham was allowed to go off a 14/1 shot in a seven runner race is beyond me, I imagine it was thought he needed the run but that wasn’t the case as Molatham ran a tremendous race to just get beat by the Richard Hannon colt Mums Tipple.
He confirmed the promise of his debut run when winning the Class 2 Convivial Stakes at York and picking up the cool £43,000 prize money to go with it.
A win in the Flying Scotsman Listed Stakes followed before a fourth in the Dubai Autumn Stakes in what was an amazing first season for the Roger Varian colt.
Molatham will be contesting at a high-level next season.
The last Roger Varian two-year-old horse I want to mention is an unexposed Kingman colt who made a promising debut at Sandown at the end of August.
LORD CAMPARI was bought by Roger Varian for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum at the Tattersalls sales from the 2018 October Yearling Sale Book 1. The Bay colt was born 20 March 2017 and cost a cool 350.000 Guineas. Lord Campari was priced 11/2 for his debut after attracting some late support.
A smart break and up with the pace although pulling in the early stages and pretty green, the Kingman colt was always in contention without given a hard time by jockey Andrea Atzeni.
A pleasing debut but nothing spectacular in a decent little race.
A couple of significant entries followed including the Group 1 Dewhurst makes me think Roger has a nice colt on his hands.
Lord Campari hasn’t run since his promising debut and is one to look out for next season.
Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas to you all.
Related post: Read Part 1: Roger Varian It's Been an Exceptional Year
Pictured: Daahyeh, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.
Friday is one of those days when all but one of my 2-year-old trackers are unraced. If I have said this once then I have said it a thousand times that I really don't like betting on debutantes but I will put down my thoughts anyway.
17:25 Hamilton 30 Aug 2019:
Trackers: Lawaa, Twin Paradox.
Only seven go to post here so a negative already for me. The likely favourite Flylikeaneagle sets the standard here and despite the extra weight should be hard to beat. Lawaa ran in the Class 2 Qater Ebf Stallions Maiden Stakes at Goodwood and disappointed the last timeout. Made a pleasing debut at Epsom on debut in July. Needs to bounce back after that last run.
Interesting that newcomer Twin Paradox had an entry for the Convivial Maiden Stakes at York but didn't run. The John Quinn trained Slade Power colt was purchased for 45,000 gns in April this year for Ross Harmon Racing And Partner. Another positive is John Quinn won this race in 2018 with unraced Lisheen Castle. Any market support would be a bonus.
19:45 Newcastle 30 Aug 2019:
Tracker: Cape Palace.
King Carney looks the best of the horses who have raced so far and could have each-way claims, pity only seven runners go to post. The 145,000 gns Australia Charlie Fellows colt made a promising debut despite being sent off 12/1. Slowly away and clueless he managed to stay on steadily and should have learned a lot from that debut at Haydock.
The well-thought-of John Gosden colt Cape Palace looks to be the favourite on debut. The 300,000 gns Golden Horn colt has a lovely pedigree and is entered in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October. Looking forward to seeing him run.
15:15 Sandown 30 Aug 2019:
Trackers: Lord Campari, Palace Pier.
A hot Maiden here with all the top yards out in force. We have Kingman, Frankel and Dubawi colts all fighting to come out on top. Anything could win here but I guess the market should sort the men from the boys. I have two trackers of interest here so here we go.
Lord Campari for the Roger Varian yard. The 350,000 gns Kingman colt is impeccably bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. Roger Varian thinks very highly of this bay colt and will be winning in the near future.
Palace Pier is another Kingman colt. Holds a Group 1 Dewhurst entry and is trained by John Gosden and ridden by the main man Frankie Dettori. A 600,000 gns purchase in October as a yearling for owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. The market will show clues to how wound up he is on debut.
Discovery Island has no big entries as yet but was beaten on debut by the Royal Lodge entered Sound Of Cannons. The Godolphin homebred Dubawi gelding took adrift in the betting before his debut at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago. That looked like a pretty nice debut to me and Discovery Island looks a strong big type who will improve for that run.
Thanks for reading and good luck.
