Everybody in the racing game has been talking about one horse lately and rightly so. Pinatubo has brought excitement back into the game, even the hardened jump racing fans have come out in force to admire the brilliant Charlie Appleby 2-year-old. The big debate has been about Pinatubo and the mighty Frankel, I even wrote a post on it myself a few weeks back: Can Promising Colt Pinatubo Match The might of Frankel? Anyway, I think we have talked about this one enough so time to move on.
The whole point of this post is a forgotten horse that could be useful. After looking at his debut victory and the significant entries he has received since I will be hoping Pierre Lapin takes his place in the Group 2 Duty-Free Mill Stakes on Saturday for trainer Roger Varian.
Roger Varian has trained a few nice 2-year-olds over the years. In 2017 the Kylachy filly Altyn Orda won the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket at huge odds of 25/1 and in 2018 Roger Varian was toasting another Group success in the same race when Mot Juste beat Angels Hideaway in his last race of the season.
This year hasn't been bad either with the impressive Daahyeh already looking a superstar in the making with two Group wins to her name. The Group 3 Albany Stakes was the first at Royal Ascot followed by the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket. If that wasn't enough she ran a great race at Curragh when just beaten by the smart Aidan O’Brien horse Love in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Pierre Lapin was foaled on the 22nd of January 2017. The Cappella Sansevero bay colt was purchased for 140,000 gns for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum in October 2018. Pierre Lapin must have been catching pigeons on the gallops because he was sent off favourite for his debut race at Haydock back in May. Pierre Lapin looked a shade inexperienced at the start and even jumped the path before staying on strongly to win by three and a half lengths. It was an impressive debut even though it wasn't the strongest race.
I do wonder why trainer Roger Varian has kept him off the track for so long, was it to just strength up or did have some kind of problem?
For whatever reason we haven't seen Pierre Lapin back on track I still think he could be one of Roger Varian's best 2-year-olds this season if not the best. How do I know? Because he was entered in quite a few significant races including the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien Stakes and many more group entries. As I said earlier he has an early entry in Saturdays Duty-Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury which could see him take on some top-class 2-year-olds including Richard Hannon's Mystery Power. Win or lose its intriguing to see why Roger Varian thinks so highly of Pierre Lapin.
Thanks for reading and good luck.
After the excitement of the Aintree Grand National and the Scottish Grand National, it's time to concentrate on what racing is all about, the Flat racing.
The first big race is on its way. The Nell Gwyn Stakes Group 3 for 3-year-old fillies only.
I can’t wait.
The Newmarket race was first held in 1961 and won by a horse called Verbena, it was officially called the Spring Fillies Stakes before being renamed to its current name the Nell Gwyn Stakes after the long-time mistress of King Charles II.
As readers of my blog know, I don’t really give tips out because my blog is about my betting journey this season, but saying that if I find any useful stats that I may use myself. I will be writing them down on here for future reference, and any trackers I have coming up will also be going on my blog.
John Gosden has a great record in this race and runs the talented Angel’s Hideaway (pictured), who is rated 105 after a great 2-year-old season with the highlight for me being the Group 3 win at Ascot back in July. It's not an easy race to work out as we have some talented horses in the field.
For instance, Mark Johnston runs the consistent Group performer Main Addition and the Oh So Sharp Stakes Group 3 winner Mot Juste also enters calculations and to add that we have a few unexposed fillies to make life a little more difficult to find the winner, I might just stick with the Gosden runner and hope she can reverse form with Mot Juste.
Alandalos is a horse I have my eye on, and runs in the 445 Fillies Maiden Stakes for Charlie Hills, she caught my eye last December when running a great race and finishing strong in a race won by the potentially smart John Gosden runner Entitle. Alandalos was sent off 20/1 that day and after dwelling in the stalls ran on well, she is another horse who had an early entry last season in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes which is an indicator that the trainer holds her in high regard but with a short price likely It will be a no bet for me.
My Bets Review:
As it’s early stages of the 2-year-old season the pennies are staying in the pocket. I know we all love to bet but sometimes and I can take it or leave it until something decent jumps out at me. One three-year-old newcomers, I had been waiting a good while for was Roger Varian's Farnham.
What I didn't expect was an early evening show of 2/1 and actually going off 13/8 fav.
It was a funny old race as first she missed the break and was stuck in behind a wall of horses in this 19 runner field. Even though I didn’t bet, because of the short price, I was still keeping a close eye on her during the race, I thought she was travelling well, considering she missed the break. Jockey Danny Tudhope decided to switch her right over to the rail and make his move, to me it looked like she was coming to win her race but for whatever reason never went through with it and finished 5th.
I could be wrong but I think she was the best horse in the race and will be keeping an eye out for her next start and especially if moving up to a mile.
On to Saturday and I had a few low stake speculative bet’s on what I thought was big priced runners, Modern Millie was the first at 33/1 who, to be honest, didn’t run a bad race to finish 6th in the Group 3 Duty Free Stakes.
Next up was Heer We go Again who ran a decent race to finish 2nd at Thirsk to impressive winner Xcelente.
First time out runner, City Wanderer, never got into the race and finished 7th at 66/1.
My last bet was the most interesting as when I had a quick look last night at the betting Kiefer was a 50/1 shot and when I went to put my bets on in the morning he had been backed into 14/1 but didn’t really matter as he never got a look in.
I am looking forward to when I can have a good bet but at the minute I will just be having a few speculative ones for a bit of interest.
Thanks for reading and have a great week.
