A Brilliant Display from Ventura Diamond at Goodwood

A pretty quiet weekend with nothing much I fancied so Instead of just writing about anything I thought I would have a break and do some research. 

Quick update on a few of my past eye-catchers that ran last week. The Marcus Tregoning trained ALKUMAIT went into the notebook after a promising debut at Newbury when finishing strong a few weeks back. The Showcasing colt made no mistake next start when winning the Class 2 event at Goodwood last Tuesday with ease.

VENTURA DIAMOND was another who went into the notebook after a promising debut at Sandown a couple of weekends ago. The 100,000 gns purchase for the Middleham Park Owners looks a serious filly after winning without getting too serious at Goodwood on Friday. 

To learn more about Middleham Park Racing visit their website here. 

One eye-catcher that disappointed was TITIAN for William Haggas who did not improve on the promise he showed on debut and finished down the field at Goodwood yesterday.

A brilliant display from VENTURA DIAMOND on only her second start for @RichardFahey! 💎 #TeamMPR pic.twitter.com/kkSixQc56W

— Middleham Park Racing (@MprUpdates) July 31, 2020

It was nice to see the Eve Johnson Houghton trained BHUBEZI who was a horse to follow in her post back in May win the second time of asking at Chepstow on Saturday after a nice performance. What a season Eve is having with her 2-year-olds with six different winners this season and three the past week, a trainer in a rich vein of form and well-deserved.

A lovely double on the night so far for jockey @KShoemark who won our fifth race - The Read Around The Paddock At https://t.co/aN5rNFlRnM Maiden Stakes for @johnsonhoughton pic.twitter.com/kRfzq4QKct

— Chepstow Racecourse (@Chepstow_Racing) August 1, 2020

14:45 Haydock 03 Aug 2020 

A nice little race at Haydock and I have two trackers in this. Royal Musketeer is trained by Charlie Hills and owned by Mr. Ziad A Galadari who also owns Royal Commando who has run at a decent level for Charlie Hills and finished Fourth in the Commonwealth Cup Group 1 Stakes at Ascot this season. Interested to see the betting for the Acclamation colt and definitely one to look out for this season. One who has proven form but a short price is SOLENT GATEWAY for the Tom Dascombe yard. A decent debut when second to Et Tut Brute at Chepstow the Awtaad colt looked a certainty next timeout here but bumped into one of Richard Fahey's nice colts in the name of Rhythm Master, the fourth that day Cairn Island won in good style at Ayr last Tuesday. The £62,000 purchase looks to have a great chance to get his first win on the board here. 

15:30 Yarmouth 03 Aug 2020

Perfect Times won well on debut for Mark Johnston and looks a nice filly but with the extra weight to carry could have a tough job here to repeat that performance. Another short price tracker for me here is called JACINTH for William Haggas. A 120,000 gns purchase at the 2020 Craven Breeze up Sales for owners M M Stables. The Chestnut filly ran a promising debut at Newbury when slightly hampered and caught for pace before staying on to grab third on the line, didn't look the strongest race but Jacinth should come on plenty and know more this time out. Neptune’s Wonder is another tracker who has a nice pedigree but will need to be noted in the betting. 

16:40 Windsor 03 Aug 2020

OLYMPIC THEATRE is a Michael Bell Mayson gelding I had noted down on my shortlist after a fast-finishing third at Newmarket just over a week ago. The 30,000 euro bay gelding was a huge 40/1 on debut and slowly away before keeping on well the final furlong to finish third in what wasn't a bad race. He won’t have it all his own way especially with the form Eve Johnson Houghton is in who runs Uncle Dick here after a promising debut at Bath 20 days ago. 

19:15 Windsor 03 Aug 2020 

I do like owners Waverley Racing and always keep an eye out for the Beckett and Waverley combination. JACINTA DE VEGA is bred by Nick Bradley Bloodstock and costs 100,000 gns as a yearling. A few with experience here including the early favourite Rose Grey for Simon and Ed Crisford so another who a market check is needed on debut. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Two-Year-Old Eye-Catchers 19th - 26th July

Quick update on my latest selections and eye-catchers. It pains me to say it but a visit to Specsavers could be in order after a disappointing eye-catcher over the weekend, Nurse Dee looks limited, to say the least after finishing down the field at York on Saturday. It did get better though as two trackers got their heads in front. The Cheveley Park owned Ice Sprite ventured into handicap company and the William Haggas trained Zoffany filly made no mistake at Newmarket winning easily. Top Class Angel finally got her first win for trainer Richard Hannon after being placed twice this season. The Dark Angel filly dug in deep to also win at Newmarket. 

Saturday’s headline post was Godolphin at the double and the first leg of it came in when the well-thought-of Charlie Appleby Frankel colt DHAHABI held on from the fast-finishing Dinoo who will be winning his Maiden soon enough. I took 9/4 the night before with Dhiahabi and had a winning bet so it was a profitable day for me personally. I expected Declaring Love to win easily after being well-supported but the Gosden filly Bizzi Lizzi had different ideas and won well with Declaring Love finishing second.

Dhahabi 🏇
✅By Frankel
✅Winning debut in the @BritishEBF Maiden Stakes with @the_doyler aboard for Charlie Appleby. pic.twitter.com/MZROBJxZA8

— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) July 25, 2020

Eye-Catchers 16:25 Sandown 21 July 2020 

First off congratulations to The Middleham Park Syndicate after Ventura Tormenta won the Prix Darley Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) at Chantilly last week when holding off the challenge of the Norfolk Stakes winner The Lir Jet. That brings me onto my first eye-catcher this week, VENTURA DIAMOND, who was purchased for 100,000 gns at the Tattersalls 2019 October Yearling Sales. The Richard Fahey trained Dandy Man filly made an eye-catching debut at Sandown last Tuesday in what looked a pretty nice fillies Maiden. The winner Miss Jingles and second Zoetic are both nice types and the way Ventura Diamond was staying on at the finish I can see a winner sooner rather than later for this nice looking filly. 

12:00 Newmarket 24 Jul 2020

OLYMPIC THEATRE is a Michael Bell Mayson gelding I had noted down on my shortlist for the Newmarket race last Friday, Why? Because owners The Fitzrovians had a first timeout debut winner in 2018 called Nuremberg at Ascot. The price 40/1 well and truly put me off but luckily enough I backed the winner Jadwal anyway but was still disappointed I didn’t have a few quid each-way on Olympic Theatre who ran a stormer to finish third despite being slowly away and running green. Another who should be up to winning soon enough. 

12:20 York 25 Jul 2020 

Richard Fahey has a good relationship with owners Clipper Logistics with plenty of 2-year-old winners over the years including the exciting Space Traveller. STATE PATROL has some way to go to be even mentioned in the same breath as the Bated Breath colt but there was a lot to like about the Zoffany colts debut at York on Saturday. A 50,000 euro purchase at the 2019 Orby Sales State Patrol is a half-brother to the brilliant The Last Lion. A drifter at York on debut from 11s to 14/1 and it showed he was in need of the race when slowly away before finishing well to finish third. Considering the start and traffic problems along the way It was definitely an encouraging debut and one to look out for the next start. 

More Eye-Catchers: 

16:20 Doncaster 25 Jul 2020 RAADOBARG 

2:20 York 25 Jul 2020 PATIENT DREAM 

13:15 Ascot 25 Jul 2020 SNOW LANTERN 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.