Merry Christmas You Filthy Animals!

Over the next few weeks I will take a look back at a few posts from earlier this year to keep the brain ticking over until the new flat season starts. 

I wrote a post back in May this year about a few expensive purchases made at the Tattersalls’ Premier Yearling Sales so thought it would be worthwhile checking if they actually made the grade or just disappointed. 

BLUE PLANET was the first and was purchased for 1,800,000 Guineas. A nice pedigree, expensive purchase and trained by the master Aidan O’Brien himself. The Kingman colt Blue Planet made his debut at Dundalk towards the end of October when starting 9/1. That was a pretty satisfactory debut when finishing third so it will be interesting to see what plans Aidan has next year. 

MAGIC HOUR and ESPANIA are still to make their debuts so the next was ST MARK’S BASILICA another for the O’Brien team who had a tremendous 2020 despite taking a few runs to get off the mark. St Mark’s was purchased for 1,300,000 Guineas. The Siyouni colt is a half-brother to Magna Grecia and won his maiden third time of asking before going on to finish third in the National Stakes and then went on to win the Group 1 Dewhurst at Newmarket in October at odds of 10/1. 

A different story for the next two 1,000,000 Guineas purchases who have both disappointed to date. The first MANASSAS comes from a nice family and has only ran once so far but finished stone last for the Kevin Ryan team. Next up is the John Gosden Dubawi colt MAHOMES who has looked pretty average to say the least in all three races this season. DRUMMER GIRL another who has yet to set foot on the racecourse. 

Next up a few Godolphin horses I marked down as 2-year-olds to follow back in May. NOBLE DYNASTY won second timeout at Kempton at odds on and looks a nice prospect for Charlie Appleby. DHAHABI got off the mark at Newmarket on debut and has run to a decent level in his last two races. ACT OF WISDOM was unplaced on debut but the Galileo colt has won three on the bounce including a couple of nice handicaps. Last one to mention is CREATIVE FORCE who won on debut but was soundly beaten next timeout in the Coventry Stakes back in June at Ascot. Creative Force hasn't been seen since, so I wouldn't be giving up just yet on this €400,000 Dubawi gelding. 

Keep an eye out for more of the same this season when I will add a few more Godolphin newcomers and a few expensive purchases to keep a track of for the 2021 season. 

Rewind back to January and I identified a few unraced Michael Stoute and owner Cheveley Park horses to keep an eye out for and out of the three that have ran POTAPOVA looks a star for next season after a demolition job at Chelmsford when winning by over 6-lengths in what was an impressive debut.

I will continue looking back at a few more horses in my next post but one bit of exciting news for next season is that all being well I will be previewing a few unraced 2-year-olds from the Roger Varian team which I am so excited about and I have been also invited to go down to have a look around the Carlburg Stables in the heart of Newmarket which is just brilliant and hopefully all being well I make the long trip from Liverpool some time in 2021. 

Time to get back to watching Home Alone with the family so stay safe and have a Merry Christmas.

Could Potapova Be Sir Michael Stoute's 1000 Guineas Horse?

You wouldn't normally get too excited about an EBF Novice Stakes at Chelmsford on cold Thursday afternoon. 

No one told Potapova, as this daughter of Invincible Spirit left her rivals some six-and-a-half lengths behind to take the spoils at 5/1. 

Racing in the familiar silks of Cheveley Park Stud, this home bred out of a four-times raced mare [Safina], was ridden to perfection by Ryan Moore. 

Although weak in the betting (drifting from 7/2 - 5/1), this May foal finished with verve to crush a six-strong field. 

Racing Post reporter, Steffan Edwards, commented:

'' POTAPOVA, a May foal, is a sister to 6f AW 2yo winner Panova (RPR 94) and half-sister to five other winners. She was weak in the betting but defied the negative vibes with a highly promising debut, travelling best throughout and quickening right away from a furlong out to win with ease. She could be smart.''

Racing Post Result:

''Tracked leaders, switched right home turn, led and going easily over 1f out, ridden 1f out, quickened and went well clear inside final furlong, ran on well, impressive (op 7/2 tchd 11/2).''

The signs were there. 

This bay filly had clearly been working well at home and it was a sign of interest that Sir Michael Stoute unveiled this horse so late in the season. Due to the late start to the Flat turf season, many trainers have struggled to get their better juveniles to the racecourse and a recent article in the Racing Post suggested next year's Classics, especially the 1,000 & 2,000 Guineas were likely to go to horses with no racecourse experience at two.

However, I suspect many of the big stables will be looking to introduced talented colts and fillies to get valuable experience for next year but also a sprinkling of pattern-class horses. 

There has been no mention of Potapova being targeted for next year's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, I suspect this is the plan for this horse. 

Take a look, below, to see what a sparkling debut it was.

What a debut! Sir Michael Stoute trained Potapova goes eight lengths clear in the closing stages to win the British @BritishEBF Novice Stakes under Ryan Moore. 🏇💨 pic.twitter.com/TpMEX2CAT5

— Chelmsford City Racecourse (@ChelmsfordCRC) November 26, 2020

Guest post: Jason Coote