MAGICAL MORNING is by Muhaarar (GB) out of The Lark (GB), trained by John Gosden and owned by Lady Bamford. The homebred bay Colt looks the type to improve as a 3-year-old after an encouraging performance at Kempton last October. This is the first offspring of Dam The Lark who ended her career with an official rating of 106 after running to a decent level in Pattern races as a 3-year-old. The highlight winning the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster in 2013. Magical Morning took a slight drift in the betting from 7/2 to 9/2 before the off and showed a sign of greenness when slowly away, it was only till a few furlongs out the penny dropped and Magical Morning improved to move up the field and finish a no nearer sixth. The winner at Kempton that day was the impressive Satono Japan who looks a useful sort. A step up in trip will hopefully bring out more improvement to the Muhaarar Colt.
MAN OF PROMISE is by Into Mischief (USA) out of Involved (USA), trained by Charlie Appleby and owned by Godolphin. Not a big surprise to see this Mischief bay Colt on the list after a cracking run on his debut in a Class 2 race at Ascot last July. The winner that day Mums Tipple went onto win the Class 2 Yearling Stakes race at York next timeout and the second Molatham won the Convivial Stakes and the Listed Flying Scotsman on his next two starts. It was a close run race at Ascot and Man Of Promise needed to be switched a couple of times when making his run, on another day the result could have been different. Really looking forward to seeing Man Of Promise this season and an early 2000 Guineas entry is a positive move for the season ahead.
ON GUARD is by Invincible Spirit (IRE) out of Palitana (USA), trained by John Gosden and owned by Mr A E Oppenheimer. The Invincible Spirit bay Colt cost 110,000 gns at the 2018 Yearling Sales and showed potential on his debut at Haydock last August. On Guard was very keen for much of the race and despite that plugged on to finish second behind the more experienced He’s A Keeper. If he learns to settle better this season, On Guard could be a different proposition.
RACHMANINOV is by Mizzen Mast (USA) out of Solo Piano (USA), trained by H Palmer and owned by Mr K Abdukkah. The Mizzen Mast Colt is a full brother to the 107 rated Bear Mast who was trained by John Gosden for a year before moving to Hong Kong to race. His highlight was winning the Betway King Charles II Stakes (Listed Race) at Newmarket in 2018. Rachmaninov was backed into favourite for his debut race at Lingfield last August and was up with the pace until weakening pretty dramatically towards the end to finish sixth. I will be hoping for a much-improved performance this season after a disappointing effort first time out.
RAAJIN is by Raven's Pass (USA) out of Atab (IRE), trained by Charlie Hills and owned by Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum. The Raven’s Pass Gelding was supported from 8/1 into 5/1 on debut at Kempton last October which was a good sign. Raajin was quickly away and looked a little keen to me as he was taken on for the lead by Nugget. It seemed a two-horse race as neither would give an inch but Raajin weakened the final furlong to finish fourth. I hope the gelding operation he had in December will calm Raajin down a bit, so he can settle better this season.
SPARKLING OLLY is by Gleneagles (IRE) out of Sogno Verde (IRE), trained by Michael Bell and owned by Amo Racing Limited. I do like the horses the owner and trainer combination own so it’s no surprise to see me put this Gleneagles bay filly as one to follow for the season ahead. The 300,000 gns purchase at the 2018 October Yearling Sales by agent A C Elliott wasn’t fancied when going off a 33/1 shot on debut at Newmarket last October. Sparkling Olly was always up with the pace and looked like she knew her job from the start, it was only the last furlong or so when she ran green and could never land a blow. It looked like she had more to give to me and should have learned plenty from that experience.
STATE CROWN is by New Approach (IRE) out of Patroness (GB), trained by Charlie Appleby and owned by Godolphin. The Chestnut Colt is a half brother to 116 rated Charlie Appleby’s other runner Blair House who has an official rating of 116. State Crown made his debut at Chelmsford back in August last season and went into the notebook after a promising third behind Surf Dancer. The winner Surf Dancer was outclassed in the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes next timeout but I would imagine with more experience State Crown would have won the Chelmsford race. A step up to a mile could be ideal for the son of New Approach this season.
Thanks for reading and look out for my next Maidens to follow coming soon.
Related post: Maiden 3-Year-Olds to Follow 2020
Now that I am back in work time to write posts has been put on the back burner, especially this week being on the early shift but I have tried to post a couple of fancies on social media and wish I hadn't to be honest.
First bet I had was the Charlie Hills newcomer Raajin who made his debut on Wednesday. Charlie Hills had given Raajin a Champagne Stakes entry and a Royal Lodge Stakes entry, but he didn’t take part. The late market support brought some hope that the 12/1 I took was the right move but Raajin shot out the stalls and pulled his chances away and eventually finished fourth. I won't be giving up just yet but needs to settle better next timeout.
Next bet was Roman Melody who was also attracted late support and yes also finished fourth in what was a disappointing display and looked to have regressed.
My only bet that won was at York on Friday and I didn’t get time to even post my fancy. Air Power took a decent looking field apart and looks a nice Tim Easterby colt for the future.
19:30 Wolverhampton 12 Oct 2019 British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes
Eye-Catches: Pot Of Paint, Glenties
We have it all in this hot looking Novice Stakes race. First off is the experienced Wild Thunder who sets a decent standard here but could be vulnerable to a couple of potentially nice horses. Wild Thunder started his career with a win back in May and has been quite busy since with a couple of seconds along the way.
Glenties went into my notebook when finishing second to the well-touted Tsar at Newcastle last week. That was an impressive debut from the Mark Johnston colt who went off at an unbelievable 28/1. How good is Tsar? I still don't know, but he is very well-thought-of by John Gosden. Glenties cost 52,000 guineas at the yearling sales, should come on plenty for that run and should be in with a chance at the business end of the race.
Pot Of Paint went onto my eye-catcher list after making his debut in the Class 2 Convivial Maiden Stakes race at York in August. The Tom Dascombe New Approach colt went off at 66/1 shot for his first experience on a racetrack. Pot Of Paint a 65,000 guineas yearling purchase was kept at the back by Richard Kingscote before he weaved his way through beaten horses to finish strongly into fourth place. That was an excellent run considering he was at the back until a few furlongs out and the form of the winner looks rock solid.
To add to that we have some nice looking newcomers that need checking out in the market. I may do a split stake on Pot Of Paint and Glenties here.
16:25 York 12 Oct 2019 Join The Coral Bet & Get Club ebfstallions.com Novice Stakes
Eye-Catcher: Al Rufaa
Colour Image will start hot favourite here and rightly so after a promising debut at Newmarket last month and could easily win here but to short for me. Fox Duty Image needs to bounce back after a disappointing effort last time out. I'm tempted to do a split stake on Al Rufaa and El Naseri here and chance my luck that the favourite will disappoint. Al Rufaa was friendless in the market before his debut at Leicester last week when drifting from 6/1 to 12/1 at the off. If a Gosden horse takes a drift like that you know your money has all but gone. It proved the case as Al Rufaa started slow and ran green until staying on the final furlong. Another market check with this Kingman colt. El Naseri has put two solid efforts in and could be worth another chance. The Richard Hannon colt Gold Desert also made a promising debut and need a market check.
Good luck and thanks for reading.
