Unraced Three-year-olds To Follow (2022)

First of all I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Personally it's been quiet and that is just how I like it, spending time with the family, drinking beer and trying to sort my trackers out. In total I have over one hundred and sixty three-year-olds to follow for this season which is a ridiculous amount, obviously I will narrow them down. Let’s take a quick look back at some of the highlights of last years three-year-olds to follow: 

EMPRESS JOSEPHINE was one of my unraced 3yos to follow and didn’t disappoint when winning first time out way back in March for Aidan O’Brien and then running at a decent level in pattern races for the the rest of the season. I would love to say I backed her for the 1000 Guineas but I never and the rest is history as the Galileo filly won by a short head at 16/1. Total earnings: £268,841. 

THIRD REALM went in the notebook as a 2yo with after a nice debut back in 2020. The Roger Varian colt got off the mark on his reappearance then went onto win the Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield at 14/1. Third Realm ran a great race in the Derby finishing fifth and another who ran to a decent level the rest of the season. Total earnings:£98,943. 

GEORGE PEABODY was a nice winner for the George Scott team when winning first time up as a 3yo last March at 11/1. It was nice to see him follow up with another win before finishing down the field in a nice race at Ascot. Total earnings:£5,724. 

SNOW LANTERN was in everybody's 3yos to follow and the Frankel filly didn’t disappoint when winning her maiden and going on to run some brilliant races last season in all the top races. I was pleased to see her win the Group one Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket when quickening up nicely to beat Mother Earth under a brilliant ride by Sean Levey. Hopefully Snow Lantern can bounce back as a 4yo after a lacklustre run in her final race of the season. Total Earnings:£356,236. 

Time to look at this season's 3yos to follow, I will start off with a few unraced 3yos who will hopefully make their mark in some of the top races. As always, the first time out you just never know so personally I will be taking a watching brief. 

1: EXPRESS WAY is by Dark Angel and out of Alluring Park, trained by Paddy Twomey. Dam Alluring Park has produced some great offspring, five out of the eight are all rated above 100 so the signs are good for the Dark Angel filly. Express Way is a half-sister to a few nice types including Aidan O'Brien's Was who won the Oaks in 2012. Well regarded by Paddy so hopefully Express can get a win on the board this season. 

2: FIORELLINA is by Galileo and out of Sapphire, trained by Dermot Weld who has had success with dam Sapphire before. Dam Sapphire was top class herself for Dermot winning plenty of nice races in a decent career including finishing her career in style winning the Group 2 Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes race at Ascot in 2012, offspring include full-sister Federica Sophia who ran some decent races for Dermot. 

3: WHISPERING ROMANCE is by Kingman out of Sante, trained by Charlie Appleby. Dam Sante wasn’t anything special winning once in her career but Appleby does rate this filly so I'm pretty sure she will get a win this season. 

4: NEWFOUNDLAND is by Deep Impact out of Best In The World, trained by Aidan O’Brien. Wow a full-brother to the brilliant Snowfall and one I will be really looking forward to seeing on the racetrack, I Imagine a few of these will be short prices but sometimes it's not all about betting for me. Interestingly Snowfall didn’t come into her own until tackling longer trips as a 3yo so I will be keeping that in mind. Another one is well regarded by the trainer. 

5: TASHKENT is by Acclamation out of Colour Blue, trained by Richard Hannon. Dam Colour Blue ran to a decent level in her three year career, her other offspring is the Simon and Ed Crisford trained Melancholy who came third on her debut at Lingfield in November and looks sure to improve. Tashkent is another who I will be looking out for this season. I have plenty more 3-year-olds to follow and will write another post soon. Hopefully these posts will keep a few people from going mad while the National Hunt season is in full swing. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Read Part 2 Here

Midweek Thoughts (13th April)

I thought my selection last week had lost a leg or something after one almighty walk in the market. Handel was well-thought of by Aidan O’Brien last season even after a disappointing debut but I thought I would give the 3-year-old colt another chance. The overnight price was 3/1 which was a bit skinny but when Handel drifted to 12/1 I had given up hope, in the end he ran a cracker to finish second, a step up in trip should bring out more improvement. Evaluation is one of my three-year-olds to follow and stayed on well yesterday at Windsor, the trip was always too short and when stepped up he will be seen in a better light. Another horse I mentioned last week was the big priced 3-year-old debutant Punta Arenas for George Scott, I thought it was a nice debut to be honest but needs to settle better and the head carriage was a bit of a worry. 

Quite a few trackers on Wednesday so here we go. 

14:00 Wed 14 April 2021 Leopardstown 

I might need the luck of the Irish for this one. I have been testing a certain angle with these Irish races and will be doing so again this year. The Donnacha Aidan O’Brien trained ABSOLUTELY was made favourite for her debut at Curragh last November, infact backed in from 13/2 down to 9/4. Absolutely was always there about until the going got tough, and she dropped into midfield before running on again late in the day, a step up in trip will hopefully see some improvement. Dam Bracelet was a star for Aidan winning the Irish Oaks in 2014 but so far her offspring haven’t set the world alight, Mountain Fountain and Love Bracelet both disappointing. 

14:35 Wed 14 April 2021 Leopardstown 

Over to Joseph for this one and SOUTHERN LIGHTS, the Sea The Stars 3-year-old colt was purchased for 550,000 euros from the Orby Sales and made a pleasing debut at Naas last September. Southern Lights was made 6/5 for his debut so obviously the word had got around. I thought it was a decent debut and was just touched off into second in the end after trying to make all. Southern Lights is entitled to come on for that and the step up in trip should be right up his street. 

16:10 Wed 14 April 2021 Newmarket 

I Imagine SNOW LANTERN was scribbled into many notebooks after an eye-catching debut at Ascot last July. The Richard Hannon Frankel filly hasn’t been seen since but after the winter behind her should be ready for a fruitful flat campaign. The Ascot race was won by Zabeel Queen who then finished third in the Group 2 May Hill and fifth in the Fillies Mile. It won’t be an easy task with some lovely looking types here but hopefully Snow Lantern can go one better and get her first win. 

13:15 Wed 14 April 2021 Newmarket 

I will throw a 2-year-old in here that could be worth following, will it be CANONIZED day on Wednesday or will she need the run? The William Haggas trained and Cheveley Park owned Acclamation filly could be anything. Dam Sainted was a nice type for William and won on debut over six furlongs, one thing worth noting is she did like a bit of give in the ground. Interesting that Williams first runner in 2020 was Sacred owned by Cheveley Park and won at Newmarket, Sacred of course went onto be a star last season. Lots of competition of course and another I will be keeping an eye on this season is EL HADEEYAH who James Tate gave a good mention here on the blog. 

It’s a tough time at the minute and early days for the 2-year-olds, plenty nice types will be filling these pages before long. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Three-year-olds To Follow (2021)

Seven horses I put in my tracker last season. A bit of a mixed bag really with a couple that could be short prices next timeout and a few I will give another chance after disappointing. 

1: CASUARINA is by Sea The Moon (GER) out of Caribana (GB), trained by Ralph Beckett and owned by Miss K Rausing. Dam Caribana started her career with Michael Jarvis only racing four times winning a Wolverhampton maiden in 2008. Casuarina is related to a couple of nice types, the most successful being the Selkirk mare Cubanita also trained by Beckett and owned by Miss Rausing. Cubanita got better the older she got, winning a couple of group races along the way including the John Porter in 2014. Casuarina made her debut at Leicester last September when well-supported from 10s into 5/1. It was pretty obvious this trip was on the short side and Casuarina had to be ridden rigorously by Harry Bentley for most part of the race and in the end Casuarina plugged on to finish third. Interested to see Casuarina when she takes a step up in trip this season. 

2: DANVILLE is by Muhaarar (GB) out of Faustinatheyounger (IRE), trained by Eve Johnson Houghton and owned by Viscount Astor. A 30,000 gns purchase at the 2019 October Yearling Sales. Eve has had a tremendous season with her 2yos but the Muhaarar gelding hasn’t been seen since running a cracking race back in August at Goodwood. That race was a class 2 so obviously Danville is well-thought of despite going off a 40/1 shot. The form of that race has worked out pretty well with plenty of winners coming out that race. Danville was held up by Charlie Bishop that day and then when making his run he was blocked in before running on well the closing stages. Been gelded since so interested to see how he performs next time out after being off the track since August. 

3: GOLD WING is by Golden Horn (GB) out of Aviacion (BRZ), trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and owned by Godolphin. A half-sister to another Saeed runner called Promising Run who won the Rockfel Stakes back in 2015 and went on to have a decent career winning a couple of nice races at Meydan in 2018. Looking at the bare result you would probably be disappointed. Gold Wing was pretty steady in the market and made favourite for this novice race at Kempton back in July. Personally, I thought she was given an easy time and when tapped for toe a couple of furlongs out Murphy just cruised home. I will be keeping an eye out to see if this Golden Horn filly steps up on trip this season. 

 4: HANDEL is by Prioneerof The Nile (USA) out of Party Starter (USA), trained by A P O'Brien and owned by Handel form is available here. Owned byMme.J. Magnier/M. Tabor/D.Smith. This American born bay colt could be anything after finishing stone last on his debut back in July at Leopardstown. That run doesn’t inspire confidence I agree but I will be interested to see the betting next timeout and hopefully give Handel another chance.

5: MORAWETH is by Speightstown (USA) out of Istiraaha (USA), trained by Charlie Hills and owned by Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum. Moraweth never really got into the race when making his debut at Newcastle back in October but travelled well enough and wasn’t asked any questions by jockey Murphy that day. One I will be taking caution with and the betting will be the key when Moraweth is back out again. 

6: SNOW LANTERN is by Frankel (GB) out of Sky Lantern (IRE), trained by Richard Hannon and owned by Rockcliffe Stud. Now I’m pretty sure Snow Lantern went into many notebooks after her debut at Ascot in July and I’m pretty sure she will be a short price when reappearing this year but sometimes it’s not all about betting sometimes I just like to see a nice horse to be honest. Snow Lantern is a half-sister to the excellent Sky Lantern who had a tremendous career for Richard Hannon Snr winning group races left right and centre including the 1,000 Guineas to just name one. Talking of Guineas, Snow Lantern is actually a 33/1 shot for this year's Guineas. Pretty sure she will be stepped up to a mile this season and look forward to seeing out again. 

7: MARTINIQUE is by Le Havre (IRE) out of Phiz (GER), trained by A P O'brien and owned by Mrs John Magnier & Michael Rabor & Derrick Smith. Pretty expensive purchase for 825,000 Guineas at the October Yearling Sales in 2019. I could be barking up the wrong tree here after what looks like a couple of disappointing performances but I’m willing to take a chance that Martinque can improve if stepped up in trip. The Le Havre filly might just be a slow burner after looking to being knowhere one minute at Curragh last timeout to rallying and staying on again the last furlong. 

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.