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.

O'Brien Looking To The Future with Horoscope

In my last post my headline horse was the Hugo Palmer trained Iffraaj colt SPIRIT OF IFFRAAJ, it wasn't a confident selection but as I said I do like following owner and trainer combinations as part of the selecting process. It's always worth noting Palmer and Dr Ali Ridha. The 14/1 early price was worth a small each way and come race time Spirit was 10/1. 

Mark Johnston and Mr Hussain Alabbas Lootah are getting on my nerves lately haha and Spirit Of Iffraaj was denied by the easy Johnston winner Dark Company who was a great price at 2/1 after being odds on early in the day. 

My other selection was NATIONAL BALLET who disappointingly finished out the places after being well-supported. I’m pretty sure we will see more of the O’Brien trained Deep Impact colt sometime next year so don't give up yet.

A couple of other winners to note, INTRUSIVE won at Ayr last week and was an 8/1 shot from my Karl Burke post on his 2-year-olds to follow plus ORGETORIX from the Ralph Beckett yard was an eye-catcher and won yesterday at York at 5/2. 

I mentioned Creedmoor on Twitter and the Roger Charlton filly could only manage third at Chelmsford, finally it was nice to see ST MARK’S BASILICA win the Darley Dewhurst Stakes today after writing about the A P O'Brien colt back in May.

It's a 1-2 for @Ballydoyle in the @DarleyStallions Dewhurst Stakes!

St Mark's Basilica gets the better of his stable companion Wembley to win the Group One contest under @FrankieDettori 👏 pic.twitter.com/KPu6mh6WS7

— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) October 10, 2020

14:55 Goodwood 11 Oct 2020 

A tasty little Listed race here and hopefully inexperience won't count against the John Gosden filly LEAFHOPPER. The twice raced John Gosden Dark Angel grey filly was only seen once as a 2-year-old when making a winning debut at Newmarket last August. The 480,000 gns purchases made her appearance at Catterick two weeks ago and showed she could still play a hand here. John Gosden rated this filly last year giving her entries for the Rockfel and the Fillies Mile, yes she lacks the experience but hopefully she can at least hit the frame here. 

13:10 Curragh (IRE) 11 Oct 2020

I missed out last week on not having a little dabble on Carlisle Bay after a big drift, so this week I’m going with the No Nay Never colt HOROSCOPE even though KHARTOUM looks to be the number one for the O’Brien team but as I have said before you just never know, whatever Horoscope does today another one that should be capable of winning soon enough.  

14:40 Windsor 12 Oct 2020 

Pure Dreamer has run a few nice races this season without getting off the mark, could hose up here but going to stick with the Andrew Balding colt SKIBO CASTLE. The Shalaa colt cost 130,000 euros at the Arqana 2019 October Yearlings Sale. I’m pretty sure more was expected of this well-bred colt last timeout, but he finished down the field but to be honest both starts so far have been contested by a few nice horses and hopefully after a few days off the track will bring improvement here. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Two-Year-Olds (2yos) With the Biggest Price Tags for 2020 Flat Season

Each year horse racing fans wait with anticipation for the most esteemed yearling sale:

Tattersalls’ Premier Yearling Sales Book 1

The best of the best stallions are represented with the likes of Dubawi who stands at Darley Stud for a fee of £250,000. 

Kingsman's stallion fee has been increased from £75,000 to £150,000 for Juddmonte Farms. 

The mighty Frankel a stallion fee of £175,000. 

Let’s not forget the daddy of them all Galileo - the father of Frankel - who stands at Coolmore Stud in Ireland and is reportedly one of the most expensive stallions in the world. 

Although the stud fee is given as private, a figure of £400,000 isn't too wide of the mark for this super stallion. 

No wonder their offspring are costly acquisitions. 

The hope of owning the next superstar - it's a billionaire's dream. These high profile owners think nothing of writing a cheque with ten zeros for a prized yearling. In general, they don't make much of a betting proposition because their reputation proceeds them. The buzz of seeing these big-ticket purchases set hoof on the racecourse it a joy to behold. 

Take a look at this post in a year's time and see if any make the grade. 

I will update names when I can. 

BLUE PLANET Kingman (GB) / One Last Dance (AUS) B.C. (GB) Hazelwood Bloodstock MV Magnier 1,800,000 Guineas 

Trained by Aidan O’Brien and bought at the Tattersalls Yearling Sales. Second foal of dam One Last Dance who won the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude Stakes in Australia back in 2011. Blue Planet was bred by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds who introduced us to Australian superstars Winx and Vancouver. Blue Planet has the potential to be an exciting prospect for the O’Brien yard and one I'm looking forward to seeing in the future.

ESPANIA Filly by Galileo (IRE) x Green Room (USA) Ballylinch Stud M V Magnier/Westerberg €3,000,000 

Bought at the October Orby Sale by M V Magnier/Westerberg and trained by Aidan O’Brien. Dam Green Room was unraced but that hasn’t stopped her producing some top-class offsprings and Aidan already has two talents from this family in the names of Together Forever(rated 112) and Forever Together(rated 117) interesting that both needed a couple of runs to release their full potential but Espania could potentially a smart horse from the O’Brien yard.  

MAGIC HOUR Filly by Galileo (IRE) x Aleagueoftheirown (IRE) Glenvale Stud Westerberg €2,200,000 

Bought at the October Orby Sale by Westerberg and will be possibly trained by Aidan O’Brien. A full-sister to the 122 rated Alice Springs who was also trained by Aidan O’Brien and was a multiple group winner in an outstanding career. The Falmouth Group 1 Stakes was just one of many highlights for the 550,000. 

ST MARK’S BASILICA Siyouni (FR) / Cabaret (IRE) B.C. (FR) Norelands Stud, Ireland MV Magnier 1,300,000 Guineas 

Trained by Aidan O’Brien and bought at the Tattersalls Yearling Sales. Half-brother to the 340,000 Guineas Magna Grecia who of course won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last year for the O’Brien team and is rated 124. Dam Cabaret was a fairly useful performer herself with a rating of 93 after a decent 2-year-old career winning the Silver Flash Group 3 Stakes at Leopardstown. Acted on soft ground. 

MANASSAS Dubawi (IRE) / Without You Babe (USA) B.C. (GB) Newsells Park Stud Ltd. Kevin Ryan 1,000,000 Guineas 

Bought by Kevin Ryan on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid at the Tattersalls Yearling Sales. Dam Without You Babe was unraced but has produced some quality horses including the 125 rated Tamarkuz, the 107 rated John Gosden filly She’s Got You and the 119 rated Without Parole who won the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot in 2018 to name just one success. The colt has a lot to live up to but one of interest. 

MAHOMES Dubawi (IRE) / The Fugue (GB) B.C. (GB) Watership Down Stud David Redvers Bloodstock 1,000,000 Guineas 

Bought at the Tattersalls Yearling Sales by David Redvers on behalf of Sheikh Fahad and will be trained by John Gosden. Dam The Fugue was an exceptional performer for John Gosden and owner Lord Lloyd-Webber. The 128 rated filly contested top-quality races and one of the highlights was winning the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in 2014 to make it her fourth Group 1 win in a remarkable career. Outstanding pedigree on paper and another to look forward to this season. 

UNNAMED filly by Galileo (IRE) x Devoted To You (IRE) Barronstown Stud Phoenix T'breds/Aquis Farm €1,100,000 

Bought at the October Orby Sale by Phoenix T'breds/Aquis Farm Comes from a nice family who has produced some nice types that are usually trained by Aidan O’Brien including the winner of the Irish Derby Sovereign who last year sprung a surprise when given an outstanding ride by Jockey Padraig Beggy when getting first run and not stopping. Also, a full-sister to Dawn Rising who was too green to do justice on his only run last year and one to keep an eye out for next time. 

DRUMMER GIRL Galileo (IRE) / Quiet Oasis (IRE) Ch.F. (IRE) Barronstown Stud, Ireland MV Magnier / Westerberg 2,100,000 Guineas 

Trained by Aidan O’Brien and bought at the Tattersalls Yearling Sales. A full-sister to the exciting Lancaster House who was the first foal for dam Quiet Oasis. Lancaster House won his first three races including a Listed event at Listowel before quickly turning out again in the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown five days later and disappointing but still remains with potential. 

Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Photo: Galileo