Pierre Lapin Oozes Class In The Mill Reef (Plus Reviews)

TRACKER AND EYE-CATCHER UPDATE: 

It's been a great few days for the blog with a few nice winners from my tracker list and my weekly eye-catchers. 

13:15 Fri 20 September 2019: NEWBURY: 33/1 SHOT TOTHEOTHERSIDE ROMPS HOME. 

First up was Tommy Rock who was an eye-catcher after a promising debut at Bath last month. I also had Tommy Rock as a tracker after Clive Cox had given this Society Rock colt a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry back in August. This was a definite step backwards and I think that Group entry might have been a little ambitious, time will tell. The early morning drift was a worry and Tommy Rock never turned up and finished a disappointing twelfth. I am hopeful we will see a better performance next timeout because I feel this wasn't the real Tommy Rock that turned up today. 

In the same race, I had Totheotherside who I noted as a tracker after Richard Hannon had given this Dandy Man filly two Class 2 entries. This was a really nice performance and how she started at 33/1 is beyond me. I guess somebody had a few quid on though as she was 50/1 earlier in the day. Totheotherside ran out an easy winner when making all to win by a length and a half from the promising King Ragner and looks a horse to follow. 

13:40 Fri 20 September 2019: AYR: 8/1 SHOT GRAVITY FORCE HANGS ON FOR WIN.

Same again here with two horses I had noted down. First was Gift Of Kings who just like Tommy Rock I was expecting a much better performance this time. To be fair Gift Of Kings ran a decent debut race at York last timeout and I thought the Kevin Ryan trained Kingman colt would be in the shake-up at least. The heavily backed favourite finished second to last and it was another mystery and disappointment. This is another potentially nice horse and hopefully, Gift Of Kings will come back strong next timeout. 

The winner was the Karl Burke trained Gravity Force who was on my eye-catcher list after a promising debut at Newcastle at the beginning of the month. At Newcastle, I noted that jockey Clifford Lee had earned his money after he was pushing hard on Gravity Force as soon as he left the gates. This time he travelled much better and held on gamely to win at 8/1. I do love a second timeout Karl Burke 2-year-old. 

14:55 Newbury 21 Sep 2019: NEWBURY: PIERRE LAPIN OOZES CLASS IN THE MILL REEF. 

I think I enjoyed this tracker the most even though I didn't have a bet. I have been waiting to see the exciting Pierre Lapin for a while now, in fact since the 24th of May. I think that’s what makes this victory even sweeter. Pierre Lapin is trained by Roger Varian and a half brother to the speed machine Harry Angel. His debut race at Haydock back in May was promising and despite a string of significant entries throughout the season, Roger gave him time to mature and strengthen up. It was race time and Richard Hannon had been talking up his exciting prospect Mystery Power. The betting couldn't separate the pair as they were sent off 9/4 joint-favourites. It was a race I had been waiting a while for but was over in what seemed a second as Pierre Lapin showed the racing world what he was all about. To be honest I was slightly worried until he picked up a furlong out and quickened up to beat his main rival Mystery Power by a length and a half. An impressive victory and worth the wait as the Roger Varian colt won the Dubai Duty-Free Mill Reef Stakes with ease. I for one can't wait to see what he can do as a 3-year-old next season. 

See what the stable said before the big race. 

Learn more about the Mill Reef Stakes (past winners and more) 

Thanks for reading and good luck

Related post: How Good is Roger Varian's Race Horse Pierre Lapin 

Friday Feeling (Plus Rock On Tommy And Previews)

You can stick the Doncaster St Leger Festival meeting where the sun doesn't shine. This is what I'm talking about. We have a great meeting at Ayr and Newbury to wet the taste buds. I will preview a few horses that I have noted down. The bad thing is I have a couple of trackers in the same race which annoys me but that's life hey. 

13:40 Fri 20 September 2019: AYR 

Duesenberg has a win penalty after a promising debut for Richard Fahey. The second that day was Hartswood who has since gone on to win. Sean Davis takes a 3 lb off the Elzaam colt. Step up in trip should suit. 

Melody King is another who shoulders a win penalty after a nice debut at Thirsk. The 200,000 gns Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited owned Kodiac colt got the hang of things late on and won by just under a length. Not the strongest race but you can only beat what's put in front of you. 

El Naseri is an interesting one after a promising debut at Thirsk. The Michael Dods trained 40,000 euro purchase is a half brother to Karl Burkes Comedy who has run at a decent level. El Naseri was a 20/1 shot on debut and kept towards the back by jockey Paul Mulrennan until making rapid progress and nearly getting up to beat the well-entered Plymouth Rock. 

Gift Of Kings (tracker) is trained by Kevin Ryan and owned by Clipper Logistics. This Kingman colt was purchased for 120,000 gns in October last year. His debut race was in Class 2 Convivial Stakes at York, which is always a good sign. I don't think Gift Of Kings was fully tuned up that day and the 33/1 starting price was the clue. It was a pretty decent debut considering his price and stayed on well in the closing stages. The winner that day was the Roger Varian trained Molhatam who has since won a Listed race at Doncaster and looks a real nice colt. The Second Celtic Art has also come out and won a Class 2 race. The market should show the clue to Gift Of Kings chances. 

Am not sure how strong the race Gravity Force made his debut in was but the winner Ascension has won twice now. Gravity Force is a 45,000 gns Fountain Of Youth colt and was purchased in 2017 for owners Bearstone Stud Limited. He made a promising debut at Newcastle but jockey Clifford Lee had to earn his pay because he was hard at work from the word go. Normally you can tell when Karl Burke has a nice horse as the money comes in but it was the opposite here as Gravity Force drifted to 12/1. Even though Gravity Force took a while to get going he sprouted wings a couple of furlongs out and finished full of running. 

Conclusion: I can't decide between the potentially nice Kevin Ryan colt Gift Of Kings or the promise that Gravity Force showed when staying on well-last timeout. The extra furlong should suit Gravity Force. The other nice colts make it even harder but I might do a split stake and hope for the best. 

13:15 Fri 20 September 2019: NEWBURY 

A couple of nice newcomers here including the Richard Hannon trained Theotherside who had a couple of Class 2 entries but didn't run. I will concentrate on one who has already had a run. 

Tommy Rock looks a nice 2-year-old after a pleasing debut in the Sounds Commercial Bristol Maiden Stakes at Bath last month. The Clive Cox trained Society Rock colt is owned by Mr Peter Ridgers and was purchased for 100,000 euros as a yearling in the October sales last year. The fact that this grey colt was drawn wide on debut made life a little more difficult, having said that he will have learnt plenty from his first run. Tommy Rock was tapped for toe early on before getting the hang of things later on. The eventual winner Brad The Brief had already flown before Tommy Rock had got into top gear. Tommy Rock should benefit from a step up in distance. I would go as far as saying the 2/1 favourite was the best horse in the race last month and hopefully I can get an each-way price here. 

Good luck and thanks for reading.