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 

Weekly 2- Old-Eye-Catchers (Monday 19th-Sunday 25th August)

17:25 Yarmouth 20 Aug 2019: 

Pocket Square was given a nice introduction at Yarmouth on Tuesday. This homebred Night Of Thunder Roger Charlton filly was well-supported on debut and despite finishing third in the six runner race I was impressed by how she handled herself. Pocket Square looked professional from the start with Jason Watson giving her a crack of the whip a couple of furlongs out, she couldn’t quite match the pace of the winner but was getting the hang of things late on. I guess after a pleasing debut she won't be much of a price next start but I will be hoping she can improve and get her first win. 

14:15 Bath 21 Aug 2019: 

Tommy Rock looks a 2-year-old to follow after a pleasing debut in the Sounds Commercial Bristol Maiden Stakes at Bath on Wednesday. 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. We will see a much better performance next time out and Tommy Rock will benefit with a step up in distance. I would go as far as saying the 2/1 favourite was the best horse in the race and a win is just around the corner. 

14:05 Carlisle 21 Aug 2019: 

I could be barking up the wrong tree with this 2-year-old to follow but Dandy’s Angel made a pleasing debut at Carlisle this week. I know trainer John Wainwright isn't the most fashionable 2-year-old trainer, in fact, I can't find the last time he actually had a 2-year-old winner, to be honest, but this Dandy Man filly was bought for 20,000 gns this year and despite being way behind early on jockey Sean Davis got a great tune out of her and from being a country mile behind she stayed on quite nicely to finish third behind Deb’s Delight. It wasn't the best race but I am sure she can get her head in front soon and win a small race for owner Mr Anthony Ross. 

14:05 Newmarket 23 Aug 2019: 

Not sure how good the form of the C J Murfitt Ltd Fillies' Novice Stakes race is but the one I will be putting in my trackers is the David Simcock trained Broadbeach. The 60,000 gns Dandy Man filly ran a cracker on her debut. Hayley Turner gave her a peach of a ride and it was only the last furlong Broadbeach began to wander a bit. The 33/1 shot will have learned a lot from that debut and will be looking to get her first win on the board next timeout. 

15:15 Newmarket 23 Aug 2019: 

Am guessing Never Alone will be odds on next start after a promising first run. This was an impressive debut in what looked like a hot little contest. It was all about the other Charlie Appleby colt Royal Crusade here who looks top class after a tidy win but the 1,200,000 gns Dubawi colt Never Alone was staying on at the finish and will be winning races soon enough. 

16:15 York 23 Aug 2019: 

You know most of the horses entered in the Convivial Maiden Stakes race will be decent. The price that the Tom Dascome colt Pot Of Paint was huge. The 66/1 shot 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. Definitely, one who should pick up a race in the near future. Thanks for reading and look out for my next 2-year-olds to follow

Midweek Previews And Reviews (20th August)

I must admit I shouldn't have had a bet Saturday because as I said in my weekend post I didn't really fancy much. In the end, I backed Sun Power to win. It's funny because I can understand now why some gamblers wait till last minute before betting. First, it's good to see the market and most of the time it really does pay to be cautious, especially with 2-year-old horses and second, it's good to see how your horse is going to post. Well, Sun Power was really keen going to post and had to be restrained by jockey Silvestre De Sousa. I wish I could have cashed out at that point. Sun Power was exactly the same through the race and disappointed. 

Phantom Bride was my next each-way bet for Karl Burke. It was a speculative bet and despite being well-supported she also disappointed in what was a Saturday to forget but the lesson learned was if I don't fancy anything strongly. I should be more patient and not bet. 

I also mentioned Queen’s Order who broke her duck with a nice win at Pontefract on Sunday, it was made a lot easier with Dazzling Des and Ventura Lighting both non-runners. I had another speculative bet on my other tracker Serious Jockin who was another who was never involved. Hopefully, I can make up for a bad weekend with a couple of wins this week.

14:15 Bath 21 Aug 2019: 

A couple of trackers in this 2-year-old Maiden Stakes race. Aweemaweh was a cheap purchase by Mick Channon last September. Aweemaweh has been given a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry. It could just be a pipe dream but to have any hope will have to put in a bold show here to stand any chance of making the lineup in September. The chestnut colt made a pleasing debut last week at Salisbury over six furlongs. The ground that day was soft and Aweemaweh plugged on without threatening the impressive winner Ascension. Interesting to see any market support for this Bungle Inthejungle colt and I hope I can get an each-way price. 

Another tracker to note in this race is Tommy Rock for the Clive Cox stable who also has a Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes entry. A 100,000 euro purchase for owner Peter Ridges. The market will prove the best guide for his chances on debut. Mick Channon has a decent record at Bath with his 2-year-olds but Clive Cox has a really impressive one. I may even do a split stake depending on prices and market support.  

14:35 Carlisle 21 Aug 2019: 

Ainsdale for the 2-year-old Carlisle specialist trainer Karl Burke. Ainsdale looks to have a great chance of making the frame at least here, after being beaten by the impressive Richard Fahey and Cheveley Park owned Custodian at Pontefract a couple of weeks ago. The Mayson colt stayed on without threatening the easy winner. A recent significant entry gives me hope that a better run is expected here and with the forecast soft ground at Carlisle, Ainsdale should be right at home. 

14:05 Carlisle 21 Aug 2019: 

Herbert Pocket is my last tracker for the Tim Easterby yard. The one positive here is this Helmet colt started his career in a Class 2 race at York in May. Despite finishing towards the back that was a good sign but a few negatives here too. Been off the course since then which makes me think must have been some kind of problem also had no significant entries since his debut in May. Needs to attract some support for me to even consider betting on this outsider today. Thanks for reading and good luck.