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Two of Mark Johnston's
Green Lightning, won a Leicester maiden easily on his third start improved with each run and will do well in middle distance handicaps off 82. Elation, first foal of Attraction, far too green over 6F first time at Kempton but ran on strongly in the final furlong then did it easily on her second start at Lingfield. Remember Ghannati won her second start on the AW. Interesting to see what route they take. |
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A good read.
I shall be copying and saving this thread and would advise others to do likewise. |
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Yeah that is Sahara Kingdom Penzance. Looked very good second time, just wonder where Godolphin will send him.
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The carnival perhaps?
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My one to watch for this year is Michael Stoute's Nibani, he only came 4th in his one 2yo run but it looked like a typical end of season educational run from one of the all time great trainers. For a good 6 furlongs of the mile race Nibani looked as though he'd just landed from another (equine) planet and didn't seem to have a clue but the way he picked up when the penny finally dropped suggested that he could be a real player in this year's major middle distance races. He is very well bred and is entered in all the top races, whether he turns out to be a group 1 horse only time will tell but I have availed myself of a small piece of the 140s Derby odds that were on offer on here.
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St Leger for that one maybe ?
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lets try and keep this thread going lads. Some very promising names dropped there.
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Kithonia , Bullet Train, for me.
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Kithonia for the Oaks Russ ? What about Time Piece ?
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I'd like to put Meezaan up on here, reckon the Hamdan team they rate him reasonably (brought his brother who's 2 this year for big money at Goffs I believe). Put him in the sales race on debut, raced on wrong side iirc. Should progress this year and could be a useful miler, maybe Listed class.
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Field Day for me
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I like both push , henry thinks timepiece will be better over 10f. Has some very nice 3yo fillies this year.
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quite taken by waseet of john dunlops.
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Tom, gave a good word for both in an interview in The Sun this Saturday, Russ. Kithonia was a possible for the Fillies Mile at Ascot, so expect Henry thinks alot of her.
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duncan
i thought that was a decent performance that day(from box 20)also one maybe to note from that race for a handicap next season is Barry Hills's Flotation |
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Thats good news push, i think the 2yos will prove a good bunch this year.
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Here's an interesting one, Lamool. Not listed on the Racing Post site but a German horse who could be going places. He's a big colt who's bred to get a lot better up in trip and with age (as with most German horses) and looked decent when winning at the start of November over a mile.
Also like a filly called Ambria but she's a Listed winner. |
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I know this is titled 'best 2yo maiden winners of 2009' but if I could digress a little and mention some who didn't quite make it into the winner's enclosure last year, like a few already have on here, and I think it would be interesting if others followed suit.
Here are just a few that have caught my eye (interested to see if anyone agrees/disagrees): Alice Cullen of Walter Swinburn's is a half sister to the quirky but useful Antinori who ran on well late in the day in a 7f fillies' maiden at HQ last October (finished 11th of 20 behind Revered), that after finding herself outpaced halfway; will improve significantly throughout the season, as the family tend to do. Brananx of Kevin Ryan's is one I am particularly looking forward to seeing this year. He's well-bred but was late into the yard (bought at the sales in May) and shaped with real promise on his debut at Doncaster last October, missing the break but travelling nicely for a long way under a sympathetic ride, staying on when it was all over. I reckon he's got so much more to come this year. Harvest Dancer of Brian Meehan's was another who caught the eye on debut when finishing fourth behind the sadly departed Najd in a Newbury maiden last summer. He is out of the yard's speedy Autumnal and travelled up strongly to lead inside the final furlong, his fitness letting him down close home. I think he showed enough to suggest he's got a bright future. Latansaa from the Marcus Tregoning yard caught my eye on his debut in what were appalling conditions on his debut at the Horris Hill meeting at Newbury. He is out of a useful middle distance performer called Sahool (raced for the yard) and ran a really nice race on debut, finishing third behind the well-backed Multames eventually, coming there with every chance before, perhaps, getting tired in the conditions on his debut. He's bred to excel at three over further, and no surprise if he were above average IMO. Mujdeya from the Gosden yard ran a nice race on debut when fifth behind Principal Role in a backend maiden at Yarmouth over 1m. She was green and also given a fairly average ride by Richard Hills, who elected to stick to the centre of the track while the winner, Principal Role, stuck to the rail and duly won. She is related to Bahri and being a daughter of Linamix, should stay middle distances this term. Pekan Three is a colt who finished a couple of places behind the aformentioned Nibani in a 1m HQ maiden last autumn, and he ran a similar race to that one, looking clueless for the most part before getting his act together and coming home strongly in the closing stages. He was backed in from 40s in to 16/1 at the off, indicating he's well thought of, and is from the same family as 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand, though will probably want middle distances being a Sadler's Wells half brother to Ribblesdale winner Thakafaat. Radio Wave is out of the Ebor winner Tuning, and is trained by John Gosden. I think she probably went into everyone's notebook when third on her debut behind Hymnsheet at Yarmouth last October, running green, as well as finding trouble in running and also breaking slowly, but despite all those obstacles stayed on strongly under hand riding to finish a good third in the end. I can't believe she won't go on and shape up into a Pattern performer this season, if building on that debut promise. Rain Forest of Aidan O'Brien's caught my eye on his debut when finishing eighth behind stablemate Flying Cross in a 1m maiden at Navan last autumn. He is a full brother to Fame And Glory and is bred to excel over middle distances at three so it wasn't surprising to see him given a 'kind' ride on debut, staying on close home having been near last three furlongs out. I think he could improve dramatically this year for a step up in trip and a winter behind him. Ship's Biscuit is a half sister to Hi Calypso and Warringah, both useful middle distance/staying performers for this filly's trainer, Sir Michael Stoute. She proved a little reluctant to load on her debut but ran a really eyecatching race in fifth behind Aviate at Kempton, picking up well having been outpaced at one point. Bound to improve for middle distances and her debut experience. Michael Jarvis has a nice filly called Towbaat to look forward to this year, and she is related to the likes of Laa Rayb, Bint Allayl and Khelyef. She finished seventh behind Hymnsheet at Yarmouth on her debut, needing pushing along some way out before responding well for very tender handling, picking up well close home, really getting the hang of things after running green throughout. I think she could mature into a really nice 3yo this season, while she ticks all the boxes on pedigree. Sorry for going slightly off topic, but I think it's interesting to note down those who didn't win, just as much as it's interesting to highlight those who impressed when actually winning their maiden race. I could add more but don't want to send anyone to sleep, not least myself! :^0 |
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Also, back on topic, a couple of winners who I think could go on to better things are as follows:
Doctor Zhivago - a Shamardal half brother to the smart Alkhaadem who looked thoroughly clueless throughout on his debut at Southwell last month, but he overcame his inexperience to come with a late surge inside the final furlong and overhaul the more experience Master**close home. A big, green sort, he has scope for a massive amount of improvement this year, and that run will have done him the world of good. Spoken - a Medicean half brother to middle distance winners Reservoir, Sea Wall (also over hurdles) and Shout who looked in bad need of the experience on his debut when a staying on fourth behind Hot Prospect at Sandown. Won in good fashion in a decent maiden at Salisbury next time (beating Youm Jalil and Longliner, both placed in useful maidens again since) and given his pedigree suggests the best is yet to come over middle distances at three, the fact he won as a 2yo bodes well for the future. He could progress through the handicap ranks and into Listed/Group class, especially off a fair looking mark of 79. |
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Cream Of The Crop, I must say that is excellent work, hope they come good for you ;)
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The Johnston yard thought Doctor Zhivago was one of the nicest all year. As you say he was very green on debut but Greg's persistance paid off in the straight. Think Roman Republic, I'd imagine they'd start him off over a mile but likely to be better over 10F. Interestingly he's Shamardal's only winner so far on the AW.
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Excellent work Cream, I'll be following those horses closely! :)
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Another winner who caught my eye was Rumoush, a half sister to 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati, as well as high-class 10-12f performer Mawatheeq. Like the latter, she is trained by Marcus Tregoning and made a winning debut in a 1m maiden at Lingfield in November, missing the kick but soon getting back on terms to race prominently. Despite patent greenness she showed a smart turn of foot to skip a couple of lengths clear off the home turn, albeit ran green again once in front (idled), but showed a good attitude to hold off the challenge of the more experienced Street Entertainer. She is another who is bred to come into her own at three, and it is also worth remembering that her trainer doesn't have his 2yos in peak condition for their debut runs (she herself looked a backward sort). I think she is another who should make above average improvement in 2010.
Another AW winner who looks a nice sort is Zaahy from the PCH yard, and he's clearly well liked as he skipped maidens and went straight into novice/conditions races. He finished last of four on his debut at HQ behind Poets Voice, but was very impressive next time in a novices contest at Lingfield when showing an impressive turn of foot once straightening up for home to see off Champagne Style, a subsequent winner at HQ in a conditions race. He has been given an entry in the Irish 2000 Guineas, and I wouldn't be surprised, given his AW experience (US bred as well), if he started off in something like the Easter Stakes at Kempton in March, a recognised Guineas trial. Address Unknown from the Dermot Weld yard is another AW winner who I liked the look of last year. He is out of a mare whose siblings include Commander In Chief and Dushyantor, while she herself has produced a couple of decent winners in Coming Back and To Sender. He looked to resent the testing conditions (not surprisingly for a son of Oasis Dream) when well down the field in a 7f maiden at Leopardstown on debut, but looked much more at home on a quicker surface when winning at Dundalk next time. He was held up behind the pace, always travelling well throughout, and Pat Smullen was content to sit in behind and wait for the split to appear, which it did and he raced through to beat an admittedly ordinary field by 3 lengths. The form probably isn't great, but he won in the style of a horse who is a lot better than those he beat; his pedigree and the manner of his victory suggests he's one to follow this season. Clouds End is yet another AW winner who I think can do well this term. She's a half sister to Airwave, as well as a few other smart speedsters, and she looked in need of the experience when third behind Skylight on her debut at Nottingham, travelling well up to a point before being tapped-for-toe. However, she made no mistake next at Kempton, being headed having lead for most of the way, only to get back up in game fashion to see off Basle, a subsequent winner since, as were the third and fourth horses. She looks the sort to progress again at three over sprint distances, her willing attitude a major plus point, while the form of her win looks very good; hard to believe she won't win a race or two off a mark of 75. |
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Whilst not in any way meaning to decry Cream's excellent analysis.
Spoken is a very interesting one. I think the fourth, or fifth, foal of Spout owned by Lady Rothschild, two or three trained by Roger Charlton. These include sons of Green Desert, Giants Causeway, Nashwan & Halling. The best has been circa 80 rated, so it will be interesting to seer how he performs. |
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I take your point, but what makes Spoken stand out is the fact he was able to win at two, something none of his previous siblings managed and in fact, I think only Reservoir managed to make it to the track as a juvenile (didn't win)! It will certainly be interesting to see if he can buck the trend of the dam's offspring disappointing after winning their maiden, and I believe both performances last season suggests he can.
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Thought I'd bring this back to the top with a few added thoughts.
One filly who caught my eye towards the backend of last season was the John Oxx trained Julie's Jet, a daughter of Cape Cross who is a half sister to the useful 7f/1m performer Jesse James, out of a 10f Listed winner who is from a smart family herself. This filly travelled nicely in behind the pace when winning a 7f maiden at Tipperary in October, though was forced fairly wide turning in; however showed a nice turn of foot to get to the lead, running green whilst doing so but showing a good attitude under pressure to hold off more experienced rivals. She looks an interesting 8-10f prospect for connections this year (entered in the Irish 1000 Guineas). Alburj didn't win on debut but the son of Dynaformer showed plenty of potential when third behind Nebula Storm in a 7f maiden at Leopardstown last October. He was the Weld yard's second string behind Address Unknown (16/1) but travelled nicely for the first half of the race, but couldn't quicken immediately with the pace; kept on well throughout the final 2f under tender handling and looked in need of further. I can see this colt developing into a really nice sort at around 10f this year, and another who holds classic entries. Sadler's Mark from the Tom Tate yard was another to catch my eye towards the end of last season. He is a Sadler's Wells colt, out of a mare who was a debut winner at two for Sir Michael Stoute (later disappointing despite placing at Group 2 level) and he ran in a couple of 1m maidens at Nottingham last October. He looked in need of the outing on both occasions, but lasted longer than he had done on debut when fifth on his second start, travelling well for a long way before weakening throughout the final furlong, clearly lacking in fitness and know-how. Needs one more to run to qualify for handicaps and I think he could make up into a nice middle distance performer in that sphere this season, perhaps even progress through them and into a higher level eventually. |
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Excellent work Cream of the Crop. Great knowledge and research from both sides of the water.
I'd like to add one from the John Gosden stable which may have been mentioned before but it's Commissionaire, it may have been a weak maiden at yarmouth but i was lead to beleive Longliner from SMS yard was well regarded and could make into a good middle distance horse next year. Anyway this horse fell out of the gates but settled nicely enough through the race at the rear, there were michael jarvis and a mark johnson horses racing prominent with the stoute horse. This horse made some nice progress throughout the race to lead in the last furlong and land the prize going away a bit. This one is well worth watching the replay of, i'd be delighted if someone could assess this one, i'm not sure if was very green or hadn't a great head carriage. |
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Yep, I have got him down on my list as one to follow too. I like you am wondering whether it was greenness or just an awkward head carriage, but he did the job very nicely in the end, and I would be inclined to put it down to greenness given it was his debut run.
This is what I wrote about him:- John Gosden often has a strong team of backend 2yos tucked away for the latter stages of the Flat season, and, though he perhaps didnt have the usual number of winners from his juvenile section last autumn, one who shaped as though he had a promising future ahead of him was this colt. The son of Medicean, who can name amongst his siblings smart performers Appointed One and Battle Chant, made a highly pleasing start to his career in a 1m maiden at Yarmouth in October - the second division of which was won by the aforementioned Bullet Train. However, this colts winning debut came as something of a surprise given his generous looking odds of 11/1, though this owed much to the cramped odds of the Sir Michael Stoute trained favourite, Longliner (1/2). The Gosden-trained colt was soon niggled along at the back of the field having been slowly away, running noticeably green, but was back on terms and going well enough passing the three furlong pole; however, he was initially outpaced when the tempo quickened approaching the two furlong marker, but he responded well for firm hand riding, coming through on the far side with a sustained challenge inside the final furlong, despite looking green under pressure, to overhaul Longliner, staying on strongly close home to run out a 1¼ length winner from the odds on favourite. This was a most pleasing start, not least because he was able to overcome his obvious inexperience to win, knuckling down for pressure when it mattered, also running as though he would want slightly further in time; the type who could nick a valuable handicap en route to bigger and better things over 10f. |
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Zeitoper!
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Flying Cross
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PRIZEFIGHTING- do yourself a favour, watch his kempton, yes KEMPTON maiden!blew me away, went on to run in a group 1 next time on Vsft ground in france!, gonna be a nice prospect on good ground this year, CHECK OUT THAT KEMPTON RACE! (16/10/09)
'In rear, some progress when not clear run and switched left over 2f out, still 8 lengths down when headway to chase leading duo over 1f out, rapid headway under hand riding inside final furlong to lead near finish, won going away impressive (tchd 16-1)' |
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^^^^^
was so impressive infact that frankie and the rest stayed around to watch the reply!!u can see it on the ruk website, just join for free and u get free replays!enjoy! |
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*replay
:) |
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ttt
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Prizefighting was impressive that day,one doubt maybe is that he could be at his best on the a/w?(pedigree experts any help please)
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saying that i see the dams half sister (petrovich won on g/f) so as you said on decent ground he should be ok.
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Didn't come from as far back but fallen idol looked to be a feckin flyer when he got going, same stable btw.
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ilikewavingatbuses, no wonder i couldn't find the replay on the site, you got the bloody date wrong ffs lol :-)
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Rowley, that Fallen Idol is a very nice prospect IMO. He had to switch around a rival inside the final furlong, checking his momentum slightly, but he still found a turn of foot despite being green to get up and beat a couple of useful enough Godolphin colts, both of whom had previous experience. He is also bred to excel at three (half brother to John Dunlop's useful middle distance 3yo Fallen In Love) and the fact Gosden entered him up in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes last autumn suggests they like him a lot. It would be a good sign if he started him off in that 10f conditions race at Newbury's first meeting in mid-April - he often targets that race with a nice sort.
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Thanks again for your input COTC, what do you reckon about High Twelve, do you think he regressed and lost his way ??? Apart from pounced i think Azmeel(listed) and showcasing(G2) were his only class 1 winning juveniles and tbh i'm most looking forward to seeing his maiden winners running next year.
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