Maiden winners 2010

There was a thread for maiden winners of 2009 which created plenty of interest, but I have yet to see one for last season, so I thought would start one.

Alanza (John Oxx/Aga Khan) - overcame greenness and a poor position to win with plenty in hand at the line in an extended 6f fillies' maiden at Listowel last autumn. She was miles back at the top of the straight but fairly flew home down the outside of the field for mainly hand riding to win by a couple of lengths. The form is nothing to get excited about, but the fact that she was able to win at all considering her inexperience marked her down as potentially well above average, and she is bred to be useful being the daughter of the very smart 7f/1m performer Alasha (placed in the 1000 Guineas).

Atraaf (Marcus Tregoning/Hamdan Al Maktoum) - half brother to a handful of winners, most notably the ill-fated 6f-1m winner Suruor, who made an impressive winning debut at the expense of the previously experienced Layla's King in a 1m maiden at Lingfield back in November. He travelled sweetly throughout and, although exhibiting signs of greenness initially, quickened away smartly inside the final furlong, becoming the only 2yo from the stable to make a winning debut.

Make A Dance (Barry Hills/Khalid Abdulla) - daughter of Empire Maker who was absolutely clueless on her debut run in a 7f fillies' maiden at Kempton last September, though she did make up some late ground under considerate handling, and it was perhaps notable it was the exact same maiden that Ghanaati kicked off in. She duly showed the benefit for the outing when powering clear inside the final furlong to land a division of a 7f fillies' maiden at HQ in October, seeing off Vita Lika by 4 lengths.

Morning Charm (John Gosden/George Strawbridge) - half sister to connections' Leger winner Lucarno who made a winning debut in a 7f fillies' maiden at HQ last summer, that despite appearing the outing in all aspects. She was pushed along sooner than most, but responded well for pressure and kept on willingly throughout the final furlong to see off market leader and subsequent winner Abtasaamah by a head. Picked up an injury when reportedly on course for a tilt at the Fillies' Mile, but will make a better 3yo anyway.

Primevere (Roger Charlton/Anthony Oppenheimer) - overcame greenness and trouble in running to see off the well-touted Laatafreet in a 1m maiden at Kempton last autumn, suffering interference at the hands of the Godolphin colt before coming through with a sustained challenge to lead inside the final furlong and score by a length. It isn't often that 2yos from this stable are fully wound up on debut, so this daughter of Singspiel deserves extra credit for what she was able to achieve on debut.

Sea Moon (Sir Michael Stoute/Khalid Abdulla) - excellent middle distance/staying pedigree, and should have made a winning debut when getting going too late in a 1m maiden at Leicester. He went one better just a fortnight later in awful conditions at Yarmouth, coasting into the lead but then looking all at sea on the ground, eventually winning with a bit to spare once shaken up to assert. It is easy to knock the form of both races, but the fact he was able to overcome inexperience/taxing conditions just 14 days after his debut run is, for me, pretty commendable; has the pedigree to flourish at three over 10f+.

Seelo (John Gosden/George Strawbridge) - out of a smart mare who hasn't produced anything of note at stud, but this colt could well change all that. He made a winning start to his career in a 1m maiden at Yarmouth last September, keen early on but travelling nicely for the most part; displayed a likeable attitude to get the job done, seeing out his race remarkably well considering his earlier keenness to see off the more experiened Cadore by half a length after a sustained duel. Has been allocated a very attractive handicap mark of 77.

Specific Gravity (Henry Cecil/Niarchos Family) - too green to get the job done when fourth behind Seelo at Yarmouth (also raced wide), but made no mistake when seeing off stablemate and subsequent winner Glencadam Gold by 6 lengths in a 1m maiden at Nottingham next time, travelling well and coming clear from two furlongs out. He will obviously need to prove as effective under quicker conditions (both runs at two come on ground with plenty of ease in it), but he looks an exciting 3yo prospect; could well start his 2011 campaign off in that 10f conditions race at Newbury in mid-April, a race his handler won with Oaks winner Light Shift a few seasons ago.

Umseyat (John Gosden/Hamdan Al Maktoum) - half sister to connections' smart middle distance performer Alwaary who shaped with promise when third behind Poplin in a 1m fillies' maiden at Goodwood last September, making up good ground from the rear before unable to sustain her effort into the final furlong. She made no mistake when landing a similar contest under heavy conditions at Haydock soon after, travelling easily throughout and coasing into the lead before going clear to win with any amount in hand.

Yaseer (Marcus Tregoning/Hamdan Al Maktoum) - chased home Carlton House on his debut in a 1m maiden at Newbury, green and never able to challenge the 9 length winner, but making sustained headway from the rear from over two furlongs out to take second ahead of some fair once-raced sorts. He duly followed up in style when landing a 1m maiden at Kempton in December, travelling easily throughout and sealing matters in impressive fashion, that despite still showing signs of greenness, and the form has been given a significant boost by the runner up (Energizing) and the sixth placed horse (Rasheed) both winning since.

Zaminast (Dermot Weld/Khalid Abdulla) - half sister to connections' smart Famous Name who made a winning debut in a 7f fillies' maiden at the Galway Festival last summer, but she had to overcome traffic problems and a poor position turning in, behind a wall of horses and still having plenty to do at the top of the home straight. However, she came home in style throughout the final furlong to lead close home, scoring with a good deal in hand from Ballybacka Lady and definitely value for further than the eventual half length margin of victory suggests.