dewhurst stakes.

Bronterre and Spiritual Star are my 2 for the shortlist.

Like Ektihaam but form not stood up that great so far. Unless I've missed something.

Spiritual Star

I suppose the question mark about spiritual star is, that last time he was gifted an easy lead in a fairly soft field. I always wonder when horses win so easily like that whether they are flat track bullies and whether they'll be able to cope when they are forced to battle.

Bronterre been cut by a few firms for the Dewhurst, Magic Sign gone 14s for the Guineas . Can't see that 33s with Billys lasting much longer...

Ektihaam 5/2 with badblokes, 11/2 with ok koral

Not very often the big firms take such a differing view.

I personally think that Power will take all the beating.

i'm the odds compiler for laddies [;)]

Firstly you've got to judge who's got the best form on the ground then you've got to judge who's likely to show the most
improvement and finally which will have held its condition and which will have gone over the top.
Power is a tough consistent horse who sets a decent standard ,but he's no world beater.
The race is too complicated for me.

Not really a betting race for me either. Power obviously has the best form so far but I like Most Improved, who clocked a good time when just getting touched off on debut. The Godolphin horse hasn't really endorsed the form since but I wouldn't be put off by that as he was apparently fitter that day. Next time out Most Improved lived up to his name when showing considerable progression and clocking another good time.

Bronterre looks special.
debut won easy not given hard ride,last time most impressive.
Granted visual can be misleading,prepared to take a chance.

Be interesting how stable rate him compared to harbour watch as 33/1 looks good value for guineas.

it's worth mentioning this nephrite again as I feel he could be something special as well. probably one of the easiest maiden winners of the year, if he goes for the middle park i'll back him.

Power for me.

Also like Reply in the Middle Park.

Just hope these are the races O`Brien will select.

I'm with MP on this one Nephrite looks good value have him at 10's, 9.4 on here now could be anything? Bronterre also looks a good proposition in the Dewhurst I have him at 6.8 & he's in to 4.6 why is Ektihaam a drifter?

nephrite did a very good speed figure on his debut. normally you'd say its difficult for a horse thats only had one run to win the middle park but none of the exposed horse's look like superstars. fallon loves caspar nescther and I think he's improved, but he hardly sets an unscalable standard.

yes i'm surprised ektihaam is drifting. perhaps theres been a problem, or perhaps he's being saved for the racing post trophy, or perhaps people just don't fancy it. ladbrokes price of 5-2 yesterday was simply an insult to punters. the worst thing is they'll still take money even at that price. no wonder they coin it in.

i'm always of the belief that horses that travel very well, like bronterre did at goodwood, will look even better in quality races because of the likelihood of a stronger pace. however i'm not sure what he beat there because justineo for example seems quite limited. however theres oodles of money for him so he must be well regarded in the hannon camp.

Nephrite was very impressig last time out and went straight into many notebooks I suspect. That race was only recently though so I would have my reservations as to whether the middle park is/was the plan. The going was also officially Soft, so no knowing how will handle fast groud at the weekend, if he runs. One to keep an eye for sure.

At a price I have chanced a few quid on Samminder, who was very impressive on his debut comfortably beating a horse which is now rated 91. He'll handle the track and ground and his last run was probably needed as he had not run for 3 months following a setback.

The dewhurst .. I agree with Figgis, Most Improved is interesting if he runs. He has an identical profile to Delegator before he finished a close up 5th 3 years ago. He was entered for Arc weekend also but looks to be weak in the betting so will wait for final decs.

Oh dear. Just watched the full race of Spiritual Star (only seen the closing stages before).

He absolutley hacks up. On a line through Snooky who was back in 3rd place, he has the beating of Bronterre. At 8/1 I will back him and Save on Meehans runner if he lines up.

Power is respected but had plenty of tough races this season, and I like the fact connections of SS payed the supplementary fee.

EXCITING juvenile Spiritual Star has been supplemented for the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarketon Saturday.


RELATED LINKS
Dewhurst Stakes entries
Middle Park Stakes entries
Dewhurst betting
Middle Park betting 
Owned by Thurloe Thoroughbreds, the Andrew Balding-trained Spiritual Star shaped with great promise when running away with a decent-looking 7f maiden over the course and distance last month.

Although not originally entered for the Group 1 contest, the manner of his success tempted his connections to take the plunge and Ladbrokes have made the son of Soviet Star the 8-1 co-fourth favourite for the Dewhurst

"After lengthy discussions with both Andrew Balding and Jimmy Fortune we have made the decision to supplement Spiritual Star for the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket this Saturday," said a quote from Thurloe Thoroughbreds' website.

"Although he has only won a maiden so far, the hugely impressive manner in which he did it and the way he has come out of the race has encouraged Andrew enough to take this big step up in class.

"He has worked very well at home since his win and we believe he has the ability to take a shot against the very best of this season's two year olds on Saturday."

having read the racing post weekender, they seem to suggest that you need a battle-hardened runner in both the middle park and the dewhurst. maiden winners just don't have the experience for these tough races apparently. not sure whether thats true or not.

that would seem to suggest caspar in the middle park and power in the dewhurst. while I could agree with caspar, i'm more than happy to take power on. I'll be surprised and dissapointed if one of the less-exposed horses don't get the better of him

I will have to be honest I think people underestimate Power. He's a serious horse. Got to be the best 2yo colt in Ireland so far. Not sure much has shown his level of form this side of the water either.

perhaps, but he got beaten by la collina, who's hardly advertised the form since. and none of his wins have exactly screamed "superstar"

he hardly strikes me as another new approach or teofilo, but then he might not need to be.

Think it's difficult for any horse let alone a 2yo to keep showing such a high level of form. I think that was a bad day for him and he was ridden far too hard on the front end. I've not made a choice in the race yet but he's a very solid choice. I've seen no Frankel that has to be beat this year. Ektihaam is defo one I like also.

I respect Power. Thought he ran a cracker when beaten by La Collina and in recent years the the Coventry Stakes winner has proven to be pretty useful! I just think he might be vulnerable to something coming here fresh as he has had some tough races this season, but he is a tough horse.

I think the reason he's underestimated MM is that he generally does 'just enough'. I would agree in that his is the best form on offer, he's also won four times. But I'd be surprised if either Bronterre or Ektihaam didn't win this. I couldn't separate them & plumped for Bronterre mainly because he looked the better value at the time. Now they've yo-yo'd I'm tempted to back Ektihaam aswell but don't like backing drifters!

O'BRIEN HOPING FOR POWER SHOW IN DEWHURST

Aidan O'Brien's Power features among nine juveniles declared for the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The son of Oasis Dream will line up at Headquarters having won four of his five starts and fresh from a determined success in last month's National Stakes at the Curragh.

Richard Hannon's Bronterre and the Roger Varian-trained Ektihaam both put unbeaten records on the line, while Spiritual Star was supplemented by Andrew Balding following a brilliant maiden victory at the track.

The consistent Red Duke takes in this Group One prize ahead of a trip to next month's Breeders' Cup meeting, while Most Improved, Factory Time, Parish Hall and Hannon's second runner Trumpet Major complete the field.

Looks a good race. Trumpet Major no back number.

Solving, Nephrite been taken out the Middle Park.

'And another one bites the dust'
Thanx Sint back to the drawing board.

all systems go for ektihaam

interesting to see matthew tester's view on the dewhurst:


   
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Picture Caspar Netscher: Top rated at 114 going into Middle Park

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sportinglife.com: How significant do the Dewhurst and Middle Park promise to be on Saturday?

Matthew Tester: "We've never had a champion two-year-old lower than 120 and at the moment we don't have a colt in Europe above 119. That would be Dabirsim but for his win in the Morny and not his victory in the Jean Luc-Lagardere at the weekend. He was impressive in coming from last to first there but didn't pull away from the field and you tend to get higher ratings when you do that.

"The role of champion juvenile is very much up for grabs and in nine of the last ten years the performance that has crowned a champion two-year-old has been put up by the time the Dewhurst week is over. So by the end of this weekend I'm very hopeful we'll have seen the performance that will give us the top rated two-year-old.

"The only exception in the last ten years has been St Nicholas Abbey winning the Racing Post Trophy and a lot of the top performances have come from these two races or the Phoenix Stakes in Ireland."

sportinglife.com: How does this year's renewal of the Dewhurst Stakes hold-up?

MT: "Power is top-rated going into the race on 117 and he clearly is a horse of very high quality but I'm finding it very difficult to be certain of what he achieved in the National Stakes in which he beat Dragon Pulse and David Livingston. That's partly because the Irish handicapper and I can't quite agree on what David Livingston achieved when winning the Beresford in the mud. 117 is the Irish handicapper's figure, for which I have great respect, but I'm not sure what the Dragon Pulse form is quite worth myself.

"There are others in there, particularly Bronterre and Ektihaam, who give the impression they can play at the top table but haven't had the oppportunity yet to prove it.

"Power has been running in Group Ones but Ekithaam comes here from a maiden and conditions race and Bronterre a maiden and a Listed contest at Goodwood.

"There's a line in that race and if you think Justineo ran to the same mark as he did when fourth in the Gimcrack and you think Nayarra ran to the same level as she did in the Oh So Sharp Stakes next time then you can mathematically get Bronterre up to 115 already.

"That's speculative though as in my view Justineo didn't quite see out the seven furlongs at Goodwood and Nayarra is a difficult horse to be certain of, she isn't the most consistent of performers even though she has two 100-rated performances to her name.

"That said there's no doubt in my mind that Bronterre is a very serious candidate for this race.

"Ekthihaam is very much a work in progress and hasn't taken on anything with a high rating so it's difficult for him to prove how good he is. I got the impression when I saw him at Doncaster he's well worth a crack at this race but it's a big step up.

"On what he's achieved so far he's only worth a rating of 95 and I'm sure it's going to take a rating of 120 or close to it to win this race. He won the race at Doncaster by four lengths which is where he gets 95. 120 means another 15 pounds and would imply he could have won that race by another seven lengths so it's a big ask - but possible. I'm looking forward to seeing how he copes."

sportinglife: Will you rate the Dewhurst through the likes of Red Duke and Trumpet Major?

MT: "Red Duke is on 110 at the moment and ran to that last time at Doncaster and almost to an identical figure when not getting the clearest of runs but winning at Newmarket. He was then really locked away at Goodwood so I have three performances for him, all around the 110 level, so if all the indicators are that he's run a good solid race at Newmarket, he'd be a good starting point to rate the Dewhurst through.

"Trumpet Major is still progressing, his win at Doncaster was his best performance to date and it's quite possible he can keep going forward and I expect Red Duke to run a really good, solid race but if we're looking for a 120 performance here, you'd be a little surprised to see it come from Red Duke or Trumpet Major as they have more experience than Bronterre or Ektihaam.

"If my champion is to come from the Dewhurst it's unlikely to be Red Duke or Trumpet Major but I'm looking for them to run solid races to give me a viable level into rating the race."

sportinglife: Moving onto the Middle Park, how difficult is it to assess the French challenger?

MT: "I have 111 as my figure for Family One and was very impressed when he beat Boomerang Bob in the Prix Du Bois and he was able to win the Papin very easily. He was then beaten three lengths by Dabirsim in the Prix Morny and that's probably a fair reflection of his ability. He ran to 111 again there.

"He could be a realistic guide to this Middle Park but as Dabirsim beat him comfortably by three lengths, whatever beats him here will have to be equally as impressive to be considered a potential champion two-year-old.

"Caspar Netscher is top-rated coming into the race off 114 with Bapak Chinta, back from a lay-off, on 109. That mark is only after two races and that's pretty impressive but the lay-off does worry me.

"He's missed out on gaining some of the experience Capar Netscher has picked up and we won't know whether he has developed along the lines the weight-for-age scale says he should until Saturday.

"109 at Ascot is only worth 109 now if a horse has found the physical improvement the weight-for-age scale says he should. It's a bit like Ektihaam in the Dewhurst, Bapak Chinta doesn't have the rating yet but you couldn't discard him despite the lay-off."

sportinglife: Last year Dream Ahead produced a spectacular performance to win the Middle Park - any chance of a horse winning with such authority again?

MT: "I'm not really looking for the champion to come from the Middle Park as I don't look at any of these horses and think they're about to run a 120+ and it may only take the 114 Capar Netscher has already recorded to win this.

"Dream Ahead's 126 was exceptional but if you look back, Dark Angel only had to run to 114 to win the race, Three Valleys only to 115 and they were quite narrow winners. Dream Ahead's figure was exceptional because he managed to pull nine lengths clear of Strong Suit.

"I'd be astonished if there was a Dream Ahead in this field but the year before Awzaan ran to 117 and there are plenty of winners of this race around the 114-117 level and this feels more like this race to me. If there's going to be a 120 performance I'm pretty certain it will come from the Dewhurst."

sportinglife: The one star name missing on Saturday is Harbour Watch. Any chance he could still be champion two-year-old?

MT: "I think that's gone and there are big parallels with Canford Cliffs who only had three races at two. He looked through the season as though he could be my champion two-year-old but didn't get the chance to turn up for the championship races at the end of the year. You get a high rating really by beating in style horses who already have proven form and it's really these Group One events in the autumn when you get that.

"I'm publishing 115 for Harbour Watch at the moment and did genuinely feel he was the most likely candidate to be my champion. I was talking to Richard Hughes earlier in the week and he felt Harbour Watch was a serious candidate for champion two-year-old but also that Bronterre was in the same bracket and therefore that's another reason to think he'll run a big race on Saturday."

Power - Dewhurst
Reply - Middle Park

Nice to see Ryan Moore has been booked.

i've backed two horses now, crusade in the middle park and ektihaam in the dewhurst.

crusade is a big old boat who didn't seem to get home last time over 7, but I think he could be a sprinter. middle park looks wide open in any case and there seems to be some sort of question mark over all the principals in the market.

Having intially labelled this race as too complicated I decided to have a second look at it.
Bronterre- never done a decent time and looks very underpriced to me
Ektihaam- has a roundy type action and hits the ground hard. Newmarket on fast ground doesn't look
          ideal. Great attitude. Under priced.
Spiritual Star- did a reasonably good time in his maiden over C/d but was given a soft lead and the oppostition  offered nothing. Difficult to assess.
Most Improved- Showed an impressive turn of foot last time and clocked a decent time also. Probably the
  best of the english runners  but the least likely to reproduce.
Trumpet major- has a sharp turn of foot ,if they go slow early has a chance
Red Duke- should handle the track and has a chance if they go fast early.
Power- Is unlucky to not be unbeaten having been caught close home by La collina without having a chance to
react. Only just does enough to win and has vg times. Typically tough Ballydoyle horse who they wouldn't
send over unless he was in very good condition. Looks underrated and I'll be having something on at 3/1.

i've said it before and i'll say it again... power is a massive lay [;)]


Roger Varian's Ektihaam bids to show he is as good as his home reputation suggests when he takes a big step up in class in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

The youngster certainly looked the real deal when winning a typically warm Newbury maiden on his racecourse debut and he then ran away with the same conditions race at Doncaster that the mighty Frankel had won 12 months earlier.

He will face a far sterner test this weekend with proven Group One winner Power in the line-up but Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, believes the colt is ready to test his powers at the highest level.

"He's done very well so far and we'll see whether he's good enough. It's the same situation for a lot of them and there is no better race to find out," said Gold.

"He's potentially a very nice horse and a big, scopey individual who is very much one for next year.

"But he's got plenty of talent and if he could run well in a Dewhurst it would be a bonus.

"Power is a Group One winner and an established horse and Bronterre has won a Listed race.

"They are all potentially nice horses and we'll see who makes the leap forward.

"Ektihaam is a great big horse and I'm sure if we got some rain overnight that is not going to inconvenience him.

"I'm not saying he needs it easy but he is a big galloping horse and probably wouldn't want it too firm."

Brian Meehan believes Most Improved is of a similar ilk to his other classy juveniles of recent years as he puts his credentials on the line in tomorrow's Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

Meehan has been lucky enough to handle some speedy youngsters like 2008 Racing Post Trophy first and third Crowded House and Skanky Biscuit and 2007 Dewhurst runner-up Fast Company.

With those performances not too long ago, Meehan should have a good idea of what it takes to win the big two-year-old races at the end of the season.

Having just been touched off on his debut at Newmarket, Most Improved then bolted up by five lengths back at Headquarters and the runner-up has since won by a yawning 10-length margin.

"He was so much more effective the second day, and we got a real good look at him," Meehan told the Independent.

"He's a lovely, progressive colt with a wonderful temperament and takes everything in his stride.

"The form is working out great, his work since has been very good, and he reminds me a lot of other good horses we've taken the same kind of route - the likes of Fast Company and Crowded House."

A big two-year-old race would not be the same without a representative from the Richard Hannon yard and he runs two, Bronterre and Trumpet Major.

Bronterre is unbeaten after winning a Salisbury maiden and a Listed event at Goodwood while Trumpet Major landed the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, beating the reopposing Red Duke.

"We run Bronterre (Richard Hughes) and Trumpet Major (Johnny Murtagh) in the Dewhurst Stakes and, though it looks a hot renewal, I could not be happier with them," said Hannon.

"Sure, this is a big jump up in class for Bronterre, but he could not have been more impressive when winning his Listed race at Goodwood by five lengths and though he is just starting to go in his coat, he moved beautifully for Hughesie in a spin up the all-weather at Herridge on Tuesday and seems at the top of his game.

"Trumpet Major showed that his Sandown form was all wrong when he won the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and while we had him entered in what looked a soft Group One in Italy on Sunday, his owner, John Manley, was keen to run here.

"With the 'Major' rated a pound above Bronterre, he is fully entitled to take his chance," he told his website.

Cant help thinking the Champagne stakes form has been well underrated by the layers here and this race will be run much more in Red Duke's favour. Fallon tried to cover him up there but left too long trying to shelter from the wind (he doesnt have instant accelaration and needs to build up his run from a fair way out) and Trumpet Major did him for toe when it mattered. Daddy Long Legs hardly let the form down next time out. Great each way prices available on both of them here...  but c'mon the Duke will be the call from Tidwell Manor

I'm rarely a fav backer but Power looks rock solid to me.   

Unlike many top Ballydoyle 2 year olds he seems to be continually underrated. but this, as tinkler states above, is probably because he just does enough and is not sexy in the sense that he doesn't cruise to the front and win by 3 with his head in his chest.  He's as tough as old boots with plenty of class and 3/1 looks a good price to me. 

The only one of the others I'd be vaguely interested in would be Trumpet Major, who looks a different horse on fast ground.  I also think the Champagne form is underrated but that only leads to increased confidence in Power because I'm sure AOB sees him as superior to the Daddy given the way their respective campaigns have been mapped out.

be honest though power backers, does he really get your heart thumping? call me a romantic but i'm looking for that horse that can be a little bit special. I can't see power in that mould. ektihaam? yeah I can.

Come on ektihaam boot that power and the rest into touch, go on my son

agree with that. power to win but red duke to reverse the form with trumpet major and get 2nd.

if jim bolger thinks he's got one who deserves to run in this then i'm backing that ta

Power is rock solid for me too.

Been winning good races all year, unlucky not to be unbeaten.

Surely a good sign that Coolmore rely on 1 runner, with their jockey of choice on board.

Really fair price based on its solid form stacked agaisnt the potential of others.

Meehan's has the necessary improvement in it for me [;)]

If that loses would mind Sir Roger's doing the job

this is the classic confrontation in racing.

the punters who are attracted to potential, and those who like to judge horses on appearance and visual impression rather than the book, and what it says in the ratings.

and those who like to go with the form book and adapt the more cynical, scientific approach

I know which camp i'm in [;)]

Ektihaam & Bronterre are 2 colts I've followed & really like this season. Was so tempted to back one of them but at the prices I have to go with Power on a course like the Rowley mile. He has the class and he has the experience.

Studying form is a "cynical, scientific approach"? Cynical?!  Not sure what you mean by that mp.

I've managed to get on Bronterre & Ektihaam & 6-1 each in the ante post market. Think I've got '2 for the price of 1' against Power & happy to go with that.

whats creative about form study though, when presumably everyone will come to the same conclusion [;)]

if power wins i'll be so ashamed i'll hide from the forum for weeks. Don't expect me to come on and congratulate power backers

come on ektihaam my son, you can do it, even with hills on board

As far as I see it, Power's form is excellent, he has to go close and as such 3/1 is a very fair price.

If he had the reputation of a Geoge Washington or a One Cool Cat he'd be 6/4 or worse.  As it is his achievements are comparable with any of the best of O'Brien's 2yos...

mythical prince
06 Oct 11 21:19
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i've backed two horses now, crusade in the middle park and ektihaam in the dewhurst.

crusade is a big old boat who didn't seem to get home last time over 7, but I think he could be a sprinter. middle park looks wide open in any case and there seems to be some sort of question mark over all the principals in the market.


well thats the first leg up

ektihaam rubbish

would never have picked that one out

ul most improved backers, looked like the winner there for a while

simple as peas

Nice exacta on 2 Irish horses.

best horse beat.

Power needs further.

wd tucho, missed that post!

least I was right about power not winning [;)]

cheers mp, well done on crusade

tbf, parish hall wasn't that far behind power on a line through dragon pules, but i got lucky, power the best horse and would have won with a clear run

Whilst Power might have won with a clear run, he is no star and I couldn't be keen on him as a 2000 Guineas horse.

The winner is interesting though...but for the Guineas??

wd MP & Tucho.

Power may not knock you eye out but at least he will give you a run for you money. Very genuine and tough as evidence by his wins over 5f,6f and 7f this season.

Parish Hall clearly came over for the better going,imo.

Most Improved ran a race full of promise stepping up from maiden company. Apparently Dettori was riding today with view to a possible sale to Godolphin! If he is not sold, i'd be keen to have a few quid on for the Guineas at Big Prices.

MP & Tucho VN, respect.

Can someone tell me where are all the British 2yr olds this year. Never have a seen such a shower of donkey's in my life representing England future generation. Disappointing

Also i think if Born To Sea can put up a good performance next start, he will be the one to be with for the 2000 Guineas. Power is solid Group 1 horse but just lacks that star quality of Oxx's lad[;)]

Not sure how you can take any credit for getting Power beat mp, seeing as with any sort of clear sustained run he would have won, and also for the fact that your 'special' horse got smashed. 

Still think you might not fully understand what the word "cynical" means though, particularly in the context you used it.  As I said at the outset, I'm rarely a fav backer, and form study has nothing to do with coming to the same conclusion as everyone else - far from it to be honest.

Very well done with Crusade though, a great call and I trust you had a profitable day.

fair enough kingmambo. I just take the view that power isn't anything particularly special- a few that I will stick by- although as you point out he's a lot more special than ektihaam

I expect that aidan will continue to campaign him very aggressively, but i'll be amazed if we saw any future champions at newmarket today. racing post trophy, perhaps?

Yeah, still think he's pretty good but probably no superstar.   

I'm not blaming luck or jockey error for the defeat today either by the way.  I just felt he was being wound up for a run nicely at the two pole, and then Most Improved lugged across which closed the gap Moore was originally going for and he had to switch around that horse which slightly stopped his momentum.  That's the nature of the horse though, he's a grinder rather than a cruiser and he needs to have a sustained run to get fully into gear.

Think he'd benefit from a really strong pace to show his best and wouldn't be surprised if they put pacemakers in for him (well, they usually do anyway) for his 3yo career and I wouldn't write him off totally for the Guineas yet.

I liked the performance of the filly Wading a lot, she looked very smart.

they certainly look to have a strong hand with fillies for next yr.

MOORE got POWER beat, behind a wall of horses and insists on trying
to beat everything in side last furlong, consequently nowhere to go until last 80 yards, rubbish!!!!

All results at Nmkt on Sat highly questionable. Why did Prosser water? Heavy, squally showers then created a very loose surface many horses clearly did not act on. Turned the card into a bookies' benefit.

Not sure the going or watering had much impact on the results myself.

The Middle Park and Dewhurst looked wide open beforehand and while Power probably should have won the latter, the fact both races were won by big priced horses was not a surprise.

Has Top Offer met a setback - I though he was being aimed at the Dewhurst, and he's not in the Racing Post Trophy?

In terms of an antepost bet on the 2,000 Guineas the one I'd take out of the race is Most Improved. Can see him winning the Craven (like Deleagtor did for Meehan after running down the field in the Dewhurst) and then trading way shorter than the 40/1 or so he is now.

Power was always going to be up against it after a slow start. They then went an average gallop at best and
Kevin Manning gave the winner a very good tactical ride, keeping him near the front and keeping power boxed
in until it was too late. If power had more pace he would have been able to overcome what happened. If AOB
had  run a pacemaker it would have been a striaght forward victory for Power .Plenty of ifs.
For someone who rarely rides newmarket Manning rides the track extremley well and appears a very good judge
of pace and race tactics.

Yes Kevin Manning is an underestimated rider; he gets few outside rides - not that he needs that many with the pick of Sir James' crop.

Of course on a real staying type he had to be kept handy and press on some way out, if only others would be as sensible.

I am personally not sure that a quicker pace would have let Power win either, as the faster the race the greater the emphasis on stamina, which would have suited the winner much better anyway.

Okay on the day Power may have been a bit unlucky as the gaps never came. In terms of future potential though, I think the winner has the greater scope for improvement.

unclepuncle
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In terms of an antepost bet on the 2,000 Guineas the one I'd take out of the race is Most Improved. Can see him winning the Craven (like Deleagtor did for Meehan after running down the field in the Dewhurst) and then trading way shorter than the 40/1 or so he is now.

Delegator never finished down the field in the Dewhurst. He was a close up 5th beaten 1.5 lengths. He was introduced into racing in early August, like Most Improved, and then won his maiden at the end of August, like Most Improved, before running in the Dewhurst. Brian Meehan clearly rates this colt and if he is not sold (rumours that is why Frankie was riding) he will be aimed high next season. I took some 50's prior to the weekend but want to know what definate plans are re any potential sale before going in again.

I wonder if they may target the French Guineas aswell given his breeding ..

I cann't see Most improved staying the mile in the guineas, he shows a lot of speed. Everything fell right for him on Saturday and the winner and second appeared to out stay him. He could progress over the winter but
doesn't look to have the scope of Meehans guineas second Delegator to me.

Tinkler - Most Improved will get a mile standing on his head if his breeding is anything to go by. This is what Meehan said after the Dewhurst:

Also happy was Brian Meehan, trainer of Most Improved.  "He is a very nice horse," he said. "I thought he was going to win but he flattened out a bit with lack of experience, as he had gone straight from two maidens to a Group 1. I am very impressed.

"There are no plans. I will talk to the owner. He could go for the Guineas but he is probably more a middle-distance horse."

Think a stiff mile to 10f is ideal for him. English Guineas then French Derby[;)]

Off you nut Tinkler. The horse has gone from a maiden and just finished 3rd in a Group 1 over 7f. Ludicrous to say he wont get 1m next year.