ye stevie race stinks really from a betting prospective...kingston is defo going the right way but that is reflected in his price which is anorexic...shame because there is angles to play here

Connections comments after Newbury Win, FYI.



Charlie Appleby has a second juvenile colt primed for Group One challenges after the encouraging victory of Pinzolo in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes at Newbury.


A week ago the trainer celebrated his biggest prize since taking over Godolphin's Moulton Paddocks from the disgraced Mahmoud Al Zarooni when Outstrip came out ahead in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

He is likely to contest either the Dewhurst or Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, while the unbeaten Pinzolo is set to be supplemented for the Racing Post Trophy.

This long-established mile event was landed by Derby winners Henbit and Shergar many years ago, while Authorized was beaten in 2006, and Monsun colt Pinzolo (5/2) should appreciate longer distances in time as there is plenty of stamina in his Fittocks Stud pedigree.

Off the mark at the first attempt in a Newmarket maiden, he came with a fierce late challenge up the rail to head the 6/5 favourite Red Galileo.

"Not many people in racing would be as lucky to get the sort of two-year-olds I've got in my first season," said Appleby.

"We've got some nice colts and one or two fillies as well. The sharper ones have all been out, but there are some middle-distance types to come."

Of Pinzolo, he said: "We've always held him in high regard, physically more than anything as he shows very little at home.

"He ran like that at Newmarket, he got going in the last couple of furlongs in what we thought was a good race as we like the one of ours he beat (Sudden Wonder).

"He's not in anything big, but we'll look towards running in the Racing Post Trophy."

Racing manager Simon Crisford said: "He'll have learnt from today, I'm hoping he will be good enough to go for the Racing Post Trophy and let's hope he's potentially an Epsom Derby horse."

have three clear on figures earned to date, Somewhat, Chief Barker and Pinzolo, whilst Kingston Hill capable of more, have only modest figures for the O'Brien entries so far, guess Century could still be anything

At the prices, surprised Figgis hesitating in taking the 8/1 on Somewhat

Quite clear what sort of ground he prefers.... and only had anything like it once in five starts when bolting up at Newbury.

Buonarroti may try and lead, but expect The Grey Gatsby to be more conservatively ridden stepping up in trip after leading in the 4 runner Champagne Stks last time.

But can't see any other pacemakers in the field, hence likely that Somewhat will get a soft lead in front and may run them ragged like he did at Newbury. The softer if gets, the harder it will be to get past him.

Ped, yes you're probably right about the price being too good to miss. I just have some nagging doubts about the Royal Lodge run. Like you say, he's a better horse on softer ground but some of his earlier runs on good to firm weren't too bad and based on those runs I would've expected him to have beaten Sir Jack Layden further than he did. Not just that, I would've expected him clocking a better time considering the pace was decent enough. Therefore I'm left thinking it must've been more than the firmer ground to blame, maybe he just wasn't at his best on the day or could it be that the trip was just too far for him at this stage? The yard is also a negative for me as I've seen lots of 2yos from there over the years that run some impressive times then virtually disappear into obscurity.

Ped, in the Royal Lodge I had Berkshire 14lbs below his best and Somewhat 17lbs below his best, his best was on softer ground but I had him 11lbs below his previous best on good to firm. It was a strange race as I also had Washaar below his best with Sir Jack Layden running bang to form. As I said before I don't see the pace of the race as an excuse. I say it was a strange race but really it's not that unusual. I've seen many other big races where a winner wins easily by a wide margin in a moderate time and gets rated higher than it should when the reality was that many behind failed to show their form on the day. It's just that in this case it was a small field and all the main contenders weren't at their best, despite two of them still managing to finish first and second. Even though I rated Somewhat fairly highly on his best form I can't say I was expecting that much from him in future because of what I've already stated about the yard, I had him highest rated in the Royal Lodge but I didn't back him because of that reason.

Whatever the reason for his below par showing that day it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to form here, it's what Johnston runners are known for. As you say, on form he is certainly a value price here, certainly more value than he was for the Royal Lodge. I might wait and see how he looks in the paddock on the day but at the moment it's a bet I can't feel too positive about.

Chief B is a bigger price now that the original price i backed him at, which i was pleased with at the time. 10/1.

Overwelmed or underwelmed. The latter I feel. Winner battled well and was decisive winner but did not have the star quality of a Motivator,St Nicholas Abbey, Camelot etc in my opinion.

Disappointed with Pinzolo. He was second last and I did my conkers.

For me it was another soft ground race where the beaten horses floundered on the ground thereby flattering the winner. I have Kingston Hill simply running to his Autumn Stakes form, which disappointingly proved more than good enough to take this. He'll need to improve to be considered a serious Derby contender, which he may do, but the 8/1 Guineas quotes are a joke, imo.

Soft ground always raises questions about the merit of a win but still a nice performance - beautiful looking horse as well.

i think the winner done it well and is still improving nicely it has to remembered he only won his maiden on september 21st...i wouldn't be as quick as others to criticise him as he has only done what has been asked of him and was more impressive yesterday than at newmarket for me...

on paper it didn't look a good race however and he will have to improve again and i wouldn't be interested at all for either the derby or the guineas at the odds available but you cannot help but respect him as an individual for what he has done in such a short space of time and his attitude under pressure is likeable

for me i would like him more if i knew he would be trained as an arc horse but that won't happen

the ground at this stage looks the key to him because for me you cannot win like that and not like it plus his mother audacieuse was a proven mud lark in france who stayed well...he is a nice horse however and shouldn't be knocked for what he has achieved in such a short period admittedly all with cut in the ground...