Matt Brocklebank with three things to consider ahead of the day's racing, including a two-year-old newcomer from the thriving Archie Watson stable.
Where is the home support for Saeed bin Suroor?
Alistair Rawlinson, Marc Monaghan, Antonio Fresu, Royston Ffrench, Lewis Edmunds, Charlie Bennett.
With all due respect to each and every one of those jockeys, the list doesn’t scream Godolphin at you, and yet all six have ridden at least once for Saeed bin Suroor in 2018.
Of the 37 riders in total to have represented Godolphin Stables (formerly Stanley House) in Britain, it is Oisin Murphy (33) who has ridden most numerically for Bin Suroor this year. And it's worth stressing that he’s number one jockey to the Qatar Racing empire.
The trainer said late last year that he didn’t have too much to look forward to with his three-year-old crop, having not been sent any of the brightest juvenile prospects, while he’s recently on record stating he has just “three good horses in my stable” (they were Thunder Snow, Benbatl and Best Solution for those of you still scratching your head).
So it’s obviously been bubbling away for some time but this is a situation which has, at the very least, reached a state of flux.
Where does it go from here for the original handler for the boys in blue? The three stars are all just four years old and seemingly have more big days in them, home and abroad, if kept physically (and mentally, in Thunder Snow's case) sound, but the next generation of Godolphin aces have, and will continue to be, sent to Charlie Appleby, whether that’s across town at Moulton Paddocks or Appleby’s winter base at Marmoom Stables on the southern outskirts of Dubai.
You have to go back to Farhh’s Champion Stakes win in 2013 for Bin Suroor’s last domestic Group One winner and that really doesn’t look like changing for the foreseeable future, barring a surprise return to form for Winter Lightning in Saturday’s Sun Chariot, or a rapid redemption from Doncaster flop Dubai Beauty in the Fillies’ Mile. He could easily struggle to muster a runner in the ones that matter most on Champions Day at Ascot, and at this rate the start of the Breeders' Cup in November and Dubai World Cup Carnival next January cannot come soon enough.
As for slightly more pressing matters, twice-raced Dubawi colt Gentle Look holds solid credentials under Murphy in the 10-furlong novice stakes at Bath this afternoon, while the well-regarded Blue Mountain and progressive filly Parting Clouds could both be hard to beat Kempton.
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. But Bin Suroor needs more ammunition on every level if he's expected to win more big races in Britain.
2. Watson homes in on more juvenile joy
One young trainer whose star continues to rise is Archie Watson, now into just his second full season with a licence and already aiming at Group One glory as Soldier’s Call heads for the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp.
It’ll reportedly be an exciting adventure to Kentucky for the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint if all goes well with the impressive Flying Childers winner in France on Sunday, and he’s bound to be a force getting weight from the older sprinters, including Battaash.
It’s been a great year for owners Clipper Logistics, with 13 juvenile winners on the board already – backing all of them to a £1 level stake would have produced a £25 profit and there’s surely more to come.
Richard Fahey’s Red Balloons represents the outfit in Saturday’s Racing UK Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar, but before then there’s lots to look forward to with Urban Highway (Mark Johnston) at Wolverhampton on Friday, Night Secret (William Haggas) at Chelmsford on Thursday and the Watson-trained Summer Blossom running in Nottingham’s five-furlong maiden on Wednesday.
Today sees the introduction of Watson's Times Past in division two of the 32Red Casino EBF Novice Stakes at Kempton and the son of Dandy Man is a half-brother to several winners including High On Love, who won at two for Charlie Fellowes, and another juvenile scorer in Reflected Love.
He was picked up for 47,000 guineas Tatts (Book 3) 12 months ago and, on this year’s evidence, could hardly be in better hands as he sets out on his racing career.
3. Happy hunting ground for Gredleys
You wouldn’t have got rich quick backing them all (£4.89 to a £1 level stake, to be precise), but it pays to take note when the yellow, black and white silks of Bill and Tim Gredley appear on the racecard at Catterick, and to that end Clem A could be an intriguing runner in the Racing UK Extra racinguk.com Nursery Handicap today.
The Michael Bell-trained India’s 3-3 record this year has contributed nicely to an overall tally of 4-5 for Big Orange and Pretty Pollyanna’s owners at the Richmond track, though today it’s George Scott who sends one up the A1 from headquarters.
The son of Helmet has made two very low-key appearances since a promising enough debut third on soft ground at Doncaster in June and on the face of it his initial mark of 66 is on the harsh side if anything.
But Scott reaching for the visor on this slight drop in trip can be deemed a positive-thinking move, as is the booking of Ben Curtis.
Curtis – the surprise package of the weighing room with more winners to his name than Ryan Moore and William Buick this season – has booted home five from 19 at Catterick in 2018, and Clem A is likely to be one of his lesser-fancied chances on the day. Though he could be the one who ultimately represents the best value.