Richard Mann looks ahead to the final months of the Flat season and nominates five maidens to follow in England and Ireland.
- Click on the horse name for full profile and to add to My Stable tracker
Roman Empire – Aidan O’Brien
As ever, there are any number of Ballydoyle-housed two-year-olds who could shoot to prominence in the final throws of the Flat season but one who has caught my eye is Roman Empire.
The son of Galileo is a half-brother to former Phoenix Stakes hero Sudirman and certainly shaped like a colt with a future when finishing fourth to the smart Southern Cape on his racecourse debut at Gowran.
Like so many from the yard, Roman Empire can be expected to improve plenty from that initial outing and having been held up early, there was lots to like about the way he stayed on late in the piece despite not looking at home in atrocious conditions.
With the runner-up going one better next time, and the third home running well in defeat since, the form has a solid look to it and I’ll be amazed if Roman Empire doesn’t win a maiden before the year is out before possibly being aimed at a Derby trial next spring.
Glesga Gal – Hugo Palmer
We have seen enough from Glesga Gal in two starts to know she is a pretty decent filly but the best might still be to come.
The way she moved through her race on debut at Kempton in June was most encouraging and she might have done too much too soon there having quickened clear before being run down late on by the promising Ville De Grace.
She again travelled strongly when finishing fourth at Newmarket next time out, but was forced to delay her challenge as the front two kicked for home, and she came home nicely when her chance of winning had gone.
She doesn’t hold any entries at present but this choicely-bred daughter of Lope De Vega should be effective as conditions deteriorate into the autumn and ought to prove capable of breaking her maiden at least, if not something a little bit better.
Logo Hunter – Ger Lyons
Logo Hunter shaped like a smart sprinter in the making when bustling up subsequent Phoenix Stakes third Aloha Star in his debut at Bellewstown in early July, only getting worried out of the fight late on having travelled like the best horse in the race.
As a result, it was no surprise to see Logo Hunter attract significant market support on his next start at Down Royal where nothing went right for him in the race itself. Despite being armed with a low draw, he was forced wide as he mounted his challenge, though there was no disgrace in eventually finishing third to subsequent Listed-placed Measure Of Magic, with last week’s Sky Bet Lowther winner Miss Amulet in second.
Nevertheless, the suspicion remains that Logo Hunter might be a bit better than he has been able to show and the fact master handler Ger Lyons has gelded his charge since Down Royal would indicate he thinks the same. Don’t write off Logo Hunter, who can develop into a useful sprinter.
Conspiracy – Kevin Ryan
Conspiracy disappointed when attracting plenty of support ahead of his Beverley debut but he was much improved when finishing third at Hamilton on his next start.
A son of former crack sprinter Pearl Secret, there is every chance that quick ground caught him out at Beverley and Conspiracy appeared much happier in testing conditions in Scotland, when staying on nicely for third behind a couple of decent sorts.
The winner that day, Out The Hat, ran a blinder in third in a valuable sales race at York last week while the runner-up, Ocean Star, won by 11 lengths at Chepstow on her next start to give the form another timely boost.
Nevertheless, granted a clearer passage through the Hamilton race, Conspiracy might well have finished a good deal closer and while evidently going the right way, trainer Kevin Ryan should be able to find winning opportunities for him before the season is out.
Scampi – Andrew Balding
Scampi wouldn’t be the most obvious name to add to your My Stable tracker but I liked what I saw on his debut at Sandown earlier this month and wouldn’t be surprised to see him make up into a decent middle-distance handicapper in time.
Already gelded before making the racecourse debut, Scampi was friendless in the betting before finishing fifth of eight behind stablemate Recovery Run, but he made steady late headway following a tardy start, despite running green and looking inexperienced under pressure.
Last with three furlongs to run and apparently in danger of being left badly behind, he ran on really nicely in the closing stages without being knocked about and definitely ought to do better in time, particularly once stepped up in trip.
In fact, his pedigree is laced with stamina and though he might be something of a slow burner, Scampi can certainly pay his way going forward.
