Dan Briden continues his weekly column with a host of interesting snippets regarding the juvenile scene.
Goodwood reflections
As ever, there was plenty of interest dotted throughout the field in the various two-year-old maidens at Goodwood last week.
The 7f fillies’ maiden on the Thursday is often an above-average affair and this year’s renewal looks to be no different. Avalon Queen confirmed the promise of her first two efforts to score, though runner-up So Lovely was a stride or two away from overhauling her. Both fillies will progress further still once faced with 1m, as will the third placed Beguiled who was only winding up fully as the line approached having been rather short of pace when the tempo increased.
Fourth placed Siena Storm is a €600,000 filly who shaped in a similar fashion to Beguiled, albeit racing closer to the rail and given a fairly hard time of things for a newcomer from the Ed Walker yard. She is another who should get another furlong in time, though not necessarily much further.
There were one or two others further back who will be making a far greater impact in time, not least the sixth placed Majestic Flame, who was a little worse than midfield approaching the final furlong but hit the line hard once getting going. Orchard Hatches (8th) is a stoutly-bred daughter of Time Test who was sent off at odds of 125/1 and hopelessly green in rear for the most part (lugged right in straight), but she was starting to gather full stride under considerate handling as the line came. Eligible for easier races than this, Orchard Hatches could well strike in a 1m restricted event at one of the lesser tracks sooner rather than later.
La Bassette (10th) is from a successful family that goes back to the top-class Almanzor (by the same sire as her, Wootton Bassett), and she made pleasing late gains from off the pace, enough to suggest she can jump forward the required amount to play a part in the right sort of race when next seen. A mile will likely suit, off the bridle sooner than most but strongest at the line here.
The other 7f maiden at the meeting took place on Saturday and went the way of the strong-travelling Rafe’s Da Man, who confirmed a trio of good efforts and put his experience to good use to overhaul the front-running Charted Course. However, there were a few newcomers in behind who very much caught the eye and look certain to do a lot better in the near future.
Hugo Palmer saddled the fairly useful Lion of Alba to finish fifth in this race 12 months ago before that one won at Chester next time, and it could be his Blue Point year-younger half-brother Speyside will take a similar route. He raced in midfield and made good progress to briefly look a threat to the front two entering the final furlong, rather green and unable to muster the pace to sustain his effort thereafter as he finished in third. Although it’s a rather mixed pedigree, Speyside looks the type to be suited by further than this in time.
James Owen’s Howzatt is a Zoustar colt out of the prolific producer Whazzat, making him a half-brother to the likes of James Garfield and useful performers Lavender Hill Mob and The Shrew. His is another pedigree that is quite difficult to read but it’s clear seven furlongs will prove something of a minimum on the visual evidence offered here, taking a while to gather full stride before coming home best of all to take fourth. He should find a lesser race well within his grasp sooner rather than later and, allied with a solid pedigree, could prove quite useful in the fullness of time.
One other worth a mention is the Oliver Cole-trained Rupert The Brave. He was denied a clear run on more than one occasion when looking to improve his position from the rear of the field, given an easy time of things as he more or less held his position throughout the final furlong, coming home in ninth.
He is better than the bare facts could communicate on the day and could be a major player in the right sort of event next time out, sure to be placed to best advantage.
Valmont youngsters
It appears Valmont are starting to unleash some of its nicer two-year-old members now. 425,000gns Frankel colt Hierax makes his debut in the 7f newcomers’ event at Newmarket (July) tomorrow evening. He is a half-brother to dual 5f Group 2 winner Dramatised, with classy speedsters paired with Frankel often a recipe for high-end success. Trained by William Haggas, Hierax is reported to have pleased in his work in recent weeks.
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained I Will Be King is a €250,000 colt by Ten Sovereigns who was purchased at the Arqana Breeze Up Sales back in the spring. He held an entry in the same Newmarket race but looks likely to be heading to Leicester on Sunday for a 7f event. His dam has yet to produce anything better than fairly useful, but homework suggests I Will Be King could be set to belatedly get her broodmare career off the ground.
James Tate’s One For Bruce holds his first entry in a 6f maiden at Nottingham next Tuesday. He is a 90,000gns Ubettabelieveit half-brother to Solario Stakes winner South Seas and out of a maiden half-sister to Chesham Stakes winner Zaidan, both of whom were successful first time out. He received a positive mention from bloodstock agent Alex Elliott in the Two-Year-Old Guide and has reportedly continued to catch the eye in his work at home.
Gosden juveniles getting going
As is almost always the case in the middle of the summer, Clarehaven has started to unleash some of its better two-year-olds.
Few could have failed to be impressed with the visual impression created by Spirited Gesture at Newmarket (July) last Saturday. Awkward from the stalls she soon sat in a prominent position, over-racing if anything but clearly going best throughout, edging across to the far side but drawing clear with impudent ease to score by 2¼ lengths from the front-running Kiah.
The obvious note of caution would be the way in which she carried herself, very much having a typically awkward head carriage and overall unpleasing comportment so many by the sire tend to possess. However, the engine is very much there, and she could go a long way if able to keep a lid on any temperament that may be the lurking. The Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood towards the end of the month looks the obvious next step for her.
The same connections’ Lorraine was impressive in a different way when making a winning start in a 6.5f fillies’ race at Newbury the previous week. A Frankel half-sister to connections’ one-time leading 2000 Guineas fancy Publish, she looked likely to be held back by inexperience as the race began to take shape, picking up strongly entering the final furlong and well on top come the finish.
Seven furlongs and even a mile will suit better and Lorraine is another clearly destined for much better things, though it wouldn’t at all surprise to see connections adopt a more pragmatic approach with her, perhaps taking in a novice race under a penalty en route to classier assignments.
Naturally, Gosden still has a host of unraced youngsters to unleash with Coaxed, a Baaeed daughter of connections’ Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Persuasive, next off the production line. She is entered for a 7f fillies’ novice event at Kempton next Wednesday and is said to have been pleasing in her work in recent weeks. She will be just the second runner in Britain for her first-season sire, with the Gosdens responsible for his first (Shiyam, second at Yarmouth back in May).
All too predictable?
Joseph O’Brien looks set to unleash $300,000 breeze up purchase Mr Predicted in the opening 6f maiden at the Curragh on Sunday. By US sire Corniche, he is a half-brother to a 5.5f 2yo winner in the States and out of a half-sister to US 1m 1f 3yo Grade 2 winner Adriano.
He was scheduled to debut in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the end of June until withdrawn on account of the ground. It will be fascinating to see how Mr Predicted fares should he take up his engagement this weekend, entered in just about every available two-year-old Group race in Europe.
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