Paddock Notebook: Horses to follow from Glorious Goodwood, Ascot, Newbury and Newmarket

AGRIPPA, 6f 2yo Maiden, Goodwood, July 28

Agrippa was already a potential candidate for this list on the strength of his second at Newbury in the middle of last month. That he came out less than two weeks later and improved again to land the valuable maiden on the opening day of the Goodwood Festival just made his case for inclusion all the stronger.

At Newbury, Agrippa had got away smartly and made the running, trying to make his experience count but just run out of things late on. At Goodwood, he was more patiently ridden and produced to challenge in the final furlong. Despite being hampered late on, he edged ahead in the last 50 yards.

A feature of both runs was the way he travelled so smoothly through his race. Although he might be expected to stay a bit further on pedigree and holds an entry in the Champagne Stakes, how he travels plus his physique – he's strong and good quartered – suggests he will be best kept to six furlongs for the time being. His other entries include the Mill Reef, and that perhaps might be the target for a potentially very useful colt.

AL SAMSAMA/TAKAAFUL, 6f 2yo fillies Maiden, Newbury, July 17

This fillies maiden, first run in 2020, has been a mixed bag, so far as the subsequent exploits of winners go. Trillium, who won the Molecomb and Flying Childers was clearly the best; Troia won a listed race at a mile. The others, not so much. This year's renewal in form terms would be no more than average for such a race, but the field as a whole was a pretty taking one, and the pair that stood out, Al Samsama and Takaaful, are worth keeping on the right side.

They performed in contrasting fashion, but both suggested there's plenty more to come from them as they gain experience. Takaaful, a well-made filly, was well supported and raced prominently, though she didn't settle and then hung left, intimidated by the filly alongside her. Her exertions told on her late on and she faded into fourth.

Al Samsama, the nicest looking in the field, a tall, attractive filly, who was on her toes beforehand, was a notable drifter in the market. That she was making her debut showed as she ran green off the pace. It wasn't until well inside the final furlong that Al Samsama began to get involved, leading near the finish to deprive the favourite Faith In Florence by ½ length.

ETIENNE, 5f 2yo Super Sprint, Newbury, July 18

The Super Sprint isn't usually a race that suggests many horses that are worth following. It's designed for speedy two year olds that were (relatively) cheaply bought. Etienne has the look of an exception.

Etienne was sent off favourite on the strength of a highly promising debut at Newmarket in late-June. That run was over six furlongs, and he was one of only two in the huge field that had had just one previous run. Therefore it wasn't a total surprise that he found the helter-skelter speed of the Super Sprint a bit of a shock. He was closing at the finish but all too late.

Etienne, a strong, good-quartered colt, has a fair bit more about him than most that turn up in the Super Sprint and he should progress for a while yet. He's another on this list with a Mill Reef entry, though he's also in several valuable sales races and one of those might well prove a more tempting option.

IZUBA, 6f 2yo colts and geldings Maiden, Ascot, July 25

It's fair to say that Izuba doesn't make this list on looks. He made his debut in the Crocker Bulteel, the maiden for those no more than once that opens the King George card at Ascot. The once-raced Tumishi was about the pick in a field where there wasn't really a standout. Izuba looked reasonably forward, but his wasn't an appearance that screamed 'back me'. Instead, it was Izuba's performance that really caught the eye.

The Crocker Bulteel, which used to be just for newcomers, has been dominated by those with a run under their belt in recent years (the last newcomer to win it was Mohawk King in 2020). This year's running saw the Windsor second Never Enough sent off a short-priced favourite and make all. Izuba, easy to back, claimed second only in the last 50 yards. He'd run green off the pace before making good progress in the final furlong.

Izuba will surely know quite a bit more next time. However, what made his performance all the more encouraging is his pedigree. Unlike his rivals, he definitely isn't bred to be a sprinter, though it's worth noting that his trainer Andrew Balding has included him among his four entries for the Mill Reef, which this year is being run in honour of Andrew's father Ian. Izuba is by Siyouni out of a Teofilo mare that won a Listed race at ten and a half furlongs. He can be expected to stay a mile or more next year. In the meantime, though, he looks sure to go one better before long.

MISTER WINSTON, 1m 3yo+ Handicap, Goodwood, July 31

The Golden Mile, at the time the most valuable handicap in Europe when it was first run in 1987, has been a race which must have seen more trouble in running than virtually any similar event in the calendar. There are two ways to avoid it – take a prominent position from a low draw or make your move out wide from a high one.

This year's renewal was a classic case in point. The winner Archivist, drawn 20 of 18, got a clear run on the outside to make ground from mid-division and lead in the final furlong. There was hardly another runner in the field that didn't meet trouble or have to wait for a run. Drawn next to Archivist, in stall 19, was Mister Winston, whose rider Oisin Murphy decided to drop his mount in on the inside.

This was not a good idea. Mister Winston travelled strongly but never saw any daylight and crossed the line full of running in fourteenth. The way he travelled suggests his exalted mark of 103 is not beyond him. He's been declared for the Shergar Cup Mile at Ascot on Saturday, where hopefully his rider won't have an issue with getting a run.

SPIRITED GESTURE, 7f 2yo fillies Novice, Newmarket, August 1

The fillies novice at Newmarket's meeting last weekend has been won by some notable fillies in recent years and Spirited Gesture could well be another. She doesn't have any fancy entries at the moment, but it would be no surprise to see her turn up in something like the May Hill or the Rockfel. Indeed it's worth mentioning that the Gosdens' last winner of this race Commissioning followed a debut win here with victories in the Rockfel and Fillies' Mile.

Spirited Gesture overcame inexperience to come out on top – she was slowly away and then ran green once she got to the front. Despite that she travelled smoothly and was still on the bridle when she went to the front. She also found a good turn of foot to put the race to bed. The race was steadily run, so for her to pick up as she did is all the more encouraging.

Spirited Gesture has a superb pedigree. She's by Kingman and so a sister to two Royal Ascot winners, Calyx, who won the Coventry and the Sandringham winner Coppice. Their dam Helleborine was runner-up in the Marcel Boussac. She is a sister to the Sprint Cup winner African Rose and is out of a half-sister to the Dewhurst winner Distant Music. There's a lot to live up to, but Spirited Gesture couldn't have made a better start in her bid to do so.

UPDATES

Johanna Walsh built on her good effort in the Ribblesdale with an easy victory in the Irish Oaks. Her task was eased by the absence of her stable companion, the Oaks winner Thundering On, but this was still a significant step forward from a filly that has plenty more to offer.

Elsewhere, there were a handful of maiden/novice wins. Sorrengail built on her debut effort in winning a novice at Ascot at 2/1. Odds-on victories came the way of Harry Knows (at the fifth attempt), Odogwu (still green when winning at Nottingham) and Coat of Red (a ready scorer at Leicester). A similar victory is on the cards for Storm Blade who progressed further when second at Chester.

Opera Ballo was a creditable third, turning Queen Anne tables on Ten Bob Tony, behind the crack three-year-olds Bow Echo and Gstaad in the Sussex Stakes. He has a good race in him. Planet Seeker took fourth in the Oak Tree Stakes at the same meeting, running with credit up in class.

Also at Goodwood last week, Valedictory was a bit underwhelming in his hat-trick bid in the valuable mile-and-three-quarters handicap, and is now unlikely to get into the Ebor, having needed a penalty to improve his chances. Night Raider ran a bit flat when favourite for the King George, not the best away but never really going.

The Bookkeeper couldn't justify favouritism for a competitive nursery at the meeting, though ran well to finish third. The Dancing Pirate also went off market leader in the other nursery at the festival, but didn't really handle the track and finished only seventh, though not beaten far. Both remain of interest in similar events.

Abashiri was well below form when a beaten favourite at Saratoga, while Alma Latina was last of three in a muddling handicap at Sandown, best not judged on a run where her stamina had no chance to come into play.

Related content

• Paddock Notebook - Sandown & July Festival
• Paddock Notebook - Royal Ascot
• Paddock Notebook - Epsom Derby Festival
• Paddock Notebook - Ascot, Sandown & Newmarket
• Paddock Notebook - Newbury & Newmarket
• Paddock Notebook - 2025 review and horses to follow 2026

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