| DATE |
PROFILE/COMMENTS |
April 24th: Brighton
5.3f Maiden |
Made solid price at the Tattersalls Ireland sales. Above sire average.
Second season sire made a good start with his 2yos in 2004 getting 5 individual
winners from only 9 runners. These were not high quality but a good record
nonetheless.
Sire got precocious runners and early 5f winners. Has had three runners
so far in 2005 who have shown 40s rated form on debut, two on soft ground.
Old dam has produced a variety of winners and, unusually, some are quite
recent with her 1999 & 2000 foals.
Trainer now in third season after regaining his licence. Had a good season
in 2003 and gained an unwarranted reputation as a trainer who targets strong
debut runs. In general only the best 2yo(s) in each season win.
FTO SP is not a strong indicator of likely performance except for obvious
'punts' (like Oh Dara at Catterick in 2004).
Trainer has had a 12/1 debut winner in 2005 with a runner that outclassed
a moderate group on a slow time on heavyish ground.
*Blinkered on his first run.
In summary a good sales price given the sire and the dam's age suggesting
a good physical type. Trainer does not target FTO wins but can get them
(as he already has in 2005) with his best 2yos who will still be below
their best but win on natural ability. Profile [60]
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April 24th: Brighton
Post Race |
An interesting story. His trainer has a 'shrewd' reputation and got three
debut winners in 2003 with his 2yos. This got him a reputation as a FTO
'wind them up' trainer which he never was. He uses debut runs as developments
in general and only his best 2yos win on debut. In 2004 he had a targeted
debut winner in a moderate Catterick race which was strongly backed but
the other debuts were different. In 2005 he had two previous debuts, one
moderate and one debut winner with a 'natural' at 12/1 who was the only
runner in his race to handle the soft ground.
With this background it was interesting to see this one open at 9/2 and
be backed to 3/1 before drifting back out to 9/2 as others were also supported.
Was this a debut win attempt by the trainer with a known 'useful' type?
If it was then he picked the wrong Brighton maiden because this was tougher
than usual.
With blinkers for debut he broke well and and contested the lead at a strong
pace which had others under pressure. He started to stall as soon as they
reached the uphill stretch and faded in the last furlong performing to
expectations. A perfectly good debut and promising 70+ form with development.
Estimate [57]
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May 3rd: Bath
5f Maiden |
Runs only 9 days after a reasonable debut by trainer standards. Trainer
has a moderate record with shorter breaks to STO. There were hints that
better was expected on debut and he possibly had an excuse with assisting
with a strong pace. Switches to a shorter trip although on an uphill course.
Profile [68]
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May 13th: Hamilton
6f Maiden |
9/1 fourth favourite at Bath on very soft ground. The race was a mess and
run in a very slow time (the slowest for many years) and appeared to be
course bias affected as most of the field came stands' side. Got behind
early and slightly hampered twice as his made moderate progress to midfield.
Estimate
[45]
The longer price at Bath was a bad sign unless the trainer suspected he
would not handle the ground. He has now run on two entirely different course
and conditions and shown just moderate to average form. He steps to 6f
and the way he has finished his two races off do not necessarily suggest
this is a positive.
Trainer's runners have mostly shown little improvement after STO in his
first two seasons back with a licence. In 2003 the two that did showed
improvement in August after lesser form in early season. Profile
[62]
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May 26th: Ayr
6f Maiden |
11/2 at Hamilton in a strong race which had an average pace for the first
2f and then picked up from into the dip with the moderate runners outpaced
by then. Tracked the pace by 2L at halfway in 5th and switched left past
a fader coming to the final furlong and plugged on for third but 5L off
the good leading pair. Estimate [65]
Appeared to stay 6f ok last time and easily beat newcomer Linas Selection
who he meets again here. Probably little improvement but sets a reasonable
standard in a small field. Profile [66]
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