2005 Runs Summary

SUMMARY OF APPROACH TO 2YO RACING :-

His record with 2yos in recent seasons needs to be considered against the background of his changing circumstances in the last 8 years. The following paragraphs give a brief summary. After training in Newmarket until 1999 he took up the post as 2yo trainer to Sheikh Mohammed & Godolphin. They had taken over Evry racecourse near Paris as their base. He had a disappointing two years there (1999-2000) both in terms of number of winners and in quality. In general the feeling was that he had done a solid job but had not really adjusted and settled in France. In 2001 he moved back to Newmarket but still dedicated to developing and racing the 2yos for Sheikh Mohammed. He gave the impression he wanted to prove he wasn't the 'failure' the French sojourn was seen as. He got the 2yos wound up and ready early in the season and had them ready to win FTO. This approach combined with a good group of 2yos produced an outstanding season with excellent strike rates and 50%+ FTO wins. This changed the whole tone of the 2yo season in May-July. Other than Dubai Destination the 2001 2yos did not develop into useful 3yos and Sheikh Mohammed asked that in 2002 the 2yos be given a quieter season. He did what he was told and combined with a less able group the statistics for FTO wins and SR, etc. were much lower. Some of the early debuts were clueless (Rhythmical Road, etc. ) and not quite fit enough (unusual). [As a general point the yearlings that the Sheikh & Darley buy at the sales tend to be on the smaller side and not generally likely to show great improvement to 3yo+]. In 2003 he announced that he would retire at the end of the season and Sheikh Mohammed said that Godolphin would take the 2yo development and training 'in-house' from 2004 with S. Suroor 'training'. Mr. Loder said that "..the gloves were off.." for his last season meaning that he could target 2yo racing and not take it easy for 3yo development. While not at the 2001 levels the strike rate and FTO win percentage went back to 30%+. During 2003 he considered his future and announced that he would be training as an 'open' trainer in a new Newmarket base from 2003. Sheikh Mohammed said he would still keep some of his own 2yos with him. During the yearling sale season he was always present and seemed to buy a number of relatively cheap yearlings (usually via agent R Frisby). With the disadvantages of starting at a new base and cheaper raw material 2004 was a poor one by his season - "Ok" by normal standards but not good enough when he's been operating at the level he has been. He ran 53 2yos and only 15 won and with a strike rate down to 13%. 8 of the 15 winners were for Sheikh Mohammed (in some form) and 12 of the 19 wins. The other 45 horses produced 7 winners and 7 wins with a long tail of poor debuts and 2yos from August onwards. In 2004 he showed the usual methods of identifying the better 2yo types and having them ready to compete well on debut. The first 16 debuts (to early July) included all three debut winners and six places.  The later 37 debuts included just 6 places. His overall strategy has remained the same and attempts to win a maiden in the first two runs. The better runners will then be stepped up to Listed+ races. A few of the Sheikh Mohammed owned runners may compete in nurseries, usually as preparation for being sold on at the Horses In Training sales or demoted to the 'Jumeirah' owned group. The 2004 results gave some ammunition to those who had resented his previous success and said it was all down to having the Mohammed horses to train. The performances of the non 'Sheikh Mohammed' 2yos in 2004 were below average given the sources and the prices paid. His lack of runners until June 25th has been one of the major notable points of the 2005 season. It will be interesting to see how the debut runners compete but presumably they will be at least as ready as his normal level. [ 2005 Update - Mr Loder announced during the season that he would retire when the season closed. He cited health problems as a major contributory factor in making this decision.]

2005 Debut Runs Summary

2005 SEASON RUN DETAILS

Horse	Run #	Date	Course	Dist	Gng	RcCls	RcTyp	SP	Postn	[Est]	Run Style	Hdgr	Notes
RACE TO THE MUSIC	1	25/06/2005	LING	5	GF	5	M	1.1	1-4	78	T3		B-1 Rail, T1Hf SwcL Led-1f KON
SNOW CRYSTAL	1	30/06/2005	YARM	7	FGF	5	Mf	5	1-7	71	T2		T1+Hf, Eff-1.5, Led, KOn
LUNAR GODDESS	1	21/07/2005	FOLK	7	FGF	4	Mf	5.5	10-12	35	1MB		Stds, -4Hf, QFd-2f+
RACE TO THE MUSIC	2	22/07/2005	NMKJ	6	GF	5	Cnd	0.57	1-5	79	T32		GdPc, -2+1, -1Hf, Ef&1Clr, Inx
RADIUS	1	24/07/2005	NMKJ	6	S	5	M	3	7-9	25	F		ModPc, FNkHf, Hdd-2f+, QFd
DANCE SCHOOL	1	12/08/2005	FOLK	7	GF	4	Mf	5	4-13	56	1B		B-2 -4+Hf, GdPrg-2 SBlk ko BTR
PRIMARY	1	22/08/2005	LEIC	7	GS	4	M	4.5	1-12	76	F		F1Hf, Kon-1+
LOVELY HIDENKA	1	25/08/2005	LNGA	7	STD	5	Nov	20	8-8	29	TM		SFre, -1+1f, LsePlc+3f, Fd
NIGHT IN	1	25/08/2005	LNGA	6	STD	5	M	2	3-10	62	T		B-2, -2Hf, Ef to 2nd-2f, SFdLt
DANCE SCHOOL	2	02/09/2005	NMKJ	7	GF	3	Cnf	9	5-6	51	F		MAvPc, F1+Hf, Outpcd-2, Fd&Esd
PRIMARY	2	03/09/2005	NMKJ	7	GF	3	Cnd	1.25	1-8	80	F		MAPc, FNkHf, Ef-2+, KOn-1f
LOVELY HIDENKA	2	06/09/2005	LNGA	7	STD	5	Mf	10	8-12	43	B		-5+Hf, Wide Str-2f, NIR,
NIGHT IN	2	14/09/2005	BVLY	5	GGF	5	M	0.91	1-14	70	F		OkPc, FHf+1&Hf, Ef-2, kon
HOT BABY	1	20/09/2005	NMKT	8	G	5	Mf	40	15-17	19	2M		Cent, -3+1, -6+Hf, QFd-2f+
RADIUS	2	21/09/2005	RDCR	7	GGF	5	M	8	4-18	52	T7	V	HldErl, -2Hf, SEf-2f, SFd-1+
PRIMARY	3	15/10/2005	NMKT	7	GSG	1	Gp1	14	8-8	41	T3		AvPc -1Hf, QOtpcd-2f+, SF-1+
LOVELY HIDENKA	3	25/10/2005	YARM	7	HVS	5	M	12	7-9	33	T4		QFd-2f+
~END~

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