|
March 22nd SUMMING UP
|
|
|
RACE QUALITY:
|
The race is normally run on the turf at Doncaster on the Saturday of the
three day meeting. The move to a southern venue and on the all-weather
has changed the nature of the entries with mostly southern trainers and
many of the northern regulars missing. The trends from the previous years
appear to have little bearing.
The 20 entries for the race (excluding Love In May who is not qualified
following her win) are very similar to those for the 5f AW race that opened
the 2yo season on the 18th. There are only six new horses in the entries
- Beckenham's Secret, Catweasel, Ivory's Song, Our Blessing, Stir Crazy
& Wiseton Dancer. These six range in price from 5,000 guineas to a
little over 15,000 and are in line with the general quality of the entries
and runners from that first race.
This race is a class 5 Auction with the highest weighted colt on 8-12 (Fast
Freddie, 35,000gns) and the lowest on 8-9 (Auctioneerscouk, €7,500).
The fillies get their normal 5lb weight allowance and range only from 8-5
to 8-4. Therefore the largest weight penalty difference between any pair
of runners is only 3lb.
|
|
TRAINERS:
|
WGM Turner has Catweasel running who is a relatively expensive purchase
for the trainer. He is owned by Mr B. Hinge who appears to be a new owner
for the stable and has already had a second placer with Spoof Master (more
expensive than Catweasel) in the first 2yo race of the season. Mr Turner's
first runner was the most professional in a notably ragged initial 2yo
race of the season.
PD Evans has two runners and both were among his 6 entries for the
valuable first race of the season here (probably balloted out). He had
one filly as a non-runner in that first race and the other finished well
beaten looking a moderate type (less fit than his usual for an early runner).
These two runners look better quality than the pair that got into the first
race. He has booked jockey SW Kelly to ride Auctioneerscouk which may mean
that this one is preferred to Fasuby (G Gibbons) but it can be difficult
to make those calls with this stable.
JS Moore won the first race of the season with the cheaply bought
Love In May and has Satulagi here (who was entered for that first race).
He used to have uncompetitive debuts before 2005 except for occasional,
well signposted, attempts in mid-season sellers. In 2005 his early debut
runners competed better but with no debut win. Love In May's win last Saturday
was only his second FTO winner since 2000. The quality of that first race
was probably low and Love In May did not have to perform to a strong
level to win helped by her relatively size and maturity.
BR Millman made a fast start in 2005 and this led to his two runners
in the first race of the season starting as 6/4f and 5/1 second favourite.
Neither stood out in terms of fitness before that race and favourite -
Carlitos Spirit - showed notable inexperience. It is probably the case
that his runners will be less well primed before their debuts this year
and he may revert to his normal early season results of getting debut wins
only with his best 2yo(s). He runs Beckenham's Secret who was not entered
for last Saturday's conditions race here.
AP Jarvis rarely has a 2yo runner before May and only one 2yo winner
before June in the last five seasons (Latin Review's May 29th win at the
Goodwood meeting where he regularly runs his better 2yos). He had Dumas
entered in the first race of the season and Our Blessing runs here so he
has made an quick start to the season by his standards. In general his
earlier debuts include his better 2yos but they rarely compete strongly
on their first outings. Our Blessing is by Lujain, a stallion he likes
having had good success with Right Answer, Right Again & Mixed Blessing
in the last two years. The stallion tends to get physically immature yearlings
and some can develop well through the season at 2yo.
M Channon has Hephaestus running who was entered for the first race
here but was presumably balloted out. His entrant for the 2005 version
of the first race was Wovoka who won his debut race 9 days after not getting
into the Lingfield conditions event. In general the trainer does not target
strong debuts and FTO wins tend to come with his better 2yos (like Wovoka,
Flashy Wings, Upper Hand, Championship Point in 2005 for e.g.). However,
he has a 30% strike rate with his debut runners in March in the last four
seasons although the wins have tended to be at short prices in weaker races.
His runners in tougher races such as the Brocklesby have been unplaced
at longer SPs while showing promise.
|
|
SIRES:
|
Of the sires represented all except Agnes World (Fast Freddie),
Lujain
(Our Blessing) and newcomer Auction House have produced early season
2yo winners. Fasuby is by Fasliyev who has not had a debut winner
before May.
FIRST SEASON SIRES
Auction House - Catweasel.
|
|
PADDOCK & SALES REVIEWS:
|
SALES REVIEWS
Weyba Downs (23,000gns) rated 68 (129), slightly smaller
than Spoof Master but a similar build and slightly more compact & neat.
Our Blessing (13,000gns) rated 63 (82). Below average size
& build although with acceptable geometry.
Ivory's Song - (retained 5,000gns) rated 55 (39). Small,
compact but with some minor positives in muscle build and with some scope
to improve. Better in front of the saddle and moderate geometry behind
and a weak walker.
|