BRITISH 2YO RACING - 2006 Season Race Summary
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Result 2005 Profile

Race 047 : Kempton (AW) May 1st, 5f Maiden (4)

75 74 73 72 71 <70 69 68 67 66 <65 64 63 62 61 <60 59 58 57 56 <55 Under 55
Loves Bidding? Peggys Flower [38]
Benchmark Beat The Bully [34]
Mubaashir Bentley [40]
Esteemed Prince [28]
Note:- Bold numbers in the grey boxes are the scale for the estimated rating level for this race. The position of the horse's name indicates the expected performance level as assessed before the race. The table can be read from left to right as the expected finishing positions of the runners.

Pre-race Summary
April 30th SUMMING UP
  • Regular readers of the site will be aware of a particular statistic which gets examined through the jeweller's eyepiece on frequent occasions. The sire Mark Of Esteem has a below average record with 2yos overall notwithstanding Sir Percy's successes in 2005 which lifted his record for that season to just above average. In six seasons he has only ever had a single 2yo winner over 5f, which was, althogether ... Redback, who took three goes, etc.
  • Now Redback ran for trainer R. Hannon who has tried with a number of juveniles to double the sire's record at 5f but hasn't managed it. Which brings us nicely to the question of what to expect from Benchmark in this race? He represents the sire and the trainer under consideration. On his debut in a solid looking maiden at Windsor he received support in a period when the trainer seemed to be introducing a batch of his better sprint 2yos and a number placed FTO. If you believe that Mark Of Esteem does not sire 5f 2yos then his performance in the race would have had you nodding approval. Having broken ok he got outpaced before halfway as Elhamri lifted the pace to just above average levels. He kept on well enough later in the race to get third but did not look an obvious pace type.
  • He runs again quickly and on a turning course where a nippier type could have him in trouble on the bends and leave him too much to do in the straight. Given that he is likely to be a short price it seems reasonable to look for that nippier alternative. With some obvious low raters on debut in opposition the list of possibles is Mubaashir and, depending on his physical type, Loves Bidding.
  • Mubaashir's trainer has a mixed record with 2yos but there were signs in 2005 that he had them readier to compete FTO. His first four runners (to late May) included three than finished second with two rating in the 60s. His first runner in 2006 was a solid third in a good maiden at Newmarket. He has a solid enough sprint pedigree and the early debut for the trainer suggests he has some ability. His sales review rating was unexceptional given the price he made but he clearly has prospects to be value at longer odds against Benchmark.
  • The other, vague, alternative is Loves Bidding although not unless you have access to paddock info before he runs. He has a 6f+ pedigree and did not go to the sales so we don't have that information. The one possible positive is that his trainer has only had two juvenile winners in recent seasons and both won on debut. If he's actually a duff one then the opposition to Benchmark's 5f success looks to be solely down to Mubaashir.
  • Of the others Bentley received a solid sales rating in the context of this race and has a serviceable 5f pedigree. However, his trainer's record with 2yos is poor and he is another who has run poorly on two runs to date. His other runner in the race is Esteemed Prince and is by Mark Of Esteem so if he wins on debut, for this trainer, over 5f we should probably all take up basket-weaving instead. [As an aside after a string of poor 2yo debuts by the trainer's runners over several seasons Feelin Foxy ran very well at Haydock two days ago FTO - it will be interesting to see whether she can show the normal improvement for this trainer].
  • Beat The Bully runs for a trainer who doesn't target strong debut runs and looked a poor to moderate type at the sales. Peggys Flower is the second foal of a 3yo seller winner and by a sire who made a moderate start in 2005. Unless the market says differently she is likely to be here to get experience before the trainer switches her to a suitable race for a STO win attempt (at Brighton, or in a seller, or both).
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