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May 9th SUMMING UP
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Hmm, a 16 runner race last year produced 6 winners during the season. Barry
Hills' River Kintyre survived a pace duel to prove the best horse in the
field having burnt off one of the later winners in Mytton's Pride. The
other four winners in the field had all made low prices at the sales and
ran for less than fashionable trainers. They finished spread through the
field and most close to failed later claimer runners. None of these four
won at better than Novice level and with River Kintyre not seen out again
the race was an ordinary maiden at best.
So, you are the Course Executive and you already can attract a field of
16 on your draw blighted track with the race at Class 3 level. What shall
we do? I know, let's throw more money at it and make it a Class 2. Which
they have done but if they were hoping to attract a better class of 2yo
it hasn't worked.
We have a similar field with two more expensive yearlings from major Southern
based trainers - Kyle & Captain Marvelous - opposed by
an assortment of mostly below average price purchases. Kyle is all about
power, the paddock commentator actually said something useful when he ran
at Bath - "..he's as wide as he's tall..". Which, leaving aside all the
conformation technicalities, nicely sums him up. He travelled like the
best horse in that race and his inexperience and looks to carry his weight
well. Normal improvement from his debut and from a usable draw in 7 should
see him a strong contender.
Unlike R. Hannon (who unusually has good representatives in both the Lily
Agnes & here) trainer B. Hills targets Chester and often brings good
2yos to the course. Captain Marvelous was the stable second string on debut
but finished close behind Dimbools as they placed in a race which developed
into something of a 2f sprint. Well drawn in 4 he is clearly the best opponent
for Kyle and the pair stand out on profile.
The most expensive runner in the rest of the field is Northern Fling
who is one of two runners for trainer D. Nicholls. Both are poorly drawn.
In 2005 after varying his strategy with 2yos, with mixed results, he seemed
to have settled for having them fit and primed for debut. This season has
been different, either he has a moderate group of 2yos that can't compete
on debut or he's changed his method. Either way, Northern Fling can be
assessed for his future chances.
The est of the field range from 17,000gns down to 1,000 and in the remarkably
strong yearling markets of the last few seasons that means none are exepensive.
Depending how you define it all are below average cost. Amonst them
theere are likely to be 3-4 who can win at average maiden level and the
market should indicate some of them.
Miss Kool Kat made a solid debut but her physical limitations were
evident when she ran out of steam in the final uphill furlong having tried
to keep up with bigger colts at Beverley. Her trainer gets his early fillies
ready to peak STO so she may not have much improvement. Luscivious
runs for a trainer who has a poor 2yo record. However, he does have a target
which is to develop horses with racing and does get surprise winners at
this course. He was noticeably supported on debut and left the impression
he was better than he showed. If this were his fourth run and this were
a weaker race he would be one to check as a possible long priced winner.
In this race it is a case of watching how he performs for the future.
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