British 2yo Racing - 2007 Season Race Preview

British 2yo Racing - 2007 Season

Racing Preview - May 12th

Today's Races

[62] : Ascot 3:00, 5f Maiden (4)

[63] : Thirsk 6:15, 5f Claimer (5)

[64] : Warwick 6:00, 5.5f Auction (5)

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Trainer :	Mick Channon has targeted debut wins for owner Ahmed Al Maktoum with high class horses in the period mid-May to early June in recent seasons with wins for Narrjoo in 2006 and Hanoona in 2005. He had his first runner for that owner at Hamilton yesterday with Meeriss who won at Hamilton yesterday at 11/2. When Narrjoo won at Hamilton he was backed to 4/6 favourite as if defeat wasn't an option and later ran in Group races. Meeriss started at 11/2 in a stronger looking field and the signs weren't that he was a 'Narrjoo'. If you watch that race the other newcomers including Mark Johnston's (Gin Genereux, unsurprisingly), Howard Johnson's Royal Sovereign & Eoghan O'Neill's favourite New Colossus partake in a pointless multi-way duel for the lead down the hill and all fail to last home. Meeriss was outpaced and driven along in 5th (far enough off the pace to not have it affect him) and came trhough as the leaders faded and held off the closers who came from further behind at halfway than he did. In short, looking a slightly fortunate winner rather than a high class horse beating up on the rest. Channon runs a cheaper son of Dubai Destination (who has now had two debut winners from 4 runners plus two FTO clunkers) for the same owner at Ascot today. Yem Kinn was given a positive rating at the sales and ought to be slightly above average and you would think a little better than Meeriss given that he starts at Ascot rather than being bussed up to Hamilton. The trainer is 0 from 9 with debut runners at the course with 4 placed and they are typically for his 'inner circle' of owners ('Silca', Jaber Abdullah, himself, etc). His previous runner for this owner was Hallhoo who finished second and later ran in Group races while being essentially a high class handicapper. In summary, ought to place and prove a good class 2yo but would need to come with a bit of 'hype' to win FTO.
Paddock Review :	Eoghan O'Neill has proved a more than competent trainer and very organised and consistent in his approach since he took up his post at owner John Fretwell's purpose built stables at Averham Park. In the first two weeks in May in 2005 he debuted 3 horses at northern courses with two seller class winners plus the conditions winner Campbeltown for Mr Fretwell. In this period last year he ran 4 newcomers who were - Cadeaux Du Monder (placer), Vital Equine (Group winner etc at Newcastle), Grand Lucre (placed on all-weather over 8.6f after 5f debut at Newmarket) & Gold Spirit (3 time winner over 5-6f). Of those only Vital Equine won and typically he gets debut wins with his best 2yos although that can include notably precocious ones that do not progress. His first runner for Mr Fretwell started favourite at Hamilton yesterday and got washed away after joining in the burn-up alluded to above. He runs the same owners Shannersburg here. We should be on the lookout for a debut winner from the trainer from now until mid June but this one looked most unlikely to be a better type at the sales and got a low rating. Unless he's developed to be the small but very ready type of his sire (like Johannesburg Jack in 2006) he shouldn't figure here. In general the better debuts have come at lesser tracks for the trainer aside from Always Hopeful & Mood Music's placings at Newmarket.
Ratings :
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May 12th Summary :

The first time this early maiden has been run at the course and normally the only 5f race at the track before Royal Ascot has been the conditions race in early May won by Mount Pleasure this year. An interesting field but lacking runners from some of the bigger stables that you might expect at the course. However, Mark Johnston provides a strong runner with Fitzroy Crossing who was third in an ordinary Hamilton maiden last week to runners with experience. The trainer's record at the course since 2002 is 5 from 42 (11.9%) and no winner since 2003 and 4 of 5 wins by high class 2yos in Listed+ events in 2002-3. But, the early nature of this race means that it is probably untypical for the course because it contains less proven horses (both on course and in home gallops). He is likely to set a strong standard but not unreachable by a high class FTO horse.
Yem Kinn & Shannersburg are dealt with above and B2yoR would expect rather different results from them. Of the others Stan Moore's Paveroc appeals as most likely to place on debut and the trainer has had his debut runners more forward in recent seasons. In a similar manner to E. O'Neill he is trainer-in- residence at a well funded owner's stables (Uplands Acquisitions) and this runner is owned by them. Jamie Osborne has won with all his 2yos so far and runs Drawnfromthepast who looked an average winner at least at the sales. The trainer has run four at the track FTO with one win and one place but the last was Six Of Trumps (also owned by the trainer) last year who was last and has proved average at best).

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