| 03 May
| Amanda Perrett, Guy Harwood's daughter to fill in some background
for those that need it, built up an improved record with 2yos from 1999
to 2003 as the stable got going under her name. It's been backwards since
then and the three years 2005-7 have seen less winners and below average
strike rates. Quite why this should be B2yoR doesn't have an answer but
they aren't a particularly important force in 2yo terms given they figured
in 12th by number of 2yo runners in 2006 for example. They are well funded
and also supported by important owner bred sources, most notably Khalid
Abdulla who was an long time supplier of useful horses to her father (Dancing
Brave and all that).
It's interesting to note that 31 yearling purchases in the range 40,000
to 100,000 guineas that have run for them in 2005-7 have produced just
two winners as juveniles. Perhaps they aren't looking for 2yo success and
training more with 3yo development in mind now they (they, since Mr Perrett
is presumably heavily involved in the overall training) have a solid position
in the training ranks. Equally, the eight horses bought for under 20,000
guineas in the same 3 years have produced just one winner. You would think
they would be more targeted at 2yo careers. However, years of Mr Abdulla
owner breds and people tipping things that cost telephone numbers into
your yard doesn't necessarily prepare you to compete in the sub-20,000
bracket at the sales with a lot of people for whom that is their 'top end'
and they have to make work.
Whatever, each year the earliest runners will include some good 2yo types
and the earliest can compete quite strongly on ability and precociousness.
The stable has a below average FTO win percentage overall. The first two
runners in 2006 were Jo'burg (cost 215,000gns) who won a maiden 3TO after
finishing 5th in the Coventry and Prince Of Elegance who won a maiden STO
and then ran in Listed races. In 2007 the first two runners were Coasting,
who won a maiden STO before a 15th in the Coventry and a later season Nursery
success, followed by Kings General's promising second behind a later Listed
winner. He did not run again but easy to believe he was up to winning a
maiden STO.
So, Rio Royale ought to be a solid 2yo and up to winning a maiden
STO and having a go in something better along the way. If he's a bit better
he might put the hurry up on Icesolator remembering that we have convinced
ourselves his Newmarket effort was middling and we need to some extra clues
(like Paddock Review) to support a stronger view. As an aside the Perrett
older horses have been a bit on the tubby side as a group so far in 2008
and wouldn't suggest Rio Royale is going to be primed for the day. But
a good STO profile nonetheless.
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![[Picture]](../../08_Publish_Pics/RioRoyale_080712_asct2.jpg){kind=link}