British 2yo Racing - 2011 Race Result :- 114 : Mon, May 23rd

BRITISH 2yo RACING - 2011 Season Race Result

Race 114 : Mon, May 23rd
Leicester 2:45, 6f Maiden (5)

2011 Season Home
2011 Results

[Est] is the B2yoR Rating. Green indicates a 55+ level,
Cream between 30 & 54, Pink less than 30.
Wnr = previous/LATER 2yo Winner. Letter is Race Type.
Hf = Position at Halfway. Green indicates making places to the finish.

GOING	TIME	RcPc	VP
GFF	70.56 [Compare]	0	None

	Horse	SP	[EST]	Run	Wnr	Trainer	Dw	Hf	Run Notes
1	St Barths	0.36	45	2		B. J. Meehan	8	4	BkWL, LdgLn Erl, H-1 +0.5f & 2R Sttld, Eff-2f STTR, PO ins-2f HdR SHgR, SwcLd-0.5f+ Resp, ko & Ld, PO Lt, SCmf
2	Verbeeck	16	39	2	M	E. S. McMahon	6	1	Drift 12/1, PNgl Rsp, SEff Erl & Ld, Take Fld Cent+1f, CmfLd, IncrPc-2.5f, Eff-2f PO HnH Chalgd-1f+, PO, Po-0.5f, poLt
3	Singalat	22	36	2	M	P. D. Evans	9	2	PDv Resp, LdgLn Erl, Ngl Hf, Dv-2f+ SOutpcd, po-2f, Resp ins-1f & Po, po ins-0.5f
4	Bounty Seeker	4.5	35	1	M	M. Johnston	2	3	Supp 13/2, B1, LdgLn Erl, SFre+0.5f & Hld, SFFH for 1f, Dv-2f+ SInx, SOutpcd-2f, Po, po Lt
5	Telwaar	22	24	1	M	P. W. Chapple-Hyam	4	7	Drift 16/1, B-1 PResp, Mdfld Erl SInx, Ngl+1.5f Inx SLsGrnd, Dv-2f+ Inx, SOutpcd-2f, po ins-2f HnH, Eased Lt
6	Space Raider	40	22	2		B. W. Hills	5	6	B-1 P-2 Dv, Resp+0.5f, Fre+1.5f & Hld, SFFH for 1f, Ngl Hf, Eff-2f SInx, po HnH
7	Unforgiving	100	15	2		A. J. McCabe	3	8	BkWL PDv, Unbal Erl LsGrnd Drop Last, Outpcd-2f+ Inx, Adf ins-1f, Fd-1.5f
8	Witty Buck (v)	200	17	3		A. J. McCabe	1	5	BRh-1 Wd, Dv Erl Resp, Outpcd-2f+, Fd ins-1.5f
NR	Roman Soldier				M	J. Noseda	7		NR = Going.

SUMMARY

Going GFF despite watering (no details given). Going Stick 8.8 at 6:30am but rain expected to blow through betweem 13:00 & 16:00 (Check). Strong wind as a Three-quarter Tailwind from the left.

Meehan on his website the day before the race wrt St Barths = "Most unlucky loser on debut at Newbury when twice hampered late on in a good maiden. Form of that race already working out well and we are confident he can gain his first success on the way to bigger things."

Barry Hills website in News for w/b May 23rd = "Unless we have rain this week it will probably be another quiet one for us. Today we have one runner at Leicester in the shape of Space Raider. He was drawn on the wide outside at Newbury on his first run, and was slightly left in no mans land following a slow start. However he ran on well there and will have learnt plenty. "

After a 33/1 winner in the first 2yo race of the day this race seems remarkably orderly and easy to explain. Right shape to the result and the comments the trainers made about their horses, and their general methods, all fitting together snugly. An easy race to explain. Stalls Stands' side and the field to taken to race in Centre track by Verbeeck who was allowed to set an average pace unhassled. Then made the expected 2F effort and the race unfolded in a reasonable manner to the line.

St Barths might have won on debut with a clear run despite looking green and finished at the front of what looked a good maiden anyway. His win here means the 3rd & 4th from the race have already won well enough already. Again broke well here and Jk Dwyer held him back to run in 2R behind the comfortable leader. Ran settled and then asked to make his effort at 2F out to get 1.5L back on Verbeeck. As at Newbury the response was not fully professional not immediate. Made a forward move between 2F to 1F out to get to Verbeeck but with his head on one side and slightly hanging right. Perhaps feeling the firm ground a little. A brief period around 1F out when another long odds-on defeat seems a possibility as still looking a bit green and not going forward. Dwyer then got more urgent and used the whip and the horse changed his lead leg towards the last 0.5f. Briefly rolled Left after that but then picked up better and went clear on Verbeeck assisted by the leading wilting a little late on. Won comfortably in the end with the lack of a smoother response in the last 2F seeming to be more down mental inexperience and perhaps the ground than lack of ability. Has been run in races which suggest he is being prepared for the Coventry Stakes and did enough here to make that still likely.

But Meehan, looking as morose as ever, still playing that down when asked after the race. Said the horse was still learning and would improve further which seemed a reasonable comment. Non commital when asked about the Coventry and would not even confirm that St Barths is the best he has run so far. Being even-handed with other owners over his landlords? Or does he really think that the likes of Ballesteros & Right To Dream are better types?

Trainer McMahon had said in early season before Verbeeck had run that he had concerns over his attitude. Unusually, saying he thought the horse might 'throw the towel in' [for the long term as well] if he had a hard race. Mr McMahon must have missed the lecture at Trainer School about empty spin and restricting himself to 'a nice type & will come on for a run. Could be anything..' and similar pointless blather. On debut he got behind and made an ok effort to get to thrid then starting hanging left. The trainer in interview here said he saw that hang on debut as the sort of 'lugging' he was expecting when things got tough. But, a strong, solid sprinter and well prepared here if still with scope to improve. Allowed a relatively comfortable lead and able to make a solid effort 2F out. Stuck at it well enough until a late fade. Ought to be ok OR75+ and perhaps 5f. Trainer still not convinced afterwards saying the horse had been mentally immature at Bath and been coltish (when he was not normally). Worth noting the front of the Bath race looks stronger now than it did at the times. He hoped the run today would show the horse that the 'job isn't too hard'. But, a solid type and seems a reasonable marker to judge the winner by.

Other 6 form into three banks of two with the third & fourth home finishing together and different physical types but both seem to be 7f+ development types. Singalat has a 7F+ pedigree and has enough substance to rate OR70 and should evelop with further distance. Similar run over 6f here to the 5f debut. Jockey Gannon active to get him involved from early on and no messing about trying to hide things from the handicapper. Got a bit outpaced as the front 2 kicked 2F out but never stopped and getting back to them late on. Has now finished close up in two solid maidens run in lesser paces so is going to get a stiff OR mark but can develop for going up in distance. Plus the Evans will run him as ofen as it takes to find races to win.

Bounty Seeker a much bigger horse and a typical big staying type that Johnston buys. Also typical in that he has a Grade 1 winner close up in his pedigree which the trainer looks for when buying. Trainer here to saddle it and the owner supposed to have been coming to see the horse. Believable as a better type but not a 6f horse and probably a 10f+ 3yo. Typically free running to the average pace and then got a bit outpaced as would be expected 2F out. But plugging on but not seeing the finish out as well as the fitter and readier Singalat. But a good stayer prospect.

A gap then back to a pair of similar types who are below normal Open Maiden level but are usable OR66-74 typpes and being brought on in different ways for nurseries or a lesser Maiden if they can manage it. Peter Chapple-Hyam ran a similar type on debut in the race in 2010 with Titus Two who was 5th of 11 at 20/1. He was rated OR74 when he managed to win a Yarmouth Auction race 5TO and got bumped up to OR80. Two uncompetitive 7ths in nurseries followed. Telwaar and arab owner-bred but from a family that has produced minor winners. Trainer comments just so-so and thinks he can win a race with him but not expecting a lot. So, rather than a short price for a competitive debut 5th at 22/1 and get him started and see how he goes and what to aim for. Green here and losing ground before halfway until responding then just HnH and trying not to finish too near the first 4 in the last 2F. Job done, so far.

Space Raider in the ruck behind St Barths having got well behind early then almost got back to that horse around halfway. Still very mentally immature here both in the prelims and in the race. Similar to Telwaar in not being pressed in the last 2F so as to preserve his nursery future that he is presumably being brought along for (which makes the Gannon rides on Singalat seem so different). OR69-74 type and competitive at the right level and a slightly better type than Telwaar.

With the Race Finish shape completed well with the two small ones with poor form left adrift at the finish. All very neat and comfortable overall.