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Musselburgh 2:20, 5f Maiden (5) |
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| Horse | SP | [EST] | Run | Wnr | Trainer | Dw | Hf | Run Notes | ||||
| 1 | Hamza | 4 | 51 | 1 | K. A. Ryan | 6 | Supp 7/1, BkWL PNgl Resp, XF Erl & Ld & Jnd, LoB, 2Clr ins-2f Po, Dv-1f+, po ins-2f SHgR, Stall Lt | |||||
| 2 | Stonefield Flyer | 14 | 40 | 1 | M | K. W. Dalgleish | 7 | Drift 10/1, B-1 PSHmp-1 SHgR, Resp Erl, Mdfld+1f Sttld, Eff-2f QHgR, po ins-1.5f, 3rd ins-1f, po-0.5f SHgR, Eased Lt | ||||
| 3 | Devlin | 2.75 | 29 | 1 | R. A. Fahey | 8 | Drift 2/1, BOk RL, Ngl Erl, Allow XFr+0.5f & Ngl, Dv+1.5f, Dv-2f+ SOutpcd, Stall-1f+ HdR, SResp-0.5f to Fdrs SHgR | |||||
| 4 | Idler | 3.5 | 25 | 1 | M | M. Johnston | 1 | B-1 Wdst PRh-2, Resp Erl, Prg+0.5f, Eff-2f, po SHgR, Stall-1f HgR, Fd ins-0.5f | ||||
| 5 | Profile Star | 16 | 20 | 1 | A | T. D. Barron | 5 | Supp 22/1, B1, Ld Erl, XF+0.5f 2nd 1Wd, Dv-2f+, SHgR-2f, po, 2nd ins-1f, Fd-0.5f, Tired Lt | ||||
| 6 | Made In The Shade | 50 | 10 | 1 | P. T. Midgley | 3 | B-1 SInx Ngl, Dv Erl, Resp+0.5f & SFre Hmp-2, Dv+1.5f SAdf, DvOv, Stall-1f+ HdR, Fd-0.5f+ | |||||
| 7 | Art Dzeko | 9 | 13 | 1 | T. D. Easterby | 2 | BOk Wd, Ngl Erl TTR, 2R+1f 2Wd Sttld, Dv-2f+ SHgR, Unbal ins-2f HgR, Fd-1f+, Eased ins-0.5f | |||||
| 8 | Pontius Pilate | 4 | 1 | 1 | B. Smart | 4 | Supp 11/2, B-4 QInx P-3, LsGrnd Erl Dv, -15L Adf+1f, Whip+1.5f, Adf-1.5f Whip?, Eased-1f | |||||
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£10k Bonus Race. Draw change means that 8 is now on the stand's rail and 1 in centre track. Strong wind on day and (at least) a half headwind from the left (Stand's Side). This, along with the softer going seemed to affect the race. A solid pace set by Hamza with Profile Star dragged the field along at a testing rate and the field was breaking up before the final 1f. None of the runners finishing the race off well and the placed horses plugging on from tired horses. More a staying test. Strong wind seemed to have an affect with most of the field hanging right away from the stands' rail as they tired (to various degrees) and some holding their heads to the right. Long gaps between the runners at the finish. The Halfway positions to Final placings tell some of the attritional story with Hamza always in first and able to keep the pace going into the penultimate furlong. Jockey able to not ask him to make an effort until coming to the final 1f because he had seen the second rank off by then. Effectively the whip and jockey's urging were to keep him going in the final 1f and despite looking tired he found a little response and clearly best. With PPilate always adrift in last the 2nd to 4th placers through halfway all faded notably (broken by the leader's pace in the conditions) and the placed horses came from 5th & 6th. They did not make places from 5-6th to 2nd-3rd elegantly but by gritting it out in the last 1f and not really going forward well. Slow time and the only ones slower in 2009-10 (out of 30) were by Berberana in a late season Nursery on much softer going and by Las Verglas Star in the equivalent race in 2010. The last named is interesting because he won a joke edition of the race from a second string stablemate (proved a late OR60s claimer winner) and a duff Midgley trained filly. He had not won since but won the 3yo handicap later on this card in 61.63s carrying 4lbs more than Hamza and off OR70. Which amounts to roughly the WFA between 2yo & 3yo over 5f on April 1st. But Las Verglas Star won another soft race comfortably so you would wonder how close to OR70 he had to run. This looked a much better edition of the race than in 2010 and with 4-5 who looked solid OR70+ types for development as 2yos. The conditions not helpful to some of those showing it here but this still probably the deepest race on quality so far in 2011. Some thoughts on trainer methods follow. Hamza - Kevin Ryan has a number of 2yos by FSS Amadeus Wolf whom he trained. You would presume he would try to get some good early results for the sire. The first, a limited filly, ran respectably at WTON and this one had won. Trainer at the course and looked jubilant afterwards and perhaps he (or the owner's) had been betting to shorten him up. Probably an important new owner for the stable. Ryan tends to get his early season FTO wins in a batch in mid-April and the earliest debuts more likely to be OR55-72 types and need development debuts. A good question is whether this win was a one-off or some change in 2011. Is he going after the £10k races? A good pointer should come tomorrow when he runs another son of Amadeus Wolf (Jimmy The Lollipop) in the Brocklesby. He rarely has Brocklesby runners and his last to take part was Dario Gee Gee (who won FTO in 2004) which fits with his normal model of the 'Hamza' wins coming in mid-April. But, Hamza the best on the day and a ready type that handled softer going well. OR80+ but not convincing here as Listed+. Stonefield Flyer the first 2yo runner for new trainer Keith Dalgleish in his role as (the latest in the long line) salaried trained to Gordon McDowall. Due to be ridden by Fallon but replaced by a 3lbs apprentice (does Fallon get anywhere for the first race?). Fractious in the parade ring and the trainer had to be helped by Jim Goldie to get him onto the course with the jockey getting on late. Had to be led the last part to the stalls late. But, looks a solid physical type and sticking on well in the last 1f in the conditions. More one to believe in as being ok (proper OR70+ and competitive to win an open maiden) than being one to drag the form down. Devlin - Fahey now had 4 debuts and 1 win (by a green filly able to overpower notable inferiors late on). This one looked a suspect favourite on Profile and on the small side. Had the advantaage of running the rail and another Fahey runner needing to be encouraged along at various points in the first half of the race. Unconvincing effort to wander through to a remaote third past dead horses. One to look to oppose STO. Idler - Mark Johnston had a poor 2010 by his standards. Always behind schedule and ending with a low number of runners and his worst wins total since 1996. You presume he wants to fix that in 2011 and he has already entered 3 x 2yos. All have been Owner breds for Hamdan Bin Mohammed (i.e, Sh Moh's son (bin) Hamdan) by the sire Exceed And Excel who does well getting sprint 2yos. But, early debuts for the trainer rarely win and a solid place here would have been the norm. He looked believable as a good OR80+ sprinter and powerful although long bodied and with a long, forward held, neck. Lost ground at the start from the widest stall but responded well to get to 3rd after 1f. Typical fade and rolling about for a Johnston debut on soft ground later in the race. But, should be ok and develop well but perhaps not the full 5f type. Profile Star - David Barron a trainer whose record with 2yos has declined in the last 5 years but has put together a couple of solid seasons 2009-10. His earliest debuts each year recently have tended to be winners and often show up well FTO. This one did well to attend the leader but then faded notably later on having still been 2nd into the last 1f. Another on the small side and not appealing as the better end of early runners but the type he will get a win with but perhaps not quite the OR70 level. Art Dzeko - Tim Easterby has a moderate record overall given how 2yo oriented his stable is. His early batch of 5f debuts each year tend to be mostly lower quality with the odd minor winner in. But, each year he starts a good one in the early batch although they often flop horribly FTO. In 2010 the good one was Mappin Time who ran well on debut but Art Dzeko's effort more typical. He often runs the good one in the Brocklesby and they often get thrashed (Hamish McGonagall managed 8th of 16th for e.g.) before taking a break and coming back stronger. Given the price and the owner's AZ appealed as the good one this year and the poor run not a problem in that context. Bigger and more powerful than the winner and should develop well. One question would be why was he not in the Brocklesy where the trainer has no rep? The owners do have a runner with the, more expensive, Our Boy Jack for Fahey. You would presume he might be the better one (although the £10k Bonus races muddy the waters). That one ought to be the better end of the Fahey debuts on profile (although his picture shows a compact ready type who might not have longer term prospects). Pontius Pilate - why was he here at all? Trainer Smart is very notable for front-loading his best early 2yos and getting batches of FTO wins - but, normally from early March. Early debuts like this are uncommon and a mix of types but mostly competitive 2yos in the OR76-84 range. The main exception being Group 2 winner Helvellyn who won FTO in early April. PPilate does not have a 5f pedigree which might mean he is very good if could show up well over 5f and develop further over 6-7f. The early debut perhaps suggests that. But, green on the way to the start and having to be niggled along to go forward. Another who had to be lead the last half furlong to the stalls and perhaps the wind had got them rattling loudly. Very green in the race and not wanting to go forward and adrift from early and the best part of 20L off the leader at halfway. Jockey tried the odd tap with the whip then sat up for the last 1.5f but found himself getting onto the back of the pack as the tired ones folded back. Just a medium size and typical of the sire in lacking size and some scope. Owner Tinkler started a duffish, and expensive one, in mid-April for trainer Dods last year and you wonder whose idea it was to get PP to run here. Has he really been showing anything to make this worthwhile. Trainer does get blossomers off lost debuts STO but tricky to assess what quality this one is. |