Review of the flat 2002
The successes
My “horse of the year” was probably Macaw. Trained by Jim Goldie last season, Macaw is only a small colt but he won handicaps at York, Newmarket and Goodwood. Better still he won at odds of 20/1, 7/1 & 4/1, from only 9 starts. He has now been sold to race in America where he was 4th in his first race at Belmont.
There were plenty of other multiple winners. Affaire D’Amour won 4 of his 7 starts including once at 12/1. Another Mark Prescott horse to win 4 was Chivalry, all wins coming on minor tracks and the best SP being 5/2.
Generally, Prescott is worth following. Another 3 year old, Froglet, won 3 of his 6 starts, including one at 4/1. He didn’t quite manage to emulate his mother who won 5 on the bounce in the July of 1996.
By far the classiest horse to win 4 times was Islington. She was only 8th in the Oaks but was most impressive in her next 2 runs winning both the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and the Yorkshire Oaks. She also ran with credit in the Arc finishing 5th. Staying with the classic contenders, Mark Johnston’s Bandari ran away with the Lingfield Derby trial. He also won the Great Voltigeur at York beating Highest, but disappointed in the Derby, and finished 3rd to Bollin Eric in the St Leger. Bandari seems an edgy, nervy sort but genuine enough. Another Johnston colt, Simeon, also did well for me. He won a minor event at Ripon, a Haydock handicap and a classic trial at Sandown. He also ran a good third to Sulamani in the Prix Du Jockey Club but disappointed a bit after that and was sold out of Johnston’s yard.
Sprinter Bandanna gave me 4 wins and all at nice prices, 13/2, 3/1, 5/1 and 8/1. This is a tough mare that is effective at 5 or 6 furlongs. Three of the wins came at Bath. Another sprinter that gave me a decent profit was the progressive Feet So Fast. Trained by Willie Musson, this gelding won valuable handicaps at Lingfield and Newmarket before going on to win a 10 runner conditions event at Ascot. He was bought out of Musson’s yard, possibly to run abroad.
Two of John Dunlop’s horses, Persian Lightning and King Eider won 3 apiece. Persian Lightning progressed steadily and his wins included handicaps at Leicester and Haydock. He is probably best between 10-12F. Unfortunately I was not on King Eider when he won at 14/1. He was a fairly useful handicapper who stays 2miles.
Staying with the handicappers, Mary Reveley’s My Line won 3 from 9 starts, 2 of his wins coming at Carlisle and the best price being 11/2. Alec Stewart’s useful performer Selective also paid his way with 3 wins, one of these at 9/1.
Two of the more successful 2 year olds that I followed were Bakewell Tart and Steelaninch. Both won 4 times. The latter proved a useful performer whose wins included nurseries at Ascot and Newmarket. He has since been sold for 100,000 gns. Bakewell Tart’s wins included a nursery on the AW at Wolverhampton when ridden by claimer Hayley Turner and a listed race in Milan! The best winning price for both of these juveniles was 13/2.
Naahy, a Mike Channon 2 year old won 3 times but I missed the best of these (5/1). I managed to catch all 3 wins for another successful juvenile, Airwave. This one looks a very smart sprinter in the making with his best win coming in the Cheveley Park at Newmarket when he beat the highly rated Russian Rhythm.
Desert Deer won 3 of his 6 starts. He beat Common World into second place at Newbury and also won a listed race at Newmarket running on in tenacious fashion.
Of course things don’t always go according to plan. I put Derwent on my list at the start of the season. He turned out to be a very useful type winning 3 including once at 10/1. He was however he was never given much of a chance by the “experts” and I never backed him.
And the failures
I will not dwell on these for obvious reasons. What you don’t want on your list to follow is a horse that runs up a sequence of losses. A good (or bad) example was Harbour House. This 3 year old of Mick Channon’s failed to win in 9 starts before I finally gave up on him. What-A-Dancer also proved frustrating. Although Alan Swinbank’s 5 year old ran some good races, notably when a head second in a rated stakes at Newbury, he did not register a single win in 11 starts.
Keeping the faith
Despite these examples there are times to “keep the faith.” Mid way through the season I “axed”, La Paz, Macadamia, Red To Violet and Spectroscope. La Paz promptly won a Kempton maiden at 7/1. Worse was to follow, Red To Violet won twice at 9/2 and 6/1 and Spectroscope, who had shown very little up to that point won at 5/2 and 4/1 with both wins coming at Goodwood. Spectroscope has since performed well in novice hurdles. Macadamia did even better than these with a 9/1 win. Perhaps the best example of not sticking to my guns was when 2 year old Landescent won on his 8th start at 25/1 (after I had relegated him).
Sprinters
Sprint handicappers often come in at good prices (at least that is one of my theories). I have already mentioned Bandanna. Idle Power won at 9/1 on his 11th start (I did keep faith with this one), while CD Flyer came in at 10/1. This was Mick Channon’s handicappers first win for 3 years so I promptly ditched him on the basis that I had had my win out of him. Another 10/1 winner was Cashmere, a lightly raced progressive sort, while Peter Makin’s Canterloupe won a Windsor handicap in August at 16/1.
I had high hopes of Mr Mahoose and Torosay Spring but neither of these really paid off. Mr Mahoose seems a bit of a quirky sort and difficult to win with although he did oblige in a handicap at Yarmouth in July at 5/2, but this was from 6 starts. His best effort was when an unlucky second of 23 in an Ascot handicap. Torosay Spring won a minor event at 7/4 but failed to get her head in front in two subsequent starts.
Dandy Nicholls dominated the sprinting game last season but I did not have much luck with his horses. I had the classy Continent on my list for most of the season and finally gave up on him just before he won the July Cup at 12/1. His other win was in the Prix L’Abbaye at Longchamp and my system only covers horses running in the UK. He was also 2nd in the Nunthorpe but is hard to catch on the right day as he is often slowly away and needs to come late. I also put two other Nicholl’s trained sprinters on the list. Veteran Further Outlook failed to register a win and although Flak Jacket won twice, I missed him on the most profitable of these (12/1).
The lister that I really missed out on though was Jimmy Noseda’a Just James who won 2 of his 6 starts, both at 20/1. I wasn’t on either time. The first of these came in a competitive 20-runner handicap at Newmarket in astonishing circumstances. Just James was last and detached with a couple of furlongs to go but burst through to win by three parts of a length.
Vita Spericolata was a good example of the ups and downs you get following the sprinters. She made all to beat Smokin’ Beau a neck at Chester (11/1) but that was the only win from 12 starts.
The most bizarre set of results came from Peruvian Chief. He won at 12/1 on his 18th outing. The bare facts don’t tell the whole story however. He was 2nd at Newmarket at 33/1, beaten a short head. He was also beaten ¼ length when 14/1, 1 ¼ lengths at 9/1 and was third to Needwood Blade beaten 1 length again at 9/1.
A couple of successful sprinters that I did not cash in on as much as I would have liked were Needwood Blade and Smokin’ Beau. Needwood Blade won 3 from 9 including odds of 7/1 and 9/1. He is a smart performer who won a rated stakes at York and a listed event at Newmarket. Smokin’ Beau is only small but he is tough, genuine and consistent and won 4 of his 11 starts including one at 10/1. His wins included a listed race at Goodwood and a rated stakes at Newbury. I didn’t have my money on for all of these though!
Other handicappers
It has occurred to me that it might be an idea to put more handicappers on my list to follow, as if you pick the right ones they do tend to win at decent prices. For example Beauchamp Pilot won 3 of his 8 starts including odds of 9/1 and 4/1. He won the Cambridgeshire and was in the frame in the Royal Hunt Cup and the John Smith’s Cup at York. He was also 3rd in a listed race at Newmarket to another favourite of mine, Smirk. Smirk was 7/1 that day and he also won a Goodwood handicap at 12/1.
Both these are really genuine sorts. One that showed some signs of temperament was Common World. He paid his way for me however winning a couple of handicaps, one at 7/1. He was also placed in listed company at Ascot.
Champion Lodge proved an ideal lister winning 2 out of 9 at odds of 9/1 and 12/1 and proving the value to be had following the smaller stables. His wins came in large fields at York (where he overcame a bad draw) and Newmarket. The Judge, trained by Paul Cole was one of my first runners. He was strongly fancied for the Lincoln but ran disappointingly; perhaps the ground was against him. He then took a decent 21 runner handicap at Newbury before making no show in his remaining 2 starts. His win was at 12/1, again showing how the right handicapper can show a handsome profit.
One that I never seemed to catch on a winning day was Judge Davidson who won 2 out of 7, one of them at 11/2. I even managed to miss my old friend Tees Components. I put him on the list mid season thinking he might win the Cesarawitch. He failed to justify heavy support there but promptly romped home in a B handicap at Newmarket at 4/1 when I wasn’t on him. Such is life!
Marlo was a model list horse. He won 1 of his 6 starts coming home by a short head at Yarmouth at 14/1. You can’t say fairer than that.
A few personal favourites
I was thankful for Junkanoo who gave me my first winner of the season. Mary Reveley’s gelding won an 18 runner event at Nottingham at 3/1 and didn’t run again.
Prins Willem gave me a nice 10/1 winner. James Fanshawe’s 3 year old progressed into a fairly useful handicapper and actually won twice. He is owned by a Dutchman and runs in the orange colours of the Dutch national football team.
You wont find the name of Florentine Flutter up there with the likes of Rock of Gibraltar but he did a good job early in the season for me winning a Haydock maiden at 8/1. He was pulled up on his next outing and after another poor run was sold for just 7,500gns.
Although Dune didn’t actually pay his way he was a model of consistency. He won a 0-70 Classified Stakes at Thirsk and despite going up steeply in the weights won a valuable 18 runner handicap at Haydock. He was in the frame in all his other 7 starts. Dune was trained by Roger Charlton as was Blagovest who proved a profitable choice. He won 2 of his 4 runs, one of them at 5/1. His best run was when winning a 12 runner handicap at Newmarket.
Loveleaves was another to make me a nice profit. On the list as a result of a promising run on her only start as a 2 year old she won 1 of her 3 starts last season at 11/2. Miss Corniche was also a profitable maiden 3 year old coming in at 9/1 in a listed event at Yarmouth. At least she would have been profitable had I managed to place the bet on that particular day! Can’t blame the horse though – she did her bit.
2 year olds
I kicked off the season with an A list of 50 2 year olds. I have already mentioned Bakewell Tart, Steelaninch, Naafy and Landescent elsewhere. I had plenty of other successes from this batch. Profit wise Cap Ferrat did a good job winning one of his 2 starts at 5/1. Revenue and Rimrod both had good seasons. Although Revenue only registered 1 win, this was at 14/1 in a minor event at Royal Ascot, just the job. He ran well all season finishing in the frame in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, the Gimcrack, Flying Childers and the Cornwallis at Ascot. Rimrod also showed a profit with 2 wins from 5 including a listed race at Goodwood.
Tizzy May was a fairly typical “early” type from the Hannon stable who gave me 2 wins. Irresistible also won twice but at cramped odds. He was also 2nd to another “lister” Airwave in a listed race at Ayr.
Sharplaw Venture and Oblige were two of my best 2 year old selections. The former won 2 out of 4 at odds of 12/1 and 4/1, the former coming in a 25 runner field at Ascot. Oblige did just that at odds of 5/2 and 17/2, the latter coming in a Haydock nursery.
As the season progressed I added further juveniles, usually prior to their first outing. I was particularly pleased with Saturn who progressed to win twice in 4 starts at 3/1 and 11/2. At the same time I added Gerard Butler’s Commission to the A list and he won a minor event at Sandown (7/2) before coming 5th in a Group 3 at the same course. Derby entrant Shuhood did even better yet winning his sole start at 5/1. Audience was another that went straight on the A list and won twice, the first at 6/1.
Another successful A list 2 year old was Geoff Wragg’s filly Ego. She won 2 of her 4 starts, both at 2/1.
The juveniles added to the list mid season did pretty well on the whole. For example Muqbil of John Dunlop’s won impressively first time out at 4/1.
There were numerous other first time out wins but sadly few were backed. Adekshan (3/1) won at Yarmouth, ridden by Fergal Lynch for M Stoute, Henry Cecil’s Apex Star won both his starts. Barzak, trained by Roy Bowring won his only start at 11/1. Bowring reckons this is the best horse he has ever trained. Indian Haven was another from a small stable that won first time out (9/4).
Camlet, a half sister to Gossamer won on her debut at odds of 10/1. Due Respect, trained by Richard Hannon won on the last of his 3 starts at 13/2.
Midas Way won the second of his two starts at 10/1. Roger Charlton’s colt looks likely to improve further. Another Roger Charlton horse, Quartet won on his debut at 10/1 but was a bit disappointing in his next run behind Saturn at Newbury. I added Roger Charlton’s Famous Grouse to the list after an eyecatching 2nd on his debut and he won his 2 remaining starts, both at Nottingham. Other Roger Charlton winners were Rocket Ship (4/6 only run) and Trade Fair (1/2).
There were plenty of good reports about John Gosden’s Wondrous Story and the filly duly won at the second attempt in a maiden at Salisbury at 7/1.
I added Tim Easteby’s Go Tech to the list after he had caught the eye in his first 2 runs, and he went on to register 2 wins at 5/1 and 3/1 as well as finishing 2nd twice in nurseries.
Following trainers
In the main for my system I concentrate on the horse rather than the trainer. However I did have a bit of a plan to include in my lists 3 year olds trained by Mark Prescott and both John and Ed Dunlop.
I have already mentioned Chivalry, Affaire D’Amour and Froglet from Mark Prescott’s yard. Unleash, now running over hurdles with Philip Hobbs won twice and Plateau paid his way by winning 1 of his 3 starts at 4/1. Another Prescott 3 year old, Blue Mantle, won 2 out of 4 including a 6/1 win but was subsequently sold to race in Ireland.
Albanova was probably the best of these Prescott horses, winning her first 3 starts including a listed race at Chepstow. I also included Parachute who appeared well handicapped. He didn’t run on the turf but I see that he has run up a hat trick on the all weather since Christmas.
Overall I had less success with the Dunlop horses. Ajeel won a handicap at Yarmouth and then ran a respectable 2nd to Macaw at Newmarket. King Eider and Persian Lightning have been mentioned already. Contact Dancer and Old California both did well. The former won twice at 5/1 and 11/4 and ran a solid race in heavy ground at Doncaster in November when second to Knavesmire Omen. Old California won his first 2 races including a 4 runner B handicap at Haydock but was subsequently a bit high in the weights and has gone to Martin Pipe for whom he has already won over hurdles.
Dawn’s Sharp Shot just had one run as a juvenile and won a Sandown maiden first time out at three at 8/1. She subsequently showed nothing in a couple of runs in handicaps.
Unraced 3 year olds
These are probably not a great idea for this type of system. They tend to be “talked up” and start at cramped odds. Rosa Parks is a good example. This filly was a leading fancy for the 1,000 gns but although she ran well enough in good company her only win from 7 starts came in a maiden at 4/5.
There were a few successes, notably Oval Office of Henry Cecil’s who won both his starts accounting for Dryden House first time at Goodwood and following up at Sandown. Funfair was an easy winner of a maiden at Carlisle and was then a gutsy winner of a valuable handicap at York at 15/2. Suleiman won a maiden on his debut and was second in his other 2 runs including a very creditable effort at Longchamps. Of the rest Bustan won his first 2 starts, the second at Newmarket when beating Al Moulatham at odds of 11/2.
Grecian Glory won at odds on on her debut but did not show a profit overall. However, Alrayihah won on her second outing at 11/4 at Goodwood despite not being suited by the sharp track. She did not race again.
Lastly, Richard Hannon’s Hero’s Journey won 2 of his 4 starts, the second coming in a listed race at Kempton.
A touch of class
It’s always nice to back the winner of a big race and my horses to follow did manage a few. They won 2 classics but I wasn’t on either of them.
I was still pleased to see Bollin Eric win the St Leger for Tim Easterby from 2 other “listers” Highest and Bandari. Gossamer won the Irish 1,000gns but of course I was only betting on UK races. Asian Heights won 2 of his 3 runs in the UK at odds of 6/4 & 5/4 so paid his way for me, while High Pitched won a listed race at Newbury at 4/1.
Mick Channon’s Queens Logic may well have gone on to great things had her career not been cut short by illness and injury. She had just the won run last season winning at 1/3.
Coshocton and Jelani ran well in the Epsom Derby with Hawk Wing 2nd. Sadly Coshocton who had earlier won a listed race at Newbury at 9/1 broke a leg and had to be destroyed during the race but Jelani was 4th. Jelani later won a 3 runner listed race at Haydock at 4/1 but unfortunately my selection that day was Bollin Eric.
Hawk Wing showed a significant loss to level stakes as his only win was in the Eclipse when 8/15 favourite.
Naheef, trained by Bin Suroor, a flop in the previous season’s 2000 gns, won the Group 3 Winter Hill stakes at Windsor (6/4) but did not show a profit for the system, neither did Nayef, who won 1 of his 3 starts at odds of 6/4. Nayef, trained by Marcus Tregoning, won the Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) beating Golan by ½ length.
Tholjanah ran in the Derby but hopes that he might land a classic didn’t materialise. He did however win a listed race at Newmarket at 3/1 in his last run of the season.
Other Group race winners were King of Happiness (Craven Stakes) and Fight Your Corner (Chester Vase) while Brian Meehan’s colt Kaieteur won a Group 1 event in Munich.
The Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York saw the first 5 places go to “list” horses, all 5 separated by less than a length. For the record the 5 in finishing order were, Bandari, Highest, Bollin Eric, Bustan and Systematic.
Highest, who has been mentioned in passing several times did win twice and was runner up in his 4 other starts.
Geoff Wragg’s filly Monturani won 2 listed races at 11/8 and 15/8 from 3 runs so showed a nice little profit.
Some odds and ends
I will end with a few random comments about horses that warrant a mention but do not fit neatly into any of the earlier categories.
Gerard Butler’s Playapart was talked of as a classic contender and duly won his first run of the new season at 6/1 but he didn’t really progress after that.
Jimmy Fitzgerald’s Raison Garde only won 1 of his 7 starts but that came first time out at Pontefract at 16/1. I wasn’t on it though.
I had hopes for Dryden House, Prince Hector and Native Title. Dryden House won 2 of her 7 starts before being sold to race in France. Her wins came at 5/2 and 7/2. I kept thinking that Native Title was being lined up for a big gamble but in the end he only won once in 10 starts and that at 9/2. Prince Hector was likewise a bit disappointing in his first 2 runs but Amanda Perrett’s 3 year old did win a class C handicap on his third outing at 7/4.
I have mentioned Roger Charlton a fair number of times in this report and his 3-year-old Tikkun proved a useful addition to my list. He overcame a serious foot injury to win first time out at Doncaster at the rewarding price of 15/2. He spoiled his chance by running a bit too freely in his 2 subsequent runs. L’Affaire Monique also showed a nice profit, running twice in the UK and winning the first of these, a Chepstow fillies maiden, at 11/2.
Fragrant View was runner up to Islington in a maiden and beat Highest in a similar event at Chester but did not show a profit overall and neither did Heir To Be who won once in 5 starts in an 18 runner handicap in heavy ground at Nottingham at 3/1.
Meshaheer was on the “list” from the start and broke even winning once out of 6 starts at 5/1. He won a 7f listed race at Newbury with another one of “my horses” Suggestive a length away in third. Earlier Meshaheer had finished 3rd to Just James in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes.
Ghannam ran with a great deal of consistency including 3 seconds but his only win was at evens so he was not ideal from a system viewpoint. His win came in a maiden at Thirsk , he then overcame a bad draw to run Macaw to a length and was a respectable 4th of 10 in the Hungerford Stakes.
Another very consistent, but not very profitable horse was Sociable who finally won on his 9th and final outing of the season at 11/2 in a maiden at Sandown after finishing 2nd 4 times.
One frustrating aspect of the season was losing out on winners of races abroad. The likes of Gossamer has already been highlighted. The grey Double Honour only recorded an odds on win in the UK but won a listed race in Hamburg by 16 lengths. I was pleased to see Double Honour go on to do well over hurdles.
Other winners abroad were Love Regardless who won twice in Germany, Music Club who won a listed race at Longchamp and Wareed who won a Group race, also at Longchamp.
But to finish on a bright note one horse that fully justified my confidence in him was Greenslades. His trainer Peter Makin had a wretched time with his stable suffering a virus. His Canterloupe gave me a 16/1 winner and Greenslades won 2 of his 3 starts with the last coming at 8/1 in a Class B 6 furlong handicap at Ascot, again showing that sprint handicappers can come in at decent prices.
ahorse 