Review of the 2003 flat season
Introduction
A review of the previous season has become a regular "Russellform" feature and I have tried to expand it a bit this time round. When looking back at the 2003 flat season I have taken a particularly personal view. The horses mentioned are those that I backed or tipped, sometimes successfully, sometimes less so. Most will have appeared on my list to follow for the season. I hope you will read and enjoy.
Alba Stella proved a fairly useful performer for Sir Mark Prescott winning handicaps at Folkestone and Newcastle. She was below form in listed races on her last 2 starts.
The horse that came 3rd to Airwave in the Temple Stakes back in May, Acclamation, proved a much more profitable horse to follow than the filly. He was arguably a little unlucky when 2nd of 20 (at 16/1) to Choisir in the King's Stand Group 2 at Ascot but had to wait until the beginning of August before registering his first win of the campaign when dead heating with Chookie Heaton at Doncaster. To be honest Gerald Cottrell's sprinter made heavy weather of this and at 4/6 (and that shared) was hardly a profitable winner. Much better was to come though. After running third behind Oasis Dream over 5 furlongs in the Nunthorpe at York he won twice back over 6 furlongs, first in a listed race at Goodwood (10/11) and then in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot at the nice price of 9/1. Like Airwave and Somnus, Acclamation finished the season in the Prix De L'Abbaye where he ran with credit to finish 4th of of 19.
Acclamation has now been retired to stud. Reflecting on his career, Cottrell said: “We were hoping he could run for another year and it’s going to be sad losing him, we won’t have another one as good as him."
“I wish he had had a clear run in the King’s Stand. He was slowly away and was flying at the finish and should have won. He’s so placid, eats well and was so easy to train.”
The flying filly Airwave produced one of the most remarkable finishes of the season to take the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Sandown. She gave the rest a 7 lengths start and still cut them down with contemptuous ease. Jockey Dane O'Neill even had time to take a breather when he drew level with the leader before asking the filly to quicken again. 5/2 was a generous price for the day and Henry Candy's speedster looked set to win further sprint honours. Sadly things never quite dropped right after that stunning display at Sandown. She was beaten into 2nd by the ultra tough Aussie raider Choisir in a Group 1 at Ascot and then 3rd behind Oasis Dream and Choisir in the July Cup. She ran creditably enough after a training setback to come 3rd to Somnus and Oasis Dream at Haydock before failing to get a clear run in either The Diadem or the Prix De L'Abbaye.
Akshar won 3 handicaps at Goodwood (7/2) , Epsom (5/2) and York (6/4). At Goodwood he was chased home by Macadamia and at York just held off the challenge of the fast finishing Howle Hill who has won for us recently over hurdles. His best run was probably in a Group 3 race at York when 3rd to the very smart Godolphin horse Naheef. His only disappointing run was in the Cambridgeshire when he ran much too freely and faded out of contention.
Ed Dunlop's Anani only won once in 5 starts in the UK, and that at cramped odds. He fared rather better on his travels though, winning a listed event in France and finishing 2nd of 10 in a Group 3 race at Frankfurt.
Anticipating trained by young Andrew Balding won his maiden at Beverley at 7/2 and a "D" class Salisbury handicap at 6/1. He was also a creditable 4th to No Refuge in the Tote Gold Trophy at Goodwood.
Arakan proved a smart performer winning twice from 7 starts, a Warwick maiden (4/6) and a handicap at York beating another from our list, Bigalothegigalo (5/4). Arakan proved much better than handicap class when running 2nd in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and was then a very unlucky loser when 2nd to Nayyir with Tante Rose 3rd in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. He was badly hampered at the distance and had to be switched and just failed to get up. He ran well on his final start of the season when again a bit squeezed for room in the Group 2 Victor Chandler Stakes at Newmarket behind Just James and Nayyir.
Arcalis from the Ramsden stable proved a most successful list choice running consistently well in middle distance handicaps. He gained 3 wins and 3 placed efforts from 10 starts with the wins coming at odds of 4/1, 4/1 and 3/1. He was also a very good short head 2nd of 18 to Tug of Love in a steadily run event at Doncaster.
Asian Heights won the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes before being sidelined again with an injury. He has suffered from injuries throughout his career and that has restricted him to just 8 runs. He has won 5 of these though. Although he has an awkward head carriage he seems genuine and is usually held up for a late run.
A Very Good Year trained by Terry Mills is a big strong colt with plenty of scope. He won at 13/8 and 7/1, on the second occasion beating Texas Gold and Currency in a 17 runner handicap at Kempton. He was then 2nd of 13 to Mazepa in a handicap at Ascot when running on late after failing to get a clear run.
Hughie Morrison's talented Baltic King suffered in this respect more than once but still proved a profitable horse to follow with 2 wins from 9 outings at odds of 6/1 and 4/1. The wins came in handicaps at Leicester and Ascot and this progressive 3 year old also finished 2nd twice and ran 3rd in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster.
Banjo Bay had failed to notch a single win from his 8 starts when I followed him during 2002. He ran 7 times in 2003 and only once finished in the first 10 (he even unshipped his rider in one race.) However his only first 10 finish was a winning one at Goodwood at odds of 20/1.
I included both Beauchamp Ribbon and Beauchamp Rose on the list to follow. The name is derived from the village where the owner lives, Compton Beauchamp. Sadly Beauchamp Rose suffered a fatal accident but Beauchamp Ribbon ran up a hat trick of wins in mid season. Things looked far from promising at one point when the filly's first 5 runs ended in defeat and she showed signs that she may have an unreliable temperament. However first time blinkers did the trick when she won her sixth outing in a class G seller at 4/1. Two further victories followed at 4/6 and 4/1 before her form dipped again with 4 defeats. As I "bailed out" before the last of these Beauchamp Ribbon made me a small profit for the season.
Big Bad Bob won once in England when odds on but his other two successes came abroad in a listed race at Deauville and a Group 3 at Baden Baden.
Bollin Eric , a big strong sort, won the St Leger last season but the resultant Group 1 penalty this entailed proved a bit of a millstone in Group 2 and 3 company this time round. He did manage to shoulder his penalty to win the Group 3 Lonsdale Stakes at York which was a fine effort. There were other good performances from Tim Easterby's four year old, notably a third in the Hardwicke Stakes (Group 3) at Ascot. He has now been retired to stud.
Bollin Janet is a 3 year old filly trained by Tim Easterby. She only won once from 7 starts but that was at 11/1 in a "C" handicap at Haydock paying her way with something to spare.
Brian Boru won the St Leger under Jamie Spencer. He had disappointed in both the Epsom and Irish Derbys but improved to finish 2nd in the Great Voltigeur at York before going on to his classic victory.
Byron proved a good choice winning 2 out of 4. The first win was when odds on in a decent Newmarket maiden but his best performance was in his final run when winning the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury at the very nice price of 9/1. The two defeats both came in Group 2 company.
Celtic Mill notched up a couple of wins for us in handicaps at Pontefract and Hamilton at odds of 8/1 and 3/1. He did appear to start the season well handicapped after a winter all weather campaign that saw him win 3 times at Wolverhampton. He also ran 2nd to Quito in a Newcastle handicap and won at odds on after I had removed him from the list to follow.
Sir Mark Prescott put in a remarkable training performance to prepare Chivalry to win the Cambridgeshire on his seasonal debut. I had kept Chivalry on the list for a second season after he had won 4 times for me in 2002. In the Cambridgeshire it was generally thought that the firm ground would be against him and he was allowed to start at 14/1. Given a marvellous ride by the evergreen George Duffield he just held on to win by the shortest of short heads. He has since been sold and started his hurdling career with a win.
I was rather chuffed with myself in 2002 as I followed Mick Channon's CD Flyer until he won at 10/1 and then dropped him on the basis that he wasn't very likely to go in again. Like so many of these old sprinters he would have made a profit for me again this year as he won twice from 10 starts in handicaps at Haydock and Goodwood at odds of 6/1 and 14/1 respectively. He was apprentice ridden on both occasions.
Coat of Honour proved a useful handicapper winning at Pontefract and Brighton. He improved further when a neck 2nd of 10 at Haydock on his latest start and looks the sort to continue to progress and win more races.
Colisay was 4th in the Lincoln and ran another blinder next time out in a competitive Sandown handicap to finish runner up., especially as he was poorly drawn and had to come around the outside. He deserved to win a decent prize and did so next time out, again in a Sandown handicap at 6/4. He also ran much better than the bare form suggests when 10th of 32 in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot from an unfavourable draw.
Collier Hill is an old friend and certainly did not let us down. He won his first 2 starts of the season, handicaps at Hamilton and Haydock, both at 8/1. The Haydock win was in the Old Newton Cup where another tough, genuine performer, Waverley was 2nd. Of his remaining 4 runs by far the best was when 3rd to a couple of other list representatives, Haranpour and No Refuge, again at Hamilton.
I omitted Danehurst at the start of the season but reintroduced her just in time to win her only remaining race in the UK. This was at Chester in September when she produced an extraordinary effort to win a 6f Listed contest.
After forfeiting ground with a poor start, the five-year-old mare still looked hopelessly placed many lengths behind the leaders as the field turned for home. She then had to be switched at least twice to get a run and still had five lengths to make up on Golden Nun passing the furlong marker.
To her enormous credit she then responded to her jockey’s strong riding to produce a late burst which got her up to win a couple of strides before the post. Those who managed to get the 21’1 offered in running on Betfair about the even-money chance deserved every penny.
Amanda Perrett's Dawn Invasion had been a real money spinner in 2002 with a 50% strike rate and some fat starting prices. He only ran 3 times in 2003 but won the 3rd start at 16/1 when he found his form with a vengeance without much help from the handicapper. This was a fine win under top weight in a class B handicap at Newmarket.
Definite Guest is a 5 year old grey gelding trained by Richard Fahey. He scored twice from 11 starts picking up handicaps at York and Newbury.
John Gosden's 5 year old Demonstrate only ran twice in the UK and won a 6 furlong listed race at Windsor at 2/1 in May.
Desert Opal is a sturdy colt won 3 out of 7 at odds of 11/8, 7/4 and 11/4. The latter runs were in handicaps over a mile at Newbury and Haydock. He is clearly suited by some juice in the ground and was described by Steve Drowne, who rode him at Haydock, as "a nice sort of horse waiting to happen."
Echoes in Eternity got off to a pretty inauspicious start showing precious little in three defeats. She then found her form to win a listed race at Yarmouth (11/1) and followed this with a game win in the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket (9/1) holding off the determined challenge of Macadamia.
Far Lane had come 2nd to Beauchamp Pilot in the Cambridgeshire the season before and hopes were high that he could go on from there. He did just that winning a valuable 20 runner handicap at York and then winning twice at Newmarket in October, the first a Group 3 and the second a listed race where he did well to shoulder his Group 3 penalty and still beat Bustan. The winning odds were 7/1, 9/2 and 6/1.
I followed Fearby Cross for a while at the back end of 2002 much to the detriment of my wallet. With the excellent benefit of hindsight though, he was a winner waiting to happen in 2003. His 3 career handicap wins had come off marks of 70, 73 and 75. The last of these (off 73) was in September 2001 but up until the end of last season he was still on 72. The handicapper relented this season though and had dropped him down to 62 and with a claimer taking off a further 3 lbs we should have all been on him at 8/1 in an apprentice handicap at Newmarket. In fact a 3 lbs penalty wasn't enough to stop the 7 year old winning again at HQ under an excellent ride from Lisa Jones, this time at 6/1
Fire Up The Band ran consistently well but rather found himself in the uncertain zone between handicaps and listed events. He won twice and was placed 4 times from 7 starts. The wins came in handicaps at Ascot and Newmarket at odds of 3/1 and 4/1 respectively. There were other fine efforts in defeat, notably when 2nd three times, to the progressive Patavellian in the Stewards Cup, Ian Balding's Dubaian Gift in a listed race at Doncaster and finally behind Quito in the Ayr Gold Cup.
Frizzante had a fine season with 4 wins from 6 starts. He promptly romped home at Leicester first time out at 16/1 when no tipsters went for her. I was on next time when she carried 10 stone to victory at Doncaster at 6/4. A couple of unlucky defeats followed. First she finished strongly to take 4th from a poor draw in the Stewards Cup and then again when well backed in the Ayr Gold Cup she was again given little chance by the draw. I was rewarded further with 2 wins at Newmarket at 10/11 and 11/10.
I also made a small profit from a Sir Michael Stoute handicapper Funfair. This gelding won his first race of the season in a handicap at York at "Burlington Bertie". He failed to win in his remaining 3 starts but was second in a big field handicap Sandown.
Not all my selections from Sir Michael's yard paid off but another Stoute horse that did buck the trend and show a profit for me and that was Gamut with 2 UK wins from 4 runs. The wins came at Newbury and Windsor at odds of 6/4 and 5/4. His best run though was when runner up to Vinnie Roe in the Irish St Leger. This was an excellent effort with Gamut beaten by a length. Another of the A list horses Bollin Eric put in a high class run to finish 4th. Sadly Gamut was not able to give Pat Eddery a winning farewell on the last day of the flat.
Another horse to make a decent profit was a Luca Cumani 3 year old called Giuliani. This one won on her handicap debut at Windsor at 7/1 in the mud. She failed to justify favouritism when 2nd under Kieran Fallon on her second run and was unplaced when tried in a visor on her only other start. She is likely to go over hurdles having been snapped up by a national hunt stable at the Newmarket sales.
Generally I did OK with the sprint handicappers. Greenslades was one sprinter to make a profit for me. Rather like his stable companion Pomfret Lad, Greenslades did little in most of his runs but popped up at a good price for his only win. He won 1 of his 4 starts and that at 6/1 in a handicap at Windsor.
Hallion has had his injury problems suffering from a split pastern and as a result probably started the season on an attractive mark. He is probably hard to keep fit and only ran 4 times but would have paid his way when having to dig deep to make all under Willie Ryan in the Thirsk Hunt Cup at 16/1. His other notable effort was a 3rd behind Polar Bear and Nashaab at Ayr.
Hasanpour is a tall, useful-looking colt who won a maiden and a handicap, both at Hamilton. An unexposed and progressive sort trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he won his handicap beating No Refuge by a neck in an 11 runner field making virtually all at odds of 11/4. I understand he has since been purchased by J.P. McManus for 150,000 gns and will be one to look out for when running over hurdles.
Hathrah was hardly profitable winning once from 4 starts at that at 4/9 favourite. Her win was in a maiden but she also ran well in good company when runner up in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster and in a listed event at Newbury. She is, I feel, open to further improvement.
One lister worth a mention here is the ill fated Hawk Flyer. Sir Michael Stoute's 3 year old picked up a couple of wins before finishing a creditable 3rd in a rather rough Group 3 at Goodwood. It was in the Great Voltigeur at York where Hawk Flyer really showed his potential running a fine race coming from behind, keeping on strongly for third and pulling well clear of the rest. Though he seemed to hit a ‘flat spot' and took time to get going, it is worth bearing in mind that he only made his debut in June, whereas the two who beat him (Brian Boru was 2nd) were both Group 1 performers as two-year-olds. On the strength of this run Hawk Flyer was tipped as a potential St Leger winner but sadly it was not to be as he was fatally injured in an accident at home.
Indian Haven was a horse I followed as a 2 year old and I was pleased to see him follow up a win in the Free Handicap at Newmarket with a surprise victory in the Irish 2,000 gns at The Curragh. This was a triumph for his trainer, the unsung Paul D'Arcy and jockey John Egan.
Inglis Drever was a winner for my list to follow in 2002 and was also beaten in a couple of photo finishes but he did even better in 2003 winning 3 from 5. The 3rd win was in a 1 mile 7 furlongs handicap at Newmarket. This was something of a consolation prize after the horse had missed the cut in the Ebor where he was a strong ante post fancy.
Islington gets a mention here and there in this review. Apart from the Breeders Cup her other win was in the Yorkshire Oaks when she beat John Gosden's Ocean Silk by a length. Sir Michael Stoute's excellent filly finished 3rd twice in top company. Once behind Nayef over an inadequate trip in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot and then behind High Chapparal in the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. This latter run was a cracking effort where Kieren Fallon was inclined to blame himself for not making his challenge earlier
Tim Easterby's Jeepstar (sound like a T Rex single) got off to a most unpromising start but ended up with 2 wins and a number of placed efforts from his 10 starts. The wins came in handicaps at Ripon and Musselburgh at odds of 11/2 and 9/2. He seems game enough although he has given some trouble in the preliminaries.
There was no more spectacular winner in 2002 than Just James who came from being tailed off 2 furlongs out to swoop to victory with a quite remarkable turn of foot. He actually won 2 of his 6 starts, including the Group 3 Jersey Stakes with both wins at odds of 20/1. You leave a horse like this out at your peril and Just James certainly made me pay for omitting him this time round. He won the last of his 5 starts, again showing a late turn of foot to win a Group 2 race and account for 3 current “listers” into the bargain, Nayyir, Arakan and Trade Fair.
Kalaman won 2 of his 5 starts but at odds of evens and 10/11 the latter in listed company at Kempton in May. There is little doubt that he was an unlucky loser when 2nd in the St James Palace Stakes (Group 1) at Royal Ascot. After an inexplicably poor run at York he was given an overconfident ride by Christophe Soumillon in a Group 3 race at Newmarket. This was a 4 runner race that turned into a tactical battle.
Richard Hannon's Kings Point won twice from 5 starts. There was plenty to like about his first couple of placed efforts and he confirmed that promise with consecutive wins at Goodwood and Newmarket at 8/15 and 6/1. The latter win was in a Group 3 race. In his final start he disappointed in a Group 2 race at Goodwood were he may not have been suited to the ease in the ground.
Lateen Sales was talked up as a classic contender pre season but finished last in the 2,000 guineas. He bounced back from that with a pillar to post win in a 4 runner listed race at York (7/4). He also won a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte over 9 furlongs in very soft ground.
Lingo, trained by Lynda Ramsden looked a likely type to follow having paid his way in 2002 with 3 wins. He duly won a couple of handicaps in April at odds of 3/1 and 2/1, the latter a class B event at Epsom under Kieren Fallon. Lingo has moved to Jonjo O,Neill who has high hopes of him as a hurdler.
A horse who nearly gave me one of my biggest wins of the season was Local Poet. He had been featured in "Steve Taplin's" excellent "2 year olds" book and on his first couple of outings finished 6th and 2nd. He was unconsidered for the 23 runner 2 year old Trophy at Redcar, starting at 25/1. On the day I was switching between TV channels as there was racing on both sides and I switched across to the Redcar race just in time to see Local Poet burst clear of the field and go several lengths clear. Alas, it was not to be as the ultra tough Peak to Creek cut him down getting up close home to win by a head.
Lochridge did his young trainer Andrew Balding proud. She had much to live up to, her dam having won 15 times including thr Prix De L'Abbaye (twice) and the Stewards Cup. Lochridge is certainly on the right lines to emulate her illustrious mother's achievements and won 2 handicaps and a listed race, the latter at Pontefract where Simianna was 4th. She also ran a lifetime best when 3rd to Acclamation in a Group 2 at Ascot.
I always keep an eye on list horses from previous seasons and several have performed well. For example Macadamia beat 31 rivals to win the Royal Hunt Cup
A 2 year old to show a profit was Mick Channon's Mahmoom with form figures of 211. Both wins were at 4/6. Mahmoom is held in high regard by Mick Channon and looks the type to make a 3 year old.
A late profit maker was Malvern Light who won on her 2nd outing at 6/4 in the last week of the season. She is a half sister to winners in Italy and Turkey. Her win came in a 16 runner maiden at Nottingham impressively by 5 lengths. She looks a useful prospect for next season.
We get older and we start to realise that there are certain ambitions that will not be fulfilled. I was beginning to think that backing a 66/1 winner was up there with keeping goal for England and playing Hamlet at the Globe. That was until I walked into William Hill's near Euston Station to find that Marakabei had prevailed in the 1.45 at Yarmouth. Rae Guest's mare was given a peach of a ride by Jamie Mackay and obviously relished the soft ground in this listed race. This was actually her second win of the season, the first coming at 12/1 (after I had, in my infinite wisdom, taken an early price of 10s). She will obviously be hard pressed back in handicaps now and it would come as no surprise to see her retired to the paddocks.
Midas Way, trained by Roger Charlton, managed one win from 6 starts but that at 16/1 in a Salisbury handicap in June when Anticipating was 2nd.
Morson Boy was a typically genuine Johnston gelding who won 3 of his 4 starts, all on Yorkshire tracks at odds of 100/30, 5/6 and 7/2. This Lear Fan colt is a likeable sort and likely to develop into a smart stayer.
Mr Dinos won the Ascot Gold Cup in fine style for Paul Cole . His was a triumphal procession up the straight after stalking Persian Punch, and looked value for more than the bare margin, coasting the final 100 yards and leaving the impression that another circuit would have been enjoyed. His Ascot win came at 3/1 after he had earlier won the Group 2 Henry ll Stakes at Sandown at 6/1.
Another to make a profit was Marcus Tregoning's Mustajed. This colt had been described as a "sure fire 2 year old winner" by his trainer and he didn't disappoint, winning on his only start in a Newbury maiden at 15/8. He looks sure to improve and win more races.
Of the 2002 listers that I did not retain for 2003 Naahy probably had the best season winning 3 times from 9 turf starts. The best of these was probably a B handicap at Goodwood in May where Desert Opal was 4th. He was also just beaten a short head in a listed race at Epsom Andrew Balding's Rimrod. All in all Naahy proved a very useful and game performer for his trainer Mick Channon.
Nayyir showed a decent profit winning one of his three Uk Starts at 6/1 in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes. He had suffered a severe form of colitis at the end of 2002.
Nevisian Lad also showed a profit as his won 2 out of 5 at 5/6 and 4/1.
Staying with the sprinters, Native Title was probably one of the most "unpickable" winners of the season. I had him my list last season when he was trained by Michael Blanshard and I always thought he was about to land a big win but he never really delivered. In all he ran 10 times in 2002 and won but once, at 9/2! Hardly a profitable horse to follow and I duly left him out of calculations this time around. He changed stables in 2003 and went to the sprint maestro, Dandy Nicholls. After a "siter" he promptly won the Ayr Silver Cup at odds of 66/1 ridden by Joanna Badger. Not for the first time Nicholls had revitalised an apparent failure.
Needwood Blade was a successful "lister" in 2002 and hit a rich vein of form again in 2003 picking up successive wins at Newmarket.
Firstly he won the listed Abernant stakes over 6 furlongs and showed his versatility by then winning over the minimum trip in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes. Seb Sanders took the ride both times.
No Refuge, another Sir Mark Prescott 3 year old opened his account in the Swedish National Day handicap at Wolverhampton. His second win was at Lingfield despite a 13lbs hike in the weights. This was the race where Beauchamp Rose suffered a fatal injury. A determined victory in a class E handicap at Hamilton provided win number 3 and despite rising rapidly through the ratings, like many from his stable over the years, he remained progressive after coming into his own over middle distances and landed a valuable handicap at Goodwood over 12 furlongs. He next headed for the Swedish Derby with its pot of money, finishing 3rd behind a horse called Organiser that started at the interesting price of 695/10. He rounded off the season with a 2nd at Hamilton where he was unable to reel in the gutsy winner Hasanpour, another from the list to follow, who prevailed by a neck. No Refuge finished the season with form figures of 13112132 with the best winning price being 7/1 at Goodwood.
Another profitable big race winner was leading sprinter Oasis Dream, a winner of 2 of his 4 UK starts at 9/1 and 4/9. Both were in Group 1 races, the July Cup and the Nunthorpe. The latter was a scintillating performance travelling strongly in front and needing to be merely nudged along to go clear from The Tatling. He has now been retired to stud.
Ocean Silk only ran 4 times in the UK winning twice at 15/8 and 6/1. The second of these was in a listed race at Goodwood but she also ran creditably in defeat when 2nd to Islington in the Yorkshire Oaks, 2nd again in the Ribblesdale and when 3rd in a Group 2 at Longchamps.
It all got off to a flying start when Oldenway, the first bet of the season won at 2/1. This consistent handicapper is trained by Richard Fahey.
Oopsie Daisy falls into the "profitable" category with a 9/1 win her only success from 7 starts. This came in "D" handicap at Newmarket and was the only time she finished in the first 3.
Own Line failed to win in his first 6 runs and I decided tom axe him from the list to follow. He promptly won next time at Catterick at 6/1 – Oh well!
The list got off to a great start when Pablo came with a sweeping run to take the Lincoln Handicap at 5/1 with another list horse Colisay in 4th. Pablo was disappointing in his three subsequent starts, two of them in listed company.
The consistent filly Penny Cross ran 10 times, winning 3 and being placed in the other 7. The wins came at Beverley twice and Carlisle at 4/1, 7/4 and 1/2.
I put Persian Majesty on the list on the strength of a win in her only start as a juvenile. She only ran once last season as well winning a listed race at Ascot at odds of 8/1. An ideal horse for this system.
Polar Bear, trained by Willie Haggas had had 3 runs prior to the start of the new season and looked to be on a lenient mark. He proved this with 2 impressive wins. The first came in a 3 year old handicap at Newmarket over 7 furlongs at 100/30. He followed up at Ayr over a mile when ridden by Tony Culhane at 2/1. Nashaab and Hallion filled the minor places that day.
Pomfret Lad showed very little in 4 runs and then popped up at 25/1 making all the running at Newbury in a 7 furlong handicap at Newbury under Darryl Holland. After failing to follow up next time I decided to remove him from the list, especially as Peter Makin's stable were obviously not right.
The progressive filly Pongee was well placed by Luca Cumani to win her first 4 starts. Her best win was probably the last when stepped up in trip to land a class D filly’s handicap at Salisbury. She had a stiff task on her only other outing finishing 7th of 10 in a listed race. She is a game sort that may do better still.
One of my "old boys" was involved in one of the closest finishes of the season. Prins Willem was on the 2002 A list. He is owned by Dutchman Chris Van Hoorn and sports orange silks, the same colours as the Dutch football team. With Kieran Fallon on board for the first time Prins Willem just got up to dead heat with Starry Lodge on the line in the Autumn Cup handicap at Newbury.
David Chapman's Quito won 3 from 22 starts but these wins were at odds of 7/1, 14/1 and 20/1. The final win was in the Ayr Gold Cup when Tony Culhane weaved him through the field to lead in the dying strides to pip Seel of Approval and the Dandy Nicholl's trained Fire Up the Band. The other wins came when beating Smart Predator going away at Thirsk over 7 furlongs and over the same trip when heading the front running Celtic Mill in the final furlong. He did actually record a win at Musselburgh in April but that was before I added him to my list to follow. There were plenty of other creditable runs apart from the wins. Quito just failed to make all at Doncaster in May when caught on the line by Grey Cossack. He was 9/1 that day in a 19 runner field and there were plenty of other occasions where each way support would have paid dividends. Examples were when 3rd of 14 at Haydock at 16/1 and 4th of 22 at Doncaster at a remarkable 50/1.
Refuse To Bend, was a game winner of the 2000 Guineas under a fine Pat Smullen ride. He also won twice at Leopardstown.
Researched was quite a late choice for the list but more than paid his way with 2 wins and 2 seconds from 6 starts. The wins came in a B handicap at York (4/1 favourite) where Far Lane was 2nd and in a valuable race at Goodwood (8/1). The other 2nd was when not getting the best of runs at Newbury in a 6 runner field where Mr Fallon was not at his best!
Reveillez was admirably consistent with 2 wins and 5 placed efforts from 10 runs.
Taking nothing away from Russian Rhythm, who is a top-class filly as she demonstrated when winning the Lowther Stakes at York last August, but the route Thuillez took on Pascal Bary’s filly Six Perfections in the 1000 gns was nothing short of remarkable. Having been bumped with two furlongs to run, Six Perfections was almost last and her rider momentarily appeared to accept the situation. However, once switched to the very wide outside, she made up ground hand over fist and I have no doubts that she would have prevailed comfortably with a clear passage up the stands’ rail had her rider shown some patience.
Russian Rhythm went on to land a Group 1 hat trick, taking the Coronation stakes and The Nassau Stakes. She also ran a game 2nd to the 5 year old colt Falbrav at Ascot.
The key to Sabeeh seems to be the ground. He bolted up at Ripon to win his maiden by 13 lengths but then ran miserably at Royal Ascot. He then quickened clear to win a conditions race at Doncaster but again disappointed on his last run in the Horris Hill at Newbury. Both his defeats came on fast ground and he clearly needs ground on the soft side. His wins came at 13/8 and 9/2.
Mark Johnston's 3 year old, the big grey Shanty Star won 2 of his 3 starts at 5/1 and 7/2. The best win being the latter in the Queens Vase (Group 3) at Ascot. I seem to remember that he may have sustained an injury after that. If he can be kept sound he looks the sort to do well in the top staying races as a 4 year old.
Shield won the Sandown Classic Trial at 4/1. Tragically he then had to be put down after he was found with a fractured pastern after a routine swim, part of the training programme designed to bring him back to full fitness following a disappointing run in the Derby.
One win from 19 attempts hardly seems to qualify Simianna for a special mention on the face of it. The bare statistics do not tell the full story however as she was given few favours by the handicapper but put up a string of fine efforts in defeat. Her only win came at Newmarket at 11/2 but she repaid each way support 5 times at odds of 22/1, 10/1, 16/1, 6/1 and 20/1. She stayed on strongly to take 6th in the Stewards Cup from an unfavourable draw and came with a final furlong flourish to take the same finishing position in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster where Corridor Creeper, Baltic King and Quito occupied the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. Add a close 3rd in the Ayr Silver Cup and you can see that this was not a bad season for this very genuine mare.
While the 2000 Guineas made for excellent viewing for yours truly with Refuse to Bend a winning bet, the fillies equivalent twenty four hours later was exasperating. Admittedly when French jockeys cross the English Channel for our major races they are invariably on a hiding to nothing but the relatively inexperienced Thierry Thuillez even surpassed that with the ride he gave Six Perfections. Rather like the 2000 Guineas last year when Hawk Wing was not only beaten by Rock of Gibraltar but also the draw, a Classic had not been won by the best horse.
I was particularly pleased to see old Smart Predator pick up no fewer than 5 sprints in good style including the historic "greys" only race at Newmarket where I thought he was a "good thing" at 11/4.
Somnus gave me 3 wins at good odds. His first success came in a conditions event at Haydock (6/1) and this was followed up in a listed race at Newbury (5/1). Made favourite in a similar race at Newmarket Tim Easterby's sprinter was unable to get a clear run and although flying at the finish just failed to collar his stablemate Fayr Jag. His best performance though was saved for the Group 1 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup when encountering his favoured rain softened ground he accounted for top class rivals Oasis Dream and Airwave at odds of 12/1. He disappointed slightly when 7th in the Prix De L'Abbaye proving perhaps that 6 furlongs is his trip.
Spanish Sun won her only start in the UK when she triumphed in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot (9/2) beating Ocean Silk.
Stormont was a prime example of how not following the foreign runs can be a problem. The grey failed to win in 6 starts in the UK but landed a Group 2 race at Baden Baden. Stormont seems to
be a rather delicate character and lives in a dust free box and is treated with ice and a herbal diuretic on race mornings.
With a system like this it does not always pay to concentrate solely on the big trainers. I included Striking Ambition from Giles Bravery's yard this year on the strength of some progressive 2 year old form when he won twice. He soon repaid my confidence with a 12/1 win in a listed race at Ascot at the end of April. He followed up in a similar race at Newbury at 11/4. Both races were over 6 furlongs. These wins came from just 4 runs in the UK so I had a handsome profit from this one.
Tante Rose won the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury in April at the tasty price of 6/1. Her best efforts though were a close 3rd to Nayyir in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and a 7th of 11 to Just James at Newmarket when hampered in the final furlong.
Overall we were down on numbers of winners but there were some major individual success stories. The "prize" for the most wins goes to Sir Mark Precott's Tempsford with 5 from 7 starts. Tempsford is a typical Prescott 3 year old with three duck eggs behind him as a juvenile. A winner on his debut at Wolverhampton he went on to win at Lingfield, Catterick, Nottingham and again at Wolverhampton at distances between 12 and 14 furlongs. For a horse with such a high strike rate Tempsford proved remarkably good value with only one of the wins at odds on, and that 10/11.
I added a batch of mainly unraced 2 year olds to the list mid season but they did not do that well, partly because of the fast ground conditions that prevailed during the Autumn. One exception was Michael Bell's Temple Place who cost a lot of money by the standards of his trainer, he is by Sadlers Wells out of a mare who won 7 races and is a half sister to 8 winners. Michael Bell describes this horse as "the jewel in the crown" of his 2 year olds.
He promptly romped home at 20/1 on his second outing breaking the course record at Windsor. 3rd when upped in class at Ascot he should be seen to even better effect as a 3 year old.
Another "old boy" that did well was The Judge a lister from 2002 who also won 3 times including a couple of claimers. After the last of these he was claimed to go hurdling with Lenny Lungo.
The juveniles were largely rather disappointing. Two that showed some class and landed some decent races were Three Valleys and Sabeeh. The former won 3 of his 4 UK starts 4/5, 7/1 and 2/1 and his wins included the Coventry Stakes and the Group 1 Middle Park. That Middle Park win is under something of a cloud because of a failed drugs test. His only defeats came at The Curragh and when 2nd to surprise package Milk It Mick in the Dewhurst. He remains a prospect for the 2,000 next year.
Top Dirham won at Epsom and Beverley for Sir Michael Stoute in 2001 but was out of form in 2002 when I put him on the list. Now trained by Mick Easterby he bolted up at Thirsk in June. Later in the month he added the Persimmon Homes Carlisle Bell to his tally.
Another to gain a profitable win at Salisbury was the John Dunlop trained Top Tenor whose only win came in a class "E" handicap at the Wiltshire track at 12/1. He ran 5 times in all with form figures of 04123.
The most profitable 2 year old was Torcross, trained by Marcus Tregoning. This filly won a maiden at Leicester at 14/1 and was 4th of 12 in a Listed race at Newbury on her only other start where she was certainly not disgraced. Another list horse, Hathrah, was 2nd in this race and in fact only won once from 4 starts and that at odds on. Nonetheless she ran a pleasing race at Newbury and should win races next season.
Trade Fair is a horse I have followed throughout his career so far and I was rewarded with 3 wins from 5 runs (at 5/4, 10/11 and 1/4). Sandwiched in between a couple of listed races was the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket. Trade Fair has turned into something of a 7 furlong specialist but next season may be tried over sprint distances.
Another list horse from 2002 Unleash took time off from a hurdling campaign to take the Northumberland Plate.
The Ed Dunlop trained Urowells was a profitable list choice. After finishing 4th to Henry Cecil'c Tuning Fork at Haydock he won a 13 runner maiden at Newbury in May (7/2). I understand that he has since been gelded and he may progress further next season.
One of the more profitable list horses was Waverley. This 4 year old colt only ran 4 times but picked up the Duke of Edinburgh handicap over 12 furlongs at Royal Ascot at 14/1. On his next outing he was 2nd of 19 to Collier Hill at Haydock. When Waverley won at Ascot he very gamely held off a challenge from Sir Michael Stoute's Researched when it seemed for all the world as if Kieren Fallon's mount was going to sweep past.
Staying with the Fallon theme I should have spotted the significance of his booking on Alan Swinbank's What-A- Dancer. This is a very difficult horse to win with as I found out to my cost in 2002 when he failed to win from 11 starts. The problem is that he needs extreme waiting tactics. Alan Swinbank seldom leaves his money behind when he goes for a touch, and the booking of Kieren Fallon for the talented but slightly tricky What-A-Dancer sent the signals out early that this was the day. In fact it needed all the champion’s tactical skill to keep the six-year-old covered up until the last moment, but then strength in the saddle won the day as he edged ahead of Cloud Dancer and the somewhat less animated Jamie Spencer.
The list horses performed heroics in the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita in October. Six Perfections surely deserved her success in the Group 1 mile race after her bad luck earlier in the season, while the high class Islington just collared another list horse, L'Ancresse to win her race. High Chapparal, who had been 3rd in the Arc dead heated with Johar in the Breeders Cup Turf.
ahorse 