Two Year Olds to Follow
Only rabbits proliferate more than horses to follow guides to the flat these days. No bad thing of course on the basis that the more information we have the merrier we will be. There are not so many that concentrate on the latest crop of 2 year olds however and so to help fill that void I have compiled a list of 50 juveniles that I hope will provide readers with some interest and hopefully a winner or two.
I have not concentrated particularly on early season types and I hope that at least some of the horses go on to have successful careers beyond their first season. In coming up with the list I have looked at pedigrees, concentrated on certain trainers and thrown in a generous dollop of personal opinion (and just a pinch of guesswork.) Anyway, here are my “50 to follow.”
I make no excuses for starting with half a dozen juveniles trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Not a man to have too many 5 furlong early winners but in the longer term there is no better trainer to follow. One of the most exciting 2 year olds on this list is Baryna, by Pivotal, and the first foal of the multiple Group 1 winning filly Russian Rhythm, who was outstanding in a generation that contained the likes of Soviet Song and Six Perfections. Like Russian Rhythm, Echelon runs in the red and white of Cheveley Park Stud. Although not quite in the class of the 2003 1,000 Guineas winner, Echelon is a classy filly in her own right and a winner of 9 races, including a Group 1. Her half sister Expressive, is by first season sire Falbrav and very much one to look out for.
Spanish Sun had a short but successful career for the Stoute team. She only ran 3 times, but won the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Spanish Sun’s brother, Spanish Moon, has already won twice, including a listed race this season. All this bodes well for the aptly named Cordoba, a daughter of Spanish Sun. Maraahel has been a great servant to connections and of his 8 career wins all bar one have been at Group 2 or 3 level. Maraahel’s half brother, Almuktahem, is another with Sir Michael Stoute. Remarkably 3 of Maraahel’s wins have come in the Huxley Stakes at Chester (he almost made it 4 in a row this season.) My next two selections also have connections with the Roodeye.
Arabian Gulf has only raced 3 times to date, but ran Soldier of Fortune to a short head in the Chester Vase last season. His half sister Dream Win, by Oasis Dream, looks of interest.
Danehurst won 10 times in all, the last of these being a listed race at Chester where she was returned at evens. That does not tell the whole story though as 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. Her second foal, a filly called Pole Position by Pivotal and is the last of my selections from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard, for the moment anyway.
My next 4 are all from Roger Charlton’s stable, starting with what I hope will be one of my bankers. Ffestiniog won in listed company as a 2 year old but it is as a brood mare that she has really excelled as her first 6 offspring have all been winners. They include Eisteddfod, still going strong at the age of 7, Brecon Beacon, Tredegar and Harlech Castle. The latest is a colt called Border Patrol, let’s hope that he maintains the family tradition. You may remember Tante Rose, a filly that won the Sprint Cup at Haydock, just edging out Somnus. Her first, and sadly only foal is a filly called Rose Diamond, again with Roger Charlton. Speciosa’s win in the 1,000 Guineas was a triumph for the underdog as she came from a stable more used to getting winners in novice hurdles around the gaffs. Her half brother, Classically is by the sire, Indian Haven, himself a surprise classic winner from an unfashionable stable when taking the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2003. I followed a horse called Mutajarred last season with some success as he won 3 times and has to date never been out of the first 4. His half sister, Little Conker who is my next selection from Roger Charlton’ string.
One of the success stories of the 2004 season was the performance of sprinter Pivotal Point taking the Stewards Cup en route to the Diadem Stakes. Sylvester Kirk now trains this one’s half brother, called True Decision. Simianna was down the field in several of the races won by Pivotal Point that season. 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. Her first foal, Jan Mayen, a filly by Halling, is with Mark Johnston.
Baltic King beat Pivotal Point by a neck in 2003 at Ascot and was a smart sprinter, especially on quick ground, and he won the Wokingham in 2006. His sister, La Belle Dane will be trained this season by Jeremy Noseda. Greensward a colt with Brian Meehan is from a family I have followed for years. The dam, Frizzante won the Group 1 July Cup and is a half sister to Zidane and Firenze. The latter pair were both out of a mare called Juliet Bravo, named after an old TV series about a woman police office.
Countess Zara trained by Andrew Balding comes from a particularly strong sprinting family. Her dam, Lochridge, won 5 times including in listed company and this is her first foal. The second dam Lochsong was a champion Sprinter winning 15 times including 3 at Group 1 level.
Sticking with the sprinters, Hughie Morrison is one of the trainers I like to follow and of course has had considerable success with Sakhee’s Secret recently. He has the half sister called Some Sunny Day so it will be interesting to see how this one progresses.
One of the good things about sprinters is that they tend to have lengthy careers. A case in point is Continent who won twice last season at the age of 10. A real hold up horse his finest hour came in 2002 when he won the July Cup (Danehurst was 3rd). His half brother Euston Square, another by Oasis Dream, is with John Gosden. Caribbean Coral is another grand old sprinter still going at the age of 9 with a liking for Epsom and Chester. His half brother, Trip Switch is with Willie Muir.
Dandy Nicholls is undoubtedly the sprint king and one of his most consistent performers in recent times has been Tax Free, winner of the Palace House Stakes among other decent prizes. His half brother Green Beret is in training with John Gosden. Monsieur Bond, a tough, consistent sprinter is a first season sire. One of his first crop, Sharav, a half brother to Bygone Days, a smart Group 3 winner for Godolphin and will be trained by Eve Johnson Houghton. Impressible (E Alston) like many in this list this filly is by Oasis Dream a winner of 3 Group 1 races at sprint distances. She is a half sister to Reverence, a high class sprinter who won the Nunthorpe and also to Quiet Elegance, a winner last season as a juvenile and this season at 22/1!
I am old enough to have watched Mick Channon at The Dell and his achievement to reach the top in two entirely different sporting fields is a remarkable one. He held classic hopes for his filly Queen’s Logic a few years back but, after she had won 4 Group races but injury cut short her career. Queen’s Logic, herself a half sister to Dylan Thomas, has already produced one winning 2 year old, and hopefully will have another in Dunes Queen (M Channon). Sweet Lily won 4 times for Mick Channon as a juvenile. Her half brother, Eddie Boy is with Michael Bell and is apparently well thought of by connections.
Footstepsinthesand was an emphatic winner of the 2,000 Guineas in 2005 and was unbeaten in his short career. His full sister Pelinnore is with Ed Vaughan, who has 30 odd horses under his care at Newmarket. Dubawi was a disappointing favourite behind Footstepsinthesand but bounced back to win the Irish Guineas. He is by the ill fated wonder horse Dubai Millenium, who only enjoyed one year at stud before his death. Godolphin have a half sister to Dubawi named Suba.
In his first season at stud One Cool Cat covered 156 mares! He was effective at 5 to 7 furlongs and is likely to get some speedy individuals. William Haggas has an interesting filly by One Cool Cat, called Adoring. She is a half sister to Galeota who won the Mill Reef Stakes as a 2 year old, and has gone on to taste listed success at age 3 and 5.
I am looking forward to following the fortunes of Paisley, a filly with Luca Cumani and very much a long term prospect. You may remember the dam Pongee that won the Lancashire Oaks and was a half sister to Pukka who was 9th in North Light’s Derby and won both on the flat and over hurdles.
I once backed a horse called L’Affaire Monique to land a Chepstow maiden at 11/2. She is related to Short Skirt and her third foal, a colt called Bourne is with Luca Cumani and I will be following this one with interest. I have a good memory for my winning bets, there aren’t that many of them! A few years ago I was on a horse called Smirk when he won a Goodwood handicap at 12/1. Smirk went on to win in listed company and is out of a mare that has produced several winners. Smirk’s half sister Cartoon is with Michael Jarvis, so could not be in better hands.
Le Vie Dei Colori ran up 12 wins in Italy and France, including the Italian 2,000 Guineas, before joining Luca Cumani in 2005. His best run was his last when beating Sleeping Indian in a Group 2 at Newmarket. Sleeping Indian was trained by John Gosden and Gosden now has a half brother to Le Vie Dei Colori called Seminole, by Indian Ridge. Sleeping Indian himself is by Indian Ridge and won 6 races for Gosden including a Group 2 at Newmarket and the Group 3 Hungerford Stakes. Gosden has this one’s half sister called Pleasant Cape. Staying with John Gosden I am including a couple more of his juveniles in this list, Stage Performance, a full sister to English Ballet, and Take the Hint, a Montjeu filly closely related to Group 3 winner Stronghold.
Autumn Glory has his place in the record books as the first winner on a Group race in Britain on the all weather. He got the better of Court Masterpiece at Lingfield in 2005 over a mile. His half brother Unwavering is as the name suggests by 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse to Bend. He is with Henry Cecil and is certainly one to watch out for.
Dr Faustus is a winner already this season for Sir Michael Stoute. Godolphin train this one’s half sister though, a Cape Cross filly called Manaaqeb. I am including 3 more on my list that are related to horses that have won this season as 3 year olds. Apple Charlotte, with Henry Cecil, a half sister to Arthur’s Girl, Monitor Closely, a half brother to Stone of Scone by Oasis Dream with Peter Chapple-Hyam and Labisca, a half sister to Free Handicap winner Stimulation, by High Chaparral, with Hughie Morrison.
There was no more spectacular winner in 2002 than Just James who came from being tailed off 2 furlongs out at Newmarket to swoop to victory with a quite remarkable turn of foot. He actually won 2 of his 6 starts that season, including the Group 3 Jersey Stakes with both wins at odds of 20/1. Backing 20/1 winners is certainly a Lovely Thought and that is the name of Just James’ half sister trained by William Haggas.
I remember a horse called Sabbeeh absolutely bolting up in a Ripon maiden a few years back. As a 4 year old he was 2nd in a Group 2 at Goodwood. His half brother Green Agenda is trained by Mark Johnston. Penny Cross was a typical Mark Johnston 3 year old, tough and consistent she won 3 times and was placed on a number of occasions. Her first foal Quinsman is with John Hills and there are already promising reports about him. John Hills is an underrated trainer. He has an inexpensive purchase called Miss Mojito that is related to several winners. The dam is a half sister to Far Lane that won the Group 3 Darley Stakes a few years ago.
Another I have high hopes for is Alexander Loyalty a full sister to Bahama Mama who was a very speedy 2 year old, a listed winner and runner up in the Flying Childers. Like her sister, Alexander Loyalty is with Jeremy Noseda. Another that looks a good bet to win races is Cecily, trained by Sir Mark Prescott. Her half sister Violette won 4 times as a juvenile including a Group 3 at Ayr.
Julie Camacho does well with the ammunition at her disposal. Rio Riva has been a consistent sort for her running well in some big handicaps. She now trains his half sister Southern Scarlet. Another northern trainer that I like to follow is Alan Swinbank. He has a two year old by High Chaparral, called Olympian Dancer that I will include on my list, partly because the sire was a favourite of mine.
I remember watching Aiden O’Brien’s Gypsy King get up on the line to land the Dee Stakes under Kieren Fallon. He went on to finish 5th in the Epsom Derby but sadly suffered a fatal injury in his next race. Marcus Tregoning has the full brother to Gypsy King called Uncle Keef.
Amanda Perret’s front runner Tungsten Strike has landed some decent prizes, including the Henry ll Stakes. Brian Meehan trains the half sister Arabian Mirage, yet another by Oasis Dream. Furmigadelagiusta won twice on the flat for Luca Cumani before moving to Karl Burke who sent him out to win over hurdles. He has also presented quite a test for the race commentators! His half brother, Fenoman is by Pivotal and is with Luca Cumani.
I was keen to include horses by some of the more likely first season sires, and we have already had a few such as Refuse to Bend and Falbrav. I wanted at least one by the top class Australian sprinter Exceed and Excel and I have decided on Hellbender who is with Sylvester Kirk. The dam is a half sister to Feet So Fast who was pretty smart over 6 furlongs and was a winner at the Shergar Cup meeting when ridden by Mick Kinane. Exceed and Excel has already sired winners in Australia.
Acclamation was a favourite sprinter of mine. He won 6 times in his career including the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot at the nice price of 9/1. He has actually done well at stud but it is his half brother Hunting Horn that I am putting up as the 50th and final selection on my list. I am finishing where I started as Hunting Horn is trained by Sir Michael Stoute.
Reflecting on Acclamation’s career, his trainer Gerald 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. He’s so placid, eats well and was so easy to train.” Let’s hope that the same can be said of my “50.”
All photos by kind permission of Ann Duffield Racing
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