PADDOCK PICKS
Andrew Balding’s youngster kicks off Andrew Ayres’ latest selection of future winners
Andrew Ayres with his latest list of future winners
KEMPTON AUGUST 22 (STANDARD-SLOW) 1m two-year-old novice (Class 5) Average race
GREAT SHOT SAM (Andrew Balding) is a big, masculine looking daughter of the Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford.She was notably green and edgy in the prelims but travelled strongly after a sluggish start and finished clear second best behind an odds-on winner. She’s got the scope to improve and will surely win a race or two on AW surfaces.
GOODWOOD AUGUST 25( GOOD) 1m two-year-old maiden (Class 4) Fair form
BOWDITCH (John Gosden) was big, raw and noisy in the prelims and definitely needed the outing mentally and physically. Bearing that in mind, he shaped creditably in fifth and is capable of much better. Keep him in mind for an ordinary maiden/novice event this autumn.
GOODWOOD AUGUST 27 (GOOD, GOOD-FIRM IN PLACES) 1m two-year-old novice (Class 5) Race that lacked depth
AFFLUENCE (Martin Smith) showed ability on his debut at Leicester and did so again here,finishing fourth despite racing with the choke out until the home turn. This good-bodied colt has the scope to improve and looks fairly treated from a mark of 65.He should pick up a low grade nursery before the season’s end.
EPSOM AUGUST 28 (GOOD) 1m2f handicap (Class 3) Impressive winner
HIGH END (Saeed bin Suroor) coped well with the prelims for an inexperienced three-year-old – it was a sweltering bank holiday afternoon with a big, raucous crowd – and ran out an impressive winner despite looking ill at ease on the camber in the home straight. He’s a big-bodied, handsome gelding and still well treated off his revised mark of 97.
SANDOWN SEPTEMBER 1 (GOOD-SOFT) 7f two-year-old maiden (Class 5) Race that will produce winners
HISTORYWRITER (David Menuisier) was by no means wound-up for this debut and looked to have little chance of figuring after missing the break. However, he worked his way into contention on the outside of the pack before staying on steadily into third behind a couple of race-sharp rivals. This was a promising debut from a well entered colt (in the Royal Lodge and Dewhurst) and he will win races.
EMARAATY (John Gosden) cost an eyewatering 2,600,000gns and hails from a family packed with Group winners.He’s a typically deep-girthed son of Dubawi (although a darker bay than most by the sire) and looked as if he would tightenup for the outing. A poor draw in stall 15 presented obvious problems for Jim Crowley, who opted to take back and sit last through the early stages. He then seemed intent on teaching the colt how to race, switching inside then back out before slicing through the pack to finish an eye-catching fourth. Emaraaty was the best horse in this field by some margin and must be followed closely.
7f two-year-old maiden (Class 5) Average race
GRAFFITI MASTER (John Gosden) looked slightly in need of the outing, but went some way toward justifying a 575,000gns price tag by running on from the rear to finish fourth. The form of this race has been devalued since, but Graffiti Master will strip sharper for outing and should be hard to beat next time.
SANDOWN SEPTEMBER 2( GOOD) 7f two-year-old Group 3 (Class 1) Smart winner
MASAR (Charlie Appleby) was given a break after finishing third at Royal Ascot and looked a bigger, stronger colt here. Hooded but relaxed in the prelims, he could be named the winner for the whole of the straight and scored cosily after hitting the front before the furlong pole.He’ll stay 1m2f – possibly further – and is a class act.
PURSER (John Gosden) looked a tad weak in comparison to some of his rivals but was caught in a pocket as the race began in earnest and finished a luckless fourth. He looked useful when making a winning debut at Newbury and deserves another chance.
1m2f handicap (Class 2) Impressive winner
THUNDERING BLUE (David Menuisier) is thriving physically and absolutely bolted-up here, quickening from last to first under an ultra-confident Jim Crowley. He’s clearly some way ahead of the handicapper and would be very interesting if making the cut in the Cambridgeshire (Newmarket, September 30). Stay with this progressive grey.
GOODWOOD SEPTEMBER 5 (SOFT) 1m2f maiden (Class 5) Ordinary form
PSYCHOTIC (David Menuisier) caught the eye on his debut at Salisbury and looked in great shape again here. He attracted plenty of support but lost all chance when Didier Gengoul (top jockey in Guadeloupe but increasingly looking out of his depth in this country) attempted to drive him through a rapidly closing gap on the rail. There’s no doubt this handsome gelding has ability and he should win a modest event.
KEMPTON SEPTEMBER 6 (STANDARD TO SLOW) 1m maiden (Class 5) Run-of-the-mill event
CALM CHARM (Chris Wall) hails from a family that has served this yard well (halfsister to three winners including the smart Mix And Mingle) and took the eye in the paddock, being a masculine filly with bags of scope. Too green to be put into the race properly, she kept on steadily to finish in mid-division, leaving the strong impression there’s much more to come. She will be placed to win races this autumn/winter.
SALISBURY SEPTEMBER 7 (GOOD-SOFT) 1m two-year-old novice (Class 4) Useful form
PIPPIN (Hughie Morrison) is a good-looking, medium-sized chestnut who was notably green on this debut. He fell out of the gates and looked clueless through the early stages before making steady headway to finish mid-division. This was a promising debut – the Morrison yard seldom has a winning newcomer – and Classic entered Pippin will win a race or two.
1m4f handicap (Class 4) Impressive winner
OPINIONATE (Amanda Perrett) looked a smart prospect when winning on the AW as a juvenile and finally began to fulfil that promise with an impressive success here. He’s a class act physically and can surely pick-up a valuable prize this autumn,with connections reportedly eyeing Newmarket’s Old Rowley Handicap on October 13 as a likely target.
ASCOT SEPTEMBER 8( SOFT) 7f two-year-old maiden (Class 3) Race that will produce winners
HERCULEAN (Roger Charlton) came here with a lofty reputation and was unmissable in the paddock, being a king-sized chestnut with four white socks and a slashing white blaze. He didn’t disappoint in the race, running green before mowing down the opposition for a decisive success. His sister Fair Eva (both are by Frankel) failed to train on as expected,but this imposing colt should improve and is an exciting prospect.
WADILSAFA (Owen Burrows) is another son of Frankel but was a smaller, neater individual than his main rival Herculean. He impressed to post and ran a race full of promise, finishing second under a considerate ride. There was plenty to like about this effort and he should win next time.
KEMPTON SEPTEMBER 8 (STANDARD TO SLOW) 1m two-year-old novice (Class 4) Fair race
DRAGON MOUNTAIN (Hugo Palmer) cost a healthy 120,000gns and is bigger and more robust than most of Sir Percy’s offspring. The pick of the paddock despite looking a tad burly,he attracted support at fancy prices and shaped with plenty of
promise in third behind the easy winner Roaring Lion.This was a decent debut and Dragon Mountain could develop into a useful handicapper.
7f two-year-old novice (Class 4) Useful contest
MORLOCK (Charlie Appleby) had a touch of class in the paddock and justified strong support with a cosy half-length winning debut. He travelled smoothly, quickened when asked and already looks to have a professional attitude to the job. Group races beckon and he could be smart.
FENNAAN (John Gosden) is a goodlooking colt who was soon on the backfoot after a sluggish start.He made eye-catching progress into fifth at the line and is much better than the bare result indicates. Expect much more from him next time.
7f two-year-old novice (Class 4) Fair form
GLENDEVON (Richard Hughes) is a tall, slightly gawky looking individual who was slightly edgy in the prelims. Green and keen once underway, he travelled well for a long way and lost nothing in defeat behind the highly rated Symbolization. He needs to relax in order to fulfil his promise, but this scopey chestnut clearly has ability.
BOBBY BISCUIT (Simon Dow) looked in need of the run on this debut but shaped with plenty of promise in fourth. He showed a likeable attitude under pressure, will strip sharper for the run and should be placed to advantage on the AW this winter by his underrated trainer.
KEMPTON SEPTEMBER 9 (STANDARD-TO-SLOW) 1m handicap (Class 2) Poor race for the money
PRESUMIDO (Simon Dow) is a big,strong gelding and looked in good order for this valuable prize. He wasn’t quite able to figure – none of his eight wins have been gained above Class 4 company – but shaped well just behind the placed horses. He’s eligible for 0-80s again after this and career win number nine is just around the corner.
7f handicap (Class 4) Competitive race
MARYLEBONE (Ed Walker) has always been a good-looker and was certainly ready-to-roll after a four month break. He confirmed that impression with a solid effort in third, shaping as if he might be more effective over further. This lightly raced gelding is well handicapped and should score soon.
FINELCITY (Harry Dunlop) looked backward on his belated reappearance in August and still looked slightly in need of the outing here. With that in mind, he shaped well in fourth after forcing the pace and is running himself back into form. He’s still feasibly treated and can win again.
LEICESTER SEPTEMBER 12 (GOOD, GOOD-SOFT IN PLACES) 7f two-year-old fillies novice (Class 4) Fair form
VERVE (Hugo Palmer) was a size bigger than her market rival Beautiful Memory and was heavily backed near the off. She looked set to justify that support at the furlong pole,but ran out of steam close home and was just outgunned by fellow newcomer Orsera.This was a pleasing debut
and Verve should prove the pick of these in time.
1m two-year-old novice Reasonable race
SETTING SAIL (Charlie Appleby) is a big, rangy, relaxed colt who looked green to post and through most of the race.He was only beaten by lack of match practice here and looks the sort who will develop into a useful middle-distance performer. Keep an eye on him.
STARCASTER (Hughie Morrison) hails from a smart middle-distance family (dam was second in the Oaks/Irish Oaks) but looked backward and in need of the run here. With that in mind, he ran a cracker in third having momentarily looked dangerous halfway up the straight. There are definitely races in this late-maturing colt.
KEMPTON SEPTEMBER 13 1m4f three-year-old handicap (Class 5) Fair race for the grade
JUST IN TIME (Alan King) still looks a tad unfurnished but has really started to find his feet and showed a bright turn-of-foot to win this readily. He’s a better horse than this grade and has the scope and natural ability to hold his own at a higher level. It will be interesting to see if his trainer sends him hurdling this autumn or sticks to the Flat, either way he will win again.
EPSOM SEPTEMBER 14 (GOOD) 1m4f handicap (Class 4) Fair form
C’EST NO MOUR (Peter Hedger) is thriving physically and looked in tremendous shape.He travelled best, cruised into contention and won readily despite idling when he hit the front. Connections are eyeing a return to this track for the Apprentices ’Derby on October 1 – he has already won the Amateur and Jump Jockey equivalents – and this rapidly improving bay will be hard to beat there.
SANDOWN SEPTEMBER 15( GOOD) 5f two-year-old maiden (Class 5) Run-of-the-mill contest
BY ROYAL APPROVAL (Michael Appleby) is an attractive, rangy colt who had shown little on his two previous starts.He left that form behind here, running on strongly into fourth under a tame ride from the claimer Gabriele Malune. This unexposed bay is open to plenty of improvement and can surely win a sprint nursery this autumn.
1m two-year-old novice (Class 5) Above average contest
CROSSED BATON (John Gosden) was late into the paddock – as are too many from this yard – but there was still enough time to see he was by far the best looking juvenile on show here. He attracted an avalanche of support near the off and won cosily despite having to switch round the leaders to launch a challenge.He’s a smart prospect and well worth his place in a Listed/Group race this autumn.
STEPHENSONS ROCKET (Ed Walker) looked backward mentally and didn’t help his cause by running freely for much of the race.He was still able to keep on strongly for fourth.
HOUSE EDGE (Michael Bell) looked the part but wasn’t as fit of some of his rivals and was never really able to threaten. He caught the eye running on steadily for fifth though and will be a different proposition next time.
DIOCLETIAN (Andrew Balding) didn’t look wound-up for this debut and was ridden conservatively throughout.He was noted travelling strongly behind a wall of horses for much of the straight and shaped much better than his finishing position (ninth) suggests.
1m handicap (Class 3) Front two pulled clear
SHARJA BRIDGE (Roger Varian) arrived here after just three starts in maidens and looked raw compared to his rivals. He raced close to the pace throughout, hit the front before the furlong pole and was only nailed close home by the more experienced The Grape Escape. This was a fine handicap debut from Sharja Bridge and he could be a Group horse in the making.