two-year-olds
Ian Heitman finds another crop of exciting juveniles
The resumption of racing at Newcastle on June 1 surprisingly didn’t have a two-year-old race on the 10race programme despite over two months of the season being lost and just over two weeks to the start of Royal Ascot.
While there had been a two-year-old race in Ireland before racing was brought to a halt in March, the first juvenile contest in the UK was held at Kempton on June 2 over 6f.
Archie Watson had an excellent year with his two-year-olds in 2019, winning 74 races and he trained the 7/4 favourite, Science, the mount of reigning champion jockey Oisin Murphy. Only Mark Johnston trained more juvenile winners in 2019 than Archie Watson, 93, and he was represented by well-supported second favourite Army Of India.
The pair dominated the 6f contest with Army Of India given an excellent front-running ride by Joe Fanning holding off the challenge of Science inside the last furlong to win by a short head. Pointless Potter, from the Alan King yard, finished well from the rear to take third.
Newcastle made up for having no two-year-old races on June 1 by having four on June 2, all over 5f. Philip Makin has made a steady start to his training career since retiring from the saddle and had his first winning newcomer courtesy of all-the-way winner Muker in the first division of the maiden, rewarding his supporters at 20/1. He only had a neck in hand at the finish from 3/1 favourite Significantly who ran on well inside the last furlong. Mutazawwed showed some promise to be fifth for Mark Johnston and he should have learnt a lot from this debut run. Significantly was backed as if defeat was out of the question on his second start, a 6f maiden at Doncaster 12 days later, going off the 4/9 favourite in a field of five. He had every chance to win, taking the lead off long-time leader Uncle Jumbo with a furlong to go but edged right under pressure and was headed in the last strides by Uncle Jumbo who won by a short head and provided Kevin Ryan with his first two-year-old winner of 2020.
The second division saw Victory Heights win for James Tate and PJ McDonald by a length from Digital with Lost My Sock finishing well to be third having been chased along at halfway. Isle Of Lismore finished sixth having missed the break and was chased along early on by Hayley Turner, he did well to be beaten only four lengths and ought to get a lot more involved next time he runs. Lost My Sock got very warm before his next start at Pontefract on June 15 when he was again this, this time behind Escape Route, a first two-yearold winner of 2020 for Richard Fahey and Lockdown who had finished behind Muker on debut.
Having finished second in the first maiden at Newcastle, Karl Burke didn’t have to wait too long to get off the mark for the year, winning the first division of the fillies maiden with Dandella, who despite being weak in the market, out from 9/2 to 7/1, took the lead at halfway and comfortably beat Navajo Spring by two lengths. This form received a boost when Bonne Vitesse, who was seventh, put her experience to good use at Pontefract on June 10 beating the 7/4 favourite, Susucaru by a length and a half.
Mark Johnston, successful with
Army Of India at Kempton, had a second two-year-old winner on the day, Pelekai making all the running to win the second division of the fillies maiden. A filly with a good pedigree, Pelekai was never in any danger of getting beaten, half a length in front of Mamba Wamba who kept on well to be second. Tim Easterby and Silvestre De Sousa had teamed up 24 hours earlier with impressive three-year-old winner Art Power and they had the 13/8 favourite, Winter Power who ran a fair race to be third but let the form down when only third next time at Wolverhampton on June 12.
Two-year-old debut winners from the Michael Bell yard are fairly rare, only 19 since 2010. The Lir Jet became the 20th at Yarmouth on June 3, lowering the juvenile track record for 5f by over second with an impressive all the way win. He travelled strongly for Silvestre de Sousa and only had to be pushed out inside the last furlong to win by two- and three-quarter lengths from Steadman who had the pace to go with the winner until a furlong from the finish. The Lir Jet was a first winner for first season sire Prince Of Lir and went on to win the Norfolk Stakes at
Royal Ascot. .
The first meeting at Newmarket was held the following day with six twoyear-old races on the 10-race card. Sacred was easy to back in the opening 5f fillies maiden but won in good style for James Doyle and William Haggas, beating Sardinia Sunset from the Roger Varian yard by a length and three quarters. This race has already produced three next time out winners, two trained by Richard Hannon, Happy Romance, who had finished sixth, won at Sandown on June 13 and Risque, eighth, defied market weakness to win at Lingfield on June 11. The third was the most impressive of the trio, Time Scale trained by Ralph Beckett, who had lost her chance with a slow start behind Sacred, led all the way at Chepstow on June 15, powering clear inside the last furlong to win by six lengths.
The most impressive winner among the six came in the second race, when Eye Of Heaven lowered the two-yearold track record that had stood since 1990. Well supported to make a winning debut for Mark Johnston, in from 11/8 to even money, he was always going strongly on the outside of the field and took the lead from Get It with 100 yards to go and only had to be pushed out by Frankie Dettori to win by three quarters of a length with Tactical running with plenty promise in third. Gussy Mac lost his chance with a slow start but finished well to be sixth. He should do better next time for Roger Teal. Eye Of Heaven was favourite for the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot with Johnston stating beforehand he would be disappointed if they were second, but he could finish only ninth at 7/4..
Having had Tactical run well in race two, Andrew Balding sent out Bright Devil to win the third race, the first division of a 6f maiden. Leading all the way under Oisin Murphy, he beat the 11/10 favourite, Magical Land, the first two-year-old runner of the year for Charlie Appleby, by a length and a quarter with Existent, John Gosden’s first juvenile runner of 2020, running well to be third.
Charlie Appleby only had to wait 35 minutes to get off the mark for 2020 with his two-year-olds, Creative Force making all of the running and holding off Imperial Force from the Balding yard by a length and a quarter with another Gosden newcomer, Saeiqa, from the first crop of the yard’s highclass two-year-old Shalaa, running well to be third. Dark Lion, who was sent off favourite ran on well to be fourth by never managed to challenge, he will certainly progress from this run.
There was a bunch finish to the first division of the 6f fillies maiden with three lengths covering the first seven. Valpolicella, another to race prominently, held on well to beat Give ‘Em The Slip and provided Paul & Oliver Cole with their first winner since they took out a joint training licence. Simon & Ed Crisford have also teamed up to hold a joint licence, and whilst they enjoyed Group 3 success with Century Dream at Newbury on June 13, they are awaiting their first two-year-old success.
On a day where it certainly helped to be up with the pace, the victory of Setarhe in division two of the 6f fillies maiden deserves extra credit as she
was the only winner of the six to come from last position. She missed the break and was allowed plenty of time to get into the race by Andrea Atzeni, finishing well inside the last furlong to lead with 100 yards to go and beat pace-setting Cirrus by three quarters of a length. She was being aimed at the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot by Roger Varian. The form of this race has taken a few knocks with three subsequent runners all beaten on their next starts.
Having been out of luck with his first two runners, Archie Watson won both divisions of a 6f maiden auction at Lingfield on June 5. Mighty Gurkha, winner of the first division, was very well supported in the betting, going off the 8/15 favourite to beat his nine rivals. There were never any doubts for those who had taken the short odds, in front under Hollie Doyle, he was kicked clear turning into the straight and ran on well to win by seven and a half lengths, this widest winning margin of the season so far, from Hot Scoop who didn’t do much for the form on his next start at Wolverhampton on June 12, only sixth behind another Hollie Doyle ridden winner, Choritzo, the first winning two-year-old newcomer for David Loughnane.
Igotatext had to work much harder than his stable companion, beating Lothian, who showed up well for a newcomer from the Michael Attwater yard, with Bowman running well in third. Bowman didn’t do a great deal for the form on his second start, finishing down the field behind Candescence at Pontefract on June 15.
The first two-year-old winner of 2020 for Roger Varian came courtesy of Undertake at Lingfield on June 6 in an ordinary 6f fillies novice. She raced in touch throughout and took the lead off Caroline Dale with 50 yards to go with Dromquinna, a filly from the Alan King yard, running well to be third.
The form of Thunder Of Niagara’s debut success at Newcastle also on June 6 received a boost when the second placed horse, Rebel At Dawn won at Doncaster a week later, having to work very hard inside the last furlong to beat Rolfe Rembrandt, a rare juvenile runner for Michael Scudamore, by a neck. Third Kingdom stayed on well to be third behind Thunder Of Niagara having missed the break and will know a lot more next time.
Thunder Of Niagara is from the second crop of 2014 2,000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder who looks like having another good year with his two-year-olds, having had 30 winners in the UK and Ireland from his first crop, this the second winner from two runners for the sire trained by Mark Johnston.
Prior to Macho Pride making a winning debut later on the Newcastle card, Ben Haslam had only saddled one winning newcomer from 80 runners since 2010. Racing close to the pace throughout, he took the lead with 50 yards to go and beat Tantastic by a length. Identified, sent off the
8/15 favourite for Archie Watson lost his chance with a slow start, never managing to challenge. He was clearly expected to win so he should be a lot sharper next time.
Golden Melody provided William Haggas and James Doyle with a second winning newcomer in four days at Haydock on June 7 and his sire, Belardo, a first UK winner, when he comfortably beat Star Of Emaraaty.
June 7 saw another first season sire have their first winner, Bobby’s Kitten, whose daughter, Sands Of Time, ran out a very impressive winner of a 5f fillies maiden at Lingfield. She had plenty of pace in front and won unchallenged in the straight. Spark Fury stayed on well from the rear to take second but was no match for the easy winner.
The most expensive yearling sold in Europe in 2019 made his racecourse debut at Newmarket on June 7, Noble Dynasty, a half-brother to Group 1 winner Barney Roy, cost 3,600,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Book One sale in October. Noble Dynasty was one of two in the race for Charlie Appleby, Modern News, a homebred son of Shamardal the other, and one of four in the race for Godolphin in a field of 10. Noble Dynasty had been priced up at 10/11 favourite the night before the race but was sent off the 5/2 favourite ahead of his stable companion at 4/1.
Astimegoesby had plenty of pace from his low draw and went off quickly in front under Ben Curtis, with Cooperation also showing good pace under Ryan Moore. Noble Dynasty was held up in midfield by William Buick whilst
Modern News raced in midfield on the outside for Mikael Barzalona. All of the field were under pressure with two furlongs to go, the front pair doing well having set such a strong pace. Modern News made progress to snatch the lead from a wandering Astimegoesby with 75 yards to go, going on to win by a neck from Noble Dynasty who finished strongly for Buick with Astimegoesby half a length away in third. Imperial Yellow finished well from the rear to take fourth ahead of Cooperation who was turned out a week later by Richard Hannon again at Newmarket, run down inside the last furlong by newcomer Apres Dark from the Marco Botti yard.
Like a few trainers who had early first-time-out winners, Jane ChappleHyam doesn’t send out too many that win at the first attempt. On My Way, just the third since 2010 from 61 runners when she led all the way at Chelmsford on June 7, never in any danger of getting caught by the 4/7 favourite, Ventura Vision, two- and three-quarter lengths the winning margin.
Leading Haydock Park trainer Tom Dascombe sent out two first-time-out winners on consecutive days on June 8 and 9 courtesy of Coventry Stakes bound Lauded who dominated a 6f novice winning by four and a half lengths and Devious Company who got the better of front running Golden Flame inside the last 100 yards, the pair pulling clear of the third Clarendon Cross. Golden Flame is clearly well regard by Mark Johnston and ran in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot won by Battleground for Aidan O’Brien..
Clive Cox and David O’Meara both saddled two debut winners in the first couple of weeks of June. Cox sending out Follow Suit to win at Wolverhampton and Isabella Giles at Leicester whilst O’Meara had a double on June 9 courtesy of Campachoochoo at Chelmsford and Stay Smart at Wolverhampton.
Qaader made it three wins from three Night Of Thunder runners for Mark Johnston when he won impressively at Newbury on June 12, staying on strongly under Jim Crowley to win by four lengths from Running Back with Perotto running well in third having raced keenly early on. Perotto was out three days later winning at Goodwood in three-runner race. Qaader looked a smart prospect and was given an entry in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
John Gosden had a number of horses reach the frame before Seventh Kingdom got the champion trainer off the mark for 2020 winning at Doncaster on June 13. A son of Frankel, Seventh Kingdom saw out the 7f well winning by four lengths and there should be a good race to be won with him over the next couple of months.
The first winning newcomer from the Joe Tuite yard, from 80 runners, Lullaby Moon won well at Goodwood on June 14, racing close to the pace set by favourite Stream, she led a furlong and half from the finish, keeping on well inside the last 100 yards to win by two and a quarter lengths. Lullaby Moon should progress well enough to figure in Listed company with the rearranged Marygate Stakes the ideal race for her. IRELAND Racing in Ireland returned on June 8 and Aidan O’Brien wasted no time in unleashing a smart prospect in More Beautiful who dominated the opening race, a 5f fillies maiden, pulling clear inside the last furlong to win by three and a half lengths from Roses Blue. More Beautiful is a half-sister to 2018 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior and she will no doubt be campaigned with the 2021 1,000 Guineas in mind. She was due have her next start at Royal Ascot.
Lipizzaner ran on the opening day of the Irish Flat season in March, finishing second, and was the only one with racecourse experience in the colts and geldings 6f maiden. Sent off the 4/6 favourite to provide Aidan O’Brien with a quick double, he was caught close to the finish by Lucky Vega from the Jessica Harrington yard with another of Ireland’s leading juvenile trainers, Ger Lyons responsible for the third placed horse, Alex D. The first foal out of top-class 2016 Arc winner Found, Battleground, ran with plenty of promise in fifth under a hands and heels ride from Wayne Lordan. He then had a comfortable victory in the Listed 7f Chesham Stakes on the Thursday at Royal Ascot and now looks likely to step up in trip.