TWO-YEAR-OLDS
Ian Heitman reviews the latest juvenile action
The second of Flat racing’s summer festival meetings, Newmarket’s three-day July meeting, was run on fast ground and it featured two high quality Group 1 races, the Falmouth Stakes and July Cup, both attracting big fields full of top-class horses.
Some of the two-year-olds that ran in the three Group races for two-yearolds could be running in those races in 2022. The Group 2 July Stakes over 6f was the first of the juvenile Group races and it featured plenty of horses who had run at Royal Ascot three weeks earlier.
Despite finishing strongly in the Coventry Stakes, second placed Eldrickjones had to share favouritism with another Ascot fast-finisher,
Project Dante, third in the Norfolk, the pair the 9/2 joint favourites. Ebro River, three places behind Eldrickjones in the Coventry, was next in the market at 13/2.
Project Dante, having his first start over 6f, went off too quickly and that cost him as he weakened out of contention in the final furlong and a half, finishing 10th of the 11 runners. Lusail, winner of a 7f race at the July course on his previous start, took the lead with a furlong and a half to go and was strongly pressed by the outsider of the field, Sam Maximus, inside the final furlong. Previous unbeaten, Asymmetric, an easy winner over course and distance on his second start, finished strongly from the rear inside the final furlong, Lusail hanging on to win by a head, Sam Maximus held on for third ahead of Ebro River who once again showed a bit of waywardness, hanging left inside the final furlong.
Eldrickjones never managed to challenge in fifth, while The Organiser travelled as well any of his rivals and was slightly short of room when the pace increased a furlong and half from the finish, he was keeping on well to be sixth. A return to York, where he was so impressive on his debut, could be on the cards as he holds an entry in the Gimcrack Stakes at the Ebor meeting.
Lusail emulated his sire Mehmas by winning the July Stakes and he provided Richard Hannon with a third win in the race. With a Group 2 win in the bag, Lusail will no doubt be aimed at a Group 1 race later in the season with the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in September the ideal race for him.
Asymmetric almost provided Alan King with his biggest two-year-old success, he could head for Goodwood, where he made a winning debut, for the Group 2 Richmond Stakes.
It was the fillies turn to take centre stage on the second day with the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes the feature two-year-old race. Unlike the July Stakes, there was winning Royal Ascot form courtesy of Sandrine, winner of the Group 2 Albany Stakes. In fact the first three from the Albany
Stakes took each other on again, Hello You second and Oscula third. Despite a relatively comfortable win in the Albany, Sandrine was only just preferred to Hello You in the betting for the Duchess Of Cambridge, the pair going off at 11/5 and 9/4 respectively. Desert Dreamer, who was down the field in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, had finished strongly to be second in the Listed Empress Stakes at the July course on her most recent start, just failing to get to System who won for Richard Hannon, she was a 15/2 chance along with Flotus who failed to act on the heavy ground in the Albany, finishing well beaten.
Despite there only being eight runners, the field split into two groups, Sadmah led a group of five which included Oscula, Flotus who pulled to hard and Desert Dreamer, whilst outsider Ellade led the market principles, Hello You and Sandrine. The field spread across the track with a couple of furlongs to go as the pace setters gave way and weakened. Sandrine took the lead with a furlong and a half to go and she stayed on strongly inside the final furlong, winning by a length and three quarters from Desert Dreamer who finished well but had too much ground to make up on the winner entering the final furlong. Hello You had every chance but she could keep on only at the same pace inside the final 150 yards, half a length behind Desert Dreamer. Oscula never chal
lenged in fourth while Flotus was too keen in the early part of the race and never challenged a place further behind.
Sandrine provided Andrew Balding with a first win in the race and she will now head for the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, a race Balding won in 2020 with Alcohol Free. Her jockey David Probert has yet to win a Group 1 race, the closest he has come was when he rode Tip Two Win to finish second in the 2018 2000 Guineas.
There is a good race to be won Desert Dreamer, she has an entry in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York and she will be one of the leading contenders should she take her chance.
A step up to 7f might be on the cards for Hello You, she has an entry in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland in September or she could drop to Group 3 company for the
Prestige Stakes at Goodwood at the end of August, a race her trainer Ralph Beckett won in 2018.
The last of the two-year-old Group races was over 7f, the Superlative Stakes, a race Charlie Appleby had won three times in the previous five years. He was doubly represented this year with Native Trail looking the yard first string with William Buick riding and Private Signal the mount of James Doyle. Native Trail was the shorter of the two in the betting, going off at 11/4 second favourite behind Coventry Stakes sixth, Dhabab at 9/5. Dhabab finished well in the Coventry having encountered trouble in running and with Frankie Dettori onboard for the first time a big run was clearly expected. That trio dominated the market with a gap to Great Max who was at 10/1.
Just as in the Duchess Of Cambridge the previous day the field split into two groups, hat-trick seeking Mr McCann led a larger group of five, whilst Great Max led three others which included the favourite Dhabab. The field spread across the course with two and a half furlongs to go with all nine runners having a chance of winning. Dhabab made progress towards the far side to take the lead off Great Max with less than two furlongs to go and entering the final furlong he was a couple of lengths clear. Native Trail and Masekela both made good progress over a furlong from the finish and it was Native Trail who took the lead from Dhabab with 50 yards to go, holding on to beat Masekela, who improved from a disappointing run in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, by a short head with Dhabab a further length and a half away in third and Mr McCann not beaten far in fourth.
Native Trail will no doubt head for the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh, two of Appleby’s three previous winners of the Superlative had their next starts in that race. Native Trail had a round action at Newmarket suggesting softer ground will suit him and whilst he will have to improve on this run when he faces Ireland’s best juveniles, this was only his second start and there should be plenty of improvement in him.
Masekela is well regarded by his trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Oisin Murphy and it won’t be too long before he wins a Group race. Dhabab had no excuses this him and a drop back to 6f might be what he needs.
As well as the Group races, there were three maidens at the meeting. Frankella found improvement to get off the mark at the third attempt in the 6f fillies maiden that opened the meeting. A filly with a tremendous pedigree, by Frankel out of Group 1 winner Arabian Queen, she should be suited by a mile next year and her trainer, Andrew Balding, will no doubt be in search of a Listed or Group win for her. There was promise from Kimngrace in fourth and also Invigilate, a full sister to Breeders’ Cup winner Expert Eye.
Noble Truth had finished third behind July Stakes winner Lusail over 7f on his debut and went two places better in the 7f maiden on day two. He was in front inside the last furlong but wanted to hang left under James Doyle, winning by two lengths from Ehraz who finished strongly from the rear but was never close enough to challenge. He could improve a lot for this initial experience and won’t have any trouble getting off the mark before making an impact in good races.
The final maiden of the meeting was for fillies only and that went to Ardbraccan who had raced prominently throughout the 7f, she beat Calm Skies who wandered inside the final furlong as she had done when the pair met a fortnight earlier. Bouquet ran a race full of promise, held up in the early part of the race, she finished strongly under Georgia Cox who was having her first ride for John & Thady Gosden. Also running a promising first race was Wilderness Girl in fourth for Andrew Balding, she travelled well close to the pace and wasn’t beaten far.
Other Feature Races
Away from Newmarket, Ed Bethell saddled his first Listed winner when Fearby comfortably won the Dragon Stakes at Sandown on July 2 by five lengths from Mojomaker with favourite Kaboo in third. He has entry in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York next month and that 6f should suit him well should he take his chance.
Three of the eight runners in the
Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury a fortnight later had won their only starts, one of them Orazio headed the market at 9/4. Frankella who had won at Newmarket the previous week had good pace and she led until she was headed inside the final furlong by Caturra who needed all of Adam Kirby’s strength inside the last 75 yards to hold off the challenge of Detail, another of the three once-raced winners, by a neck. Orazio ran really well in third, he came back with a wound below his knee, whilst the other once-raced winner, Oneforthegutter kept on to be fourth.
When the prices came out for the Super Sprint at Newbury on July 17, two horse dominated the market, Windsor Castle winner, Chipotle, and Coventry third, Vintage Clarets, however on the day of the race there was plenty of support for Gubbass who had been off the track since making a winning debut at Leicester in April. Gubbass was one of six in the race for
Richard Hannon who along with Richard Fahey, trainer of Vintage Clarets, was looking for a fourth win in this valuable contest.
The market leaders raced in a group towards the stands side, Gubbass racing widest of all, whilst Chipotle raced towards the centre of the group and Vintage Clarets against the stands rail. Chipotle was twice denied a clear run and never challenged in eighth, whilst Vintage Clarets stayed on to be sixth but never challenged.
Gubbass had a clear run and made progress with a couple of furlongs to, keeping on well inside the last furlong, taking the lead off Guilded, who had good pace racing towards the far side, with 50 yards to go. Symphony Perfect completed a one-two for Hannon while Delmona stayed on for third.
Gubbass could make a quick reappearance in Goodwood’s Richmond Stakes at on July 29. It is worth putting a line through Chipotle’s run as he had little chance given the interference he encountered.
Ireland Group/Listed Races
Nine days after finishing second in the Norfolk Stakes, Go Bears Go was an impressive winner of the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh. Racing up with the pace, Go Bears Go was well placed and he took the lead with a furlong and a half to go beating Castle Star, who had been held up, by a length and a half with Masseto in third and favourite Dr Zempf running on to be fourth but never challenged.
This was the biggest success to date for Go Bears Go’s trainer David Loughnane and a shot at a Group 1 will no doubt be next for Go Bears Go.
Only four fillies lined up for the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes. Cheerupsleepyjean was sent off favourite having finished strongly at Royal
Ascot on her previous start. She proved to be a major disappointment, never managing to challenge Velocidad who extended her unbeaten record to two. Yet ran much better than she had done at Royal Ascot, having the run of things from the front but she was no match for Velocidad inside the final furlong. The Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in September looks ideal for Velocidad.
Sacred Bridge is also unbeaten after two starts, her wins came a week apart, the second of which was in Listed company over 5f, when she beat British raider Misty Ayr by a length and a quarter. Misty Ayr made no mistake getting off the mark on her next start, beating two rivals at Hamilton.
Sacred Bridge’s trainer, Ger Lyons, saddled the favourite for the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh on July 17, Beauty Inspire, an impressive debut winner at the same track in June.
Sent off the 1/2 favourite, Beauty Inspire won comfortably, racing close to the pace, he took the lead with a furlong to go and stayed on well to win by a length and a quarter from outsider Andreas Vesalius.
Beauty Inspire will no doubt head for the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes on August 8, a race his trainer won in 2019 with Siskin.
France Group/Listed Races
Choux got her season back on track in the Listed Prix Yacowlef at Deauville on July 11th having finished down the field on her two previous starts. She was one of two runners David Evans sent over for the meeting, Fabiosa ran in the Prix Roland de Chambure but she failed to land a blow finishing fourth of five behind impressive winner Zellie who was barely off the bridle for Mikael Barzalona.
Zellie looked potentially high-class with this three length win and although it was only a Listed race she looks capable of winning in Group company next time with the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day in October a likely target.
The Group 2 Prix Robert Papin over 6f at Chantilly on July 18 saw Atomic Force go off the 4/6 favourite following his impressive win at the same course four weeks earlier. Favourite backers didn’t have too much to worry about as Atomic Force led all the way and only had to be pushed out by Stephane Pasquier to win easily by two and a half lengths from Italian raider Baghed and Hellomydarlin, who stayed on well from the rear but never challenged for George Boughey and Jamie Spencer.
Atomic Force will no doubt head the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville on August 22 and he will be hard to catch and he should provide Kevin Ryan with a first two-year-old Group 1 success since 2013.
Maidens/Novice Races
Sonny Liston was very noisy in the paddock before making an impressive winning debut at Sandown on July
2nd. He quickened clear of his nine rivals in good style to win by five length for Charlie Hills and he should be able win another novice carrying a penalty. Dukedom was well supported but he was no match for the winner but should have learnt enough to go close next time.
Kevin Philippart De Foy has made a very promising start to his training career and has had four debut winners so far in 2021. Scot’s Grace, the third of them, quickened clear in the final furlong to win by four and a half lengths at Kempton on July 7 and while the
form might not be too strong, Scot’s Grace looks capable of making an impact in stronger company.
Khanjar didn’t get too much luck in running on his debut at Ascot over 7f, switching from racing against the rail to running on the outside of the field, he stayed on well but never challenged in fourth. Trained by William Haggas, who has an excellent record with his two-year-olds having their second starts, Khanjar looks capable of a lot better.
Karl Burke has a couple of nice prospects for owner Clipper Logistics, Attagirl won on her second start at Haydock on July 2nd, whilst Last Crusader justified strong market support to make a winning debut at Ayr on July 12th. Both horses could be stepped up in grade to run at York’s Ebor meeting.
Luxembourg beat three previous winners to make a winning debut for Aidan O’Brien at Killarney on July 14, finishing strongly to beat Tuwaiq by two and a quarter lengths. O’Brien has sent some high-class horses to win at Killarney in recent years, most notably Derby winners Wings Of Eagles and Anthony Van Dyck. Luxembourg was introduced in the 2022 Derby betting at 25/1.
Reach For The Moon didn’t have to improve on his Chesham Stakes second to Derby favourite Point Lonsdale to win at Newbury on July 16th, only having to be pushed out by Frankie Dettori to get off the mark at the third attempt as the 2/9 favourite to win for John & Thady Gosden. The time was slower than the first division of this novice, Bayside Boy providing Roger Varian with a first two-year-old winner beating Find, the 1/3 favourite for the Gosden’s.
York Ebor Festival
The four-day meeting begins on August 18 and has some of the best Flat racing of the year. Two Group 2 races, the Gimcrack Stakes and
Lowther Stakes, are the feature races for two-year-olds.
Kevin Ryan has the best recent record in the Gimcrack in recent years winning with three of his eight runners. He could run Gis A Sub who won a conditions race at Pontefract at the end of June when July Stakes winner Lusail was third.
Charlie Appleby and Charlie Hills won this with Blue Point and Muhaarar respectively, who both went on to be top-class sprinters.
Only William Haggas in recent years has trained the winner more than once in the Lowther. He could run Canonized who has already won three times this season.
William Haggas has been the leading trainer of two-year-olds at the meeting with nine winners, closely followed by Kevin Ryan and Richard Hannon with eight. Only one of Aidan O’Brien’s 19 runners in the last ten years was successful, that win coming in the
Lowther.