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Two Year Olds so far

barjon

Rookie
Joined
Aug 2, 2020
Messages
4,520
I’m finding sorting out the 2yo prospects really hard going this season, with nothing really making my eyes pop. Very suspicious of the Asadna run which was apparently faster than a speeding bullet. Here’s the Timeform top few (Irish horses sit in the gaps, which is a bit off-putting for the home team).

TWO-YEAR-OLDS

109p ASADNA
104p
101p MAXIMUM IMPACT
101p
100p
96p
96p
95p
94p
94p MON NA SLIEVE
94p SOPRANO (f)
94p
93P JABAARA (f)
93p GOT TO LOVE A GREY (f)
93p MIDNIGHT AFFAIR (f)
93 PERSIAN DREAMER (f)
92p ELITE STATUS
92 ACTION POINT
91p DOROTHY LAWRENCE (f)
91p


ASADNA - Ripon 21 May, won Class 4 - who cost 160,000gns at the Craven breeze-ups, is a brother to a 5f 2yo winner and a half-brother to a 6f winner. He impressed in drawing right away inside the final 2f, being kept up to his work most of the way in an attempt to teach him plenty ahead of his Royal Ascot engagement in the Coventry, for which post-race quotes of 12-1 didn't last long. The time was quicker than the handicaps for older horses later on the card, and he was handed a high-end RPR for a juvenile debutant.RP

There’s no knocking the fast time, but this was against limited opposition and I’d be surprised if he is the best seen out so far.

MAXIMUM IMPACT - Ascot 3 May - won Class 2 - a 12l winner in deep ground on his Leicester debut, when no stalls were used, made it 2-2 in this deeper race, hitting the line right in the manner of a horse who will likely relish 6f. He had no trouble with the drier ground here, although a fast surface would raise a question, and it'll be interesting to see which race he lines up in at Royal Ascot. Paddy Power left him unchanged at 14-1 for the Coventry.RP

Only five runners in this with second and third a bit close for comfort.need to be convinced, although did run a bit green and showed some grit holding off the second.

MON NA SLIEVE - York 17 May, won Class 2 - whose trainer tends to introduce his better juveniles at this track, winning this race twice in recent times, including last year, was a 190,000gns breeze-ups purchase and knew his job on debut, showing plenty of speed and seeing his race out nicely. He'll likely head to Royal Ascot now for either the Norfolk or Windsor Castle.RP

Won nicely, but didn’t take my breath away

SOPRANO - Newmarket 5 May, won Class 2 - a 100,000gns daughter of Starspangledbanner, was strong in the market and showed why, making a promising winning debut, although the second would have given her more to think about with a clearer passage. She was strong to the line, suggesting 6f will suit. Her trainer's post-race comments suggest she'll have another run before Ascot.RP

Won this well enough, but Buick had to work a bit hard on her and I don’t think it’s a sure thing that she’d beat the second .

JABAARA - Newmarket 20 May, won Class 2 - half-sister to four winners, got plenty of cover but had a bit of ground to make up when eventually switched out to challenge. She impressed in coming home strongly, though, and looks all over an Albany Stakes filly, for which she looks a very fair 8-1. Her yard won this race with Daahyeh in 2019 before she won the Albany on her next start.RP

Raced midfield, then met with a bit of interference which dropped her to second last and she showed really good speed from there to go through the field and win. Can dine at the Class 1 table

GOT TO LOVE A GREY - York 19 May, won Class 1 - faced with much quicker conditions than on her debut, made it 2-2 in pleasing fashion, showing speed and a good attitude to keep her stable-companion at bay. She'll stay 6f but her trainer's post-race comments suggest she may stick to 5f for the Queen Mary, a race the stable won last year.RP

At the head of things throughout, but everything else was too close, although she wasn’t given a hard time.

Midnight Affair - Newmarket 5 May, 2nd Class2 - whose owner took this last year with Queen Mary winner Dramatised, shaped encouragingly on debut, second the best she could hope for after she'd met trouble over 1f out, keeping on well. This 180,000gns daughter of Dark Angel looks a banker for a similar event next time.RP

Got blocked off when it mattered and had to checked and manoeuvre , finished strongly and would certainly been a lot closer to the winner without the interference.

Persian Dreamer - York May 19, 4th Class 1 -comfortably beat Dorothy Lawrence on her Newmarket debut but wasn't in the same form this time, the quicker ground here possibly a factor, although the move she made into contention around halfway, having lost ground at the start, could also have blunted her finishing effort. The debut performance was promising and she's given another chance.RP

An ok top class run, but never really featured.

ELITE STATUS - Sandown 25 May, won Class 1 - ran out a striking winner on this rise in grade, bouncing off the quicker ground and making it 2-2. It'll be next stop the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, for which he was cut to 2-1 (from 10s), with him looking every inch a Group-level juvenile.RP

Came away from the field very nicely and showed good acceleration to start it off. Quite like him.

Action Point - Ascot 5 May, 2nd Class2 - made a winning debut over 5f at Kempton and improved on that here, just not seeing his race out as well as the winner. He's all speed and could come back for the Windsor Castle.RP

Only five runners in this with third closing all the time, but did give the winner a race.

Dorothy Lawrence - York 19 May, 2nd Class 1 - turned around Newmarket debut form with Persian Dreamer pressing her winning stablemate from the off but never quite able to force her head in front. She may also head to Royal Ascot but would be a banker for a maiden/novice should connections opt to lower their sights before going back up in class.RP

Gave the winner a proper race , but clearly second best.
 
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Irish Field top European First Season Sires last Saturday
1 Soldier's Call
2 Blue Point
3 Calyx
4 Ten Sovereigns
5 Inns Of Court
6 Phoenix Of Spain.
Calyx at 33.33% and Phoenix of Spain 40% have the best winner/runner ratio .

Early days yet though.
El Kabeir has been relocated to Italy so watch his star rise in his abscense !
 
Nice little nod to Inns Of Court just now with Heather Main's cheap(ish)ly bought Judge Frank running a sparkling debut (even though a little green/ got a bump or two) in the Newbury novice. Looked a warm enough race beforehand and - given a Heather Main 2yo going well FTO is almost unheard of...

1. Judge Frank looks set to be a nice 3YO, possibly the best she's ever had. Unlikely to see big prices for some while, though
2. The early impression that the Inns Of Court line is worth watching was illustrated nicely.


Note : commentator before the race did say JF was looking very well, so consider the possibility was a lot further forward than many.
 
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Hows about HAATEM Chaum. 25/1 coventry.
These races are too tough for me to work out.lots of unbeaten horses.
Asadna ran a fast time so does it matter what it beat.?

And dont forget AMERICAN RASCAL
 
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Hows about HAATEM Chaum. 25/1 coventry.
These races are too tough for me to work out.lots of unbeaten horses.
Asadna ran a fast time so does it matter what it beat.?

And dont forget AMERICAN RASCAL

Yeah I would probably wait for the day and see what Hannon says/which ones of his 4 go. Baheer would have to improve vastly, was beaten nearly 5 lengths by Zoulu Chief and can't see that form being strong enough. Packard maybe could step up a few levels. The Camden Colt might be something, but could end up in the Windsor Castle I guess.

Asadna is very interesting. We'll see whether the time was 'right' if Asadna can do it again at the class level. But Asadna hammered an interesting rival 12 lengths...the second that day (Fifty Grand Slater) was a Nick Bradley buy, he's not exactly clueless when it comes to buying 2 year olds! (Marshman!) And note, Marshman never went to Ascot (FGS is not entered, either), so it could yet turn out that Slater is a tool.

And Wesley Ward's, who knows!

Got a few to watch on the day if they all go, haven't we!!
 
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I thought Sunway was very impressive at Sandown on Friday and wouldn’t be surprised to see him featured in the top echelon in due course.

https://www.sportinglife.com/racing...emore-farm-british-ebf-maiden-stakes-gbb-race

16/6 Sandown. Won. SUNWAY is a brother to Champion Stakes winner Sealiway and looks a superb prospect.From a stable that tends to take a patient approach, he was green for the most part but powered through once he'd been switched and gathered momentum. A 300,000euros yearling, he should come on considerably for this debut experience and might be underestimated if switched straight to Pattern company. RP.
 
Likely Hannon running plans:

Baheer intends to go for the Norfolk and yard were reportedly very surprised at getting hammered by Zoulu Chief. There's a chance soft ground might undo him at Ascot ( a small theory that rain got into the ground before that Newbury race).

Packard - Coventry. Good enough??

Haatem - Coventry, yes good enough.

The Camden Colt - Windsor Castle or Norfolk. They expect him to run big whichever one it is.

Fusterlandia - Windsor C

Gaiden - Albany. Maybe Queen Mary. Expected to run big whichever.

*************

Son and Rosallion likely to get saved for later. Both very highly rated. 7f Superlative next target? (note: maybe have a look at 2000 Guineas AP before that race)

Serene Seraph. Unlikely to go to Ascot but very highly rated.



**Edit** I see The Camden Colt is still declared to run in the Coventry under Sean Levey, there may have been a change of heart.
 
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The Camden Colt - Windsor Castle or Norfolk. They expect him to run big whichever one it is.
Charlie Brooks reporting in today’s Daily Telegraph this fella runs in the Coventry.


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Charlie Brooks reporting in today’s Daily Telegraph this fella runs in the Coventry.


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Yeah just noticed. They seemed to be pretty sure before, this switch (if it is one) might be telling a story. I'm guessing fears over what the weather might do could force some changes, too.
 
James Horton won the first at Thirsk with a FTO (and very expensive) Kodiak 2YO. This could well be a marker for his runners from now onwards. Doesn't have much at Ascot, but there could well be a few 2YOs ready to let go.

Will he have Asjad ready for the Wokingham? You'd think likely.
 
Thought Golden Mind was a colt to follow after his run in the Chesham. Looks as if he'll be a 7f/miler. By Galileo Gold out of a Frozen Power mare so hardly bred in the purple.
 
….and now

TWO-YEAR-OLDS


109p RIVER TIBER
109 RAMATUELLE (f)
108p ARMY ETHOS
107 VALIANT FORCE
106p BUCANERO FUERTE
106p HIS MAJESTY
105p BIG EVS
104p BEAUVATIER
104p PORTA FORTUNA (f)
104+ ELITE STATUS
104 GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS
104 MALC
103 ASADNA
103 CRIMSON ADVOCATE (f)
103 RELIEF RALLY (f)
101p MATRIKA (f)
100p ANCIENT WISDOM
100 BOBSLEIGH
100 HAATEM
100 ZORKENR
 
….and now

TWO-YEAR-OLDS


109p RIVER TIBER
109 RAMATUELLE (f)
108p ARMY ETHOS
107 VALIANT FORCE
106p BUCANERO FUERTE
106p HIS MAJESTY
105p BIG EVS
104p BEAUVATIER
104p PORTA FORTUNA (f)
104+ ELITE STATUS
104 GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS
104 MALC
103 ASADNA
103 CRIMSON ADVOCATE (f)
103 RELIEF RALLY (f)
101p MATRIKA (f)
100p ANCIENT WISDOM
100 BOBSLEIGH
100 HAATEM
100 ZORKENR

Interesting.

Some of those ratings are very close to my time ratings for the ones that ran well as Ascot last week -- without any allowance for weight for age, which varies from 32lbs (5f) to 38lbs (7f) on the official scale.

I've noticed a number of my 2yo time ratings are higher than historically (with some exceptions), which would support the view put forward somewhere recently, possibly in the Weekender, that the existence of the Breeze Up Sales means juveniles are more forward now than perhaps in the past.
 
Balding likes Newbury to set some of his good ones off. One he’s waxing quite lyrical about is Array in the 6:05 so interesting to see how he goes. Opposed by Hannon’s Boyfriend who ran a good second at Windsor despite Pat Dobbs giving him an easy.

Another Balding runner - Clove Hitch 5:35 - is another likely decent and worth keeping an eye on.
 
Array made a pleasing introduction behind a winner with a couple of races experience. Nothing to take the breath away, but promising.

Clove Hitch was as green as grass and we’ll find out more next time.
 
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Don't usually bother with 2yo, but I picked this up while ploughing through some form.
Natural Force won a decent Ascot novice as cosy as you like in May,with a Godolphin hotpot in his wake.
Thought good enough to enter for a Curragh Gp2 in early July,but didn't take it up.
His only current entry is in the valuable Redcar 2yo Trophy and,as far as I can fathom, will get all the allowances.
Might just be a plot horse, so thought worth a mention.
 
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Bucanero Fuerte was hugely impressive yesterday. Should easily get a mile later.

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Monster performance for sure.
Great to see Adrian Murray and Robson Aguiar have Group 1 success with Amo.
Another smaller trainer proving his worth; what's not to like.
Blue Point has set a storming pace in FSS list with over 20 winners so far.
Well done to him.
 

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