February 11, 2010

Here are the next 10 of the horses that caught my eye during the 2009 turf season.

40 – Vocalised ran 4^th to Sea The Stars on his debut as a 2 year old which marked him as a horse to follow for 2009. He had a tough programme in the spring but did well for this web site winning a 7f listed contest at the Curragh, the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury and the Group 3 Tetrarch Stakes at The Curragh. A tough sort and well worth a place in the top 40.

39 – Spirit of Dubai proved a most profitable horse to follow winning 2 of her 6 starts. A big filly she was 4^th in the Lingfield Oaks Trial and also 4^th in a Newbury maiden before breaking her duck in a Lingfield maiden. Her best performance came on her last run when she landed an 8 runner listed race at Ascot in September getting up on the line at 20/1.

38 – Chiberta King started his 2009 season in good style landing an extended 1m 3f handicap at Windsor. He defied a 6lbs rise in the weights a month later at Newmarket before running a very creditable second to Cosmic Sun in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot. A disappointing effort when not suited by the track at Goodwood was followed by a second in a 12f handicap at Ascot in August. On his penultimate start he was runner up to Royal Diamond at Ffos Las.

37 – Braveheart Move a progressive son of Cape Cross is not the easiest of rides but earned his place in this list by winning handicaps at Chester, Pontefract and Hamilton.

36 – Royal Diamond like Braveheart Move, is another multiple winner from the stable of Sir Mark Prescott and proved most progressive winning handicaps at Sandown, Yarmouth, Ffos Las and Wolverhampton. He got off the mark at Sandown on his third run of the season at 6/1 staying on powerfully to win by two and a half lengths. He was odds on when winning at both Yarmouth and Wolverhampton but came in at 5/1 at Ffos Las when given a patient ride by the talented Japanese pilot Kosei Miura beating Chiberta King by a length and a half.

35 – Opinion Poll was another successful handicapper that I followed during the season. He won twice from 4 starts at odds of 7/1 and 15/2. The first win came in a 0-100 12 furlong handicap at Haydock on heavy ground in May when he beat Distant Memories by a length and a half under Philip Robinson. His second success came at Ascot in October over the same trip with Frankie Dettori on board. He was an impressive winner on this occasion accounting for King’s Destiny by three and a half lengths.

34 – Libel Law was a very progressive colt who won a 10 furlong maiden at Windsor before putting up a decent effort in the Dee Stakes. Beaten a head next time at Leicesetr before delivering a fine effort to win a valuable ten furlong handicap at Haydock. Michael Jarvis’ colt was taking on vastly more experienced rivals but proved far too good for the likes of Nanton and Laterly under Frankie Dettori.

33 – Border Patrol extended broodmare’s 100% record for producing winners when losing his maiden tag at Newbury on his first outing of 2009. The son of Selkirk followed up with two wins in listed company before triumphing in the Group 3 Solonaway Stakes at The Curragh. He became the third horse owned by the Elite Racing Club to win at Group level, the others being Soviet Song and Eisteddfod.

32 – Fantasia won the Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwynne Stakes at Newmarket by 7 lengths in April and a 10 runner listed race in September quickening smartly to beat Shamwari Lodge by 2 lengths ridden by Kieren Fallon.

31 – Patkai proved a high class performer winning the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot in April by 9 lengths. His best performance though was when runner up to Yeats in the Ascot Gold Cup.

My thanks to Kate Tann for the picture of Border Patrol as a yearling.

With Ayr having been abandoned the jumps racing tomorrow comes from Kempton and Bangor.

The Kempton card gets under way with a conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle at 1.25. The weights are headed by Solent who is making his first appearance for nearly a year. He dead heated for first place in a listed race at Ascot on the flat and has plenty of ability. He also has the benefit of being ridden by one of the more experienced jockeys. Solent could go well at a big price but I am going to take a chance with another outsider in Heezazari. A former winning pointer he has only had 2 runs under rules finishing 2^nd in a bumper and then winning at Bangor over hurdles. The form of those races has worked out well but the horse is obviously fragile. He hasn’t run for 636 days so his fitness levels have to be taken on trust but that will be reflected in his price.

The 2.35 looks quite a hot little race with Quantitativeesing the likely odds on favourite for the Nicky Henderson yard with AP McCoy in the saddle. He is unbeaten and sets the standard. The Betchworth Kid is another to consider. He was rated 100+ on the flat and has already shown ability in his two races over timber. He is stepped up in trip here which should suit him. The favourite is likely to be very short here so I am looking elsewhere for some value. Emma Lavelle speaks very highly of Tocca Ferro a lightly raced type who has done little wrong so far and got off the mark over hurdles at Southwell last time. This one could be open to plenty of improvement and at around 9/2 looks the value.

In the 3.45 Duc de Regniere should have too many gears for Big Fella Thanks as long as his jumping stands up while in the 4.20 NIcto de Beauchene looks on a fair mark and has an each way chance.

In the 1.35 at Bangor Tara Royal looks the one to beat while Cuckoo Pen and Alderley Rover are the pick of those at bigger prices.

Today’s picture is courtesy of Kate Tann.

Day: February 11, 2010

Review of the Flat 2009 – Part 5

Diary: February 12 2010