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A couple of breeders 2016

Discussion in 'Horse Racing' started by Bustino74, Feb 29, 2016.

  1. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Royal Stud/The Queen

    Last year I illustrated how the Royal Studs were changing and I will do the same again this year with 2yos from families that were not represented in the stud 5 years ago. They are all the result of purchased or brought-in fillies/mares:-
    Qunquireme f by Elusive Quality-Finding Neverland (mare is from Meon Valley’s Reprocolor family and is with Haggas),
    Call to Mind c by Galileo-Memory (2nd foal and full-brother to Recorder: with Haggas),
    With One Accord f by Acclamation – Raymi Coya (2nd foal and half-sister to 2015 winner Make Fast: with Hannon),
    Glassalt f by Medaglio d’Oro – Abergeldie (1st foal of mare from the Barathea/Gossamer family: with Bell),
    Appreciating by New Approach – Star Value (1st foal of a filly introduced through the Aga Khan whose dam won the Prix de Diane: with Balding),
    Brave Venture c by Frankel – Sequence (1st foal of another Aga Khan family and this mare is a half-sister to Sinndar: as yet unplaced with a trainer).

    This trend of new families coming in will continue.

    First the disappointing news, and that is that Recorder is unlikely to run this year. He has not fully recovered from his injury when winning the Acomb and so a colt who had classic aspirations and the possibility of lining up for the 2000G will sit out the year. Hopefully he’ll recover for next year. A further disappointment was the loss of the purchased mare Finding Neverland who leaves the 2yo filly Quinquireme.
    Unaccountably the Queen is minus a few more horses from last year that you’d have expected to be reasonable scorers this year. The biggest loss is Husbandry who looked to have bags of promise when winning at York mid-season. Not far behind is Mustard who won a big race in October and looked set for a good 4yo campaign. Last year Peacock was lucratively sold to Hong Kong and this may have happened here. Hopefully they are still alive.

    Of the older horses the Queen has only 3 this year but two have the ability to win Group Races. Mustard’s stablemate Dartmouth (a Dubawi colt) appeared better than Mustard mid-year but his form tailed off in the latter part of the season such that despite winning 3 races as a 3yo he has something to prove. I do expect him to line up in an early season 10f or 12f handicap and to go on from there. The Makfi colt Fabricate looked very promising winning 2 of his first 3 starts and was pencilled in for the Queens Vase. The firm ground led to him being withdrawn and then he did not run again until late October when he was a rusty 3rd. He too has something to prove but he has been gelded and I could see him starting in something like the John Porter. The third 4yo is Pick Your Choice who is lightly raced and may be more important as a lead horse for Haggas’s team rather that a course prospect at this point.

    The leading Royal 3yo is now Light Music. She is a filly by Elusive Quality out of the Queen’s decent mare Medley and won 2 of her 3 starts as a 2yo including a Listed event at Newbury over 7f in soft ground. When interviewed after that race Maureen Haggas said she was a most beautiful filly and one would think she will have a start in the Nell Gwyn or Fred Darling Stakes to see if she is up to classic standard. She is yet to run on good ground but she was all out over 7f on very soft ground at Newbury. She is such a lovely actioned filly and her dam got 8f well-enough so should get 8f on better ground. Though she may not reach the highest heights I can see her lining up at Newmarket in late-April for the 1000G.
    The other 3yo one must mention as possibly being of group standard is the colt Mainstream. He is by Dansili out of a Sadler’s Wells filly called Golden Stream (who is a full-sister to the Oaks 2nd Flight of Fancy). Given a standard Stoute introduction he then dominated his field on his 2nd outing with a pulverising finish. The problem with him is that that great finish came after an unsatisfactory race where he pulled all the way. If this behaviour can be tamed he’ll be a force to be reckoned with but it may unfortunately take the loss of his manhood: we shall see. I’d expect him to start in a handicap (maybe the one Jack Hobbs won last year at Sandown which is a favourite race of his trainer).

    There are plenty of other 3yos who could turn out to be useful. Diploma (by Dubawi) looked highly promising when winning her 2nd start but then looked over the top on her final start and is on a retrieval mission when she appears. Daphne (by Duke of Marmalade) is a once-raced filly who could have something about her. She is a half-sister to 5 winners and showed promise on her only start and I’d be surprised if she doesn’t improve enough to win a few races. Hammer Gun (by Smart Strike) should also win races.
    Of the unraced 3yos Patent (a Paco Boy gelding with Hannon) and Forth Bridge (a Bernardini colt with Stoute) are the most interesting as they had mentions last year.

    It is too early to talk about most of the 2yos but of the above listed ones you’d like to think Call to Mind would be of interest. If there is an early one it might be Mustard’s half-sister Mayan Gold (by Paco Boy and with Hannon) or Husbandry’s half-brother Elementary (by Exceed and Excel with Bell) . One that has already had a thumbs up is Frontispiece (by Sharmadal out of the Danehill Dancer mare Free Verse who is with Stoute).

    A few words on trainers: the leading Royal trainer appears to now be Haggas. He has 8 horses in training with 5 3yos and 2 2yos. Some may argue Stoute is still number 1 as he has 9 horses but Haggas seems to be getting the better animals: Stoute does have an interesting 2yo in Missed, who is from the first crop of So You Think and a half-brother to a number of winners including Bold Sniper. He does have a maiden 3yo called Clear Evidence who I am expecting to be worth following once he runs over a distance of 10f+.
    Bell always looked the man most-likely to succeed Stoute a few years back but other than Fabricate had a poor 2015. He has 5 horses and 3 are 2yos (Merlin looks the most interesting being the first foal of Momentary). This trainer badly needs a good year. Balding does well with the lesser animals he gets but has lost Husbandry and has only one 2yo in the shape of Appreciating. His main hope for the Queen is likely to be Make Fast, who ran 2nd to Light Music in the Radley Stakes.
    Charlton also needs a few Royal wins and if there is to be one for him it is likely to be Pure Fantasy who is a filly by Fastnet Rock. He does have a 2yo colt by Royal Applause called Maths Prize who is a half-brother to a gelding, whom some people may remember, called Pythagorean. Hannon looks to only be sent early-types and this looks set to continue.
    The big surprise is that Richard Hughes in his first full season as a trainer has been sent a Royal 2yo. This must be unknown to get a Royal horse at such an early stage. He has a Paco Boy colt called Patchwork who is a half-sister to Light Music. I’d expect him to be an early sort.

    It is early days for these 2yos and the Queen has fewer than usual anyway. Next year she has 16 which is more her usual number for her: more on the 2yos and these yearlings later.

    Index to further articles by Bustino
     
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  2. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Ballymacoll Stud

    After a slightly disappointing 2014, 2015 was a much better year for this owner/breeder. But improvement is still needed. That Arab Spring is continuing as a 6yo entire and he is joined by his 4yo gelding half-brother Petrucci (by Azamour) is no surprise, it is a big surprise to see his unraced 5yo gelding half-brother Song of Namibia (by Cape Cross) suddenly appear in training with Stoute. He disappeared from the Stoute roster in August 2014 so one assumes must now be sound and ready for training. Arab Spring has only run 8 times (winning 5 of them) but was not seen out after beaten a short-head in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes late May. That is the 2nd time an injury has curtailed his season. If retaining last year’s ability he could still pick up a Group 2 race somewhere. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn up at Newbury in April. Petrucci has run only 3 times and should figure in 10-14f handicaps this year.

    Another surprise was that Ballymacoll have kept 2 4yo fillies in training. One is Angel Vision (an Oasis Dream daughter of Islington) who having won twice in England is now in the USA with Michael Dilger. The other filly is Yarrow, who is the last daughter of Golan’s dam Highland Gift. She looked very promising and was expected to run a big race at Ascot but was almost pulled up and reported to have a heart murmur. She ran toward the season’s end and made no show but if retaining the ability of early last year could be seen in some staying races and could pick up some black type.

    Ballymacoll had one 2yo winner last year and the filly in question, Thetis (by Invincible Spirit), is a half-sister to Liber Nauticus. Her last run was in a Group 2 at Newmarket when she finished a good 2nd and was definitely the filly to take out of the race. However the form has not really stood up and Thetis will have something to prove if she is to be a Group filly but I think she will as this is a family of improvers. As to her best distance that is difficult to gauge as her dam is a half-sister to Conduit. She has now got an entry for the Irish Oaks. My own feeling is that 10f is likely to be her best trip and early season races at 8f may suit her.

    The owners had two other fillies that ran last year and one of them, Canonbury (a full-sister to Angel Vision), is being mentioned as a filly with a future. After a promising debut she ran disappointingly in soft ground at Chester (Islington, her mummy, disliked soft too). Though the whispers are that she might be entered for the Oaks she has a hill to climb to be considered in that class but some good to firm 10f-12f races should be within her grasp. The other filly to run was Abingdon, who is by Street Cry out of a Galileo half-sister to Islington. She ran only once as a 2yo back-end and should pick up a middle-distance maiden at least.

    Ballymacoll now have only one colt who ran last year and that was Patkai’s half-brother Superyacht (by Fastnet Rock). He had no sort of race and will have to show more but this good looking colt could be an improver this year. Fastnet Rock seems to be breeding animals that need time and distance in Europe and Superyacht looks as if he’ll be no different.

    Of the unraced 3yo this year 2 have had mentions and could be well worth following. The first is another Fastnet Rock colt called Desert Isle who is a half-brother to Fiorente out of the Pilsudski mare Desert Bloom. This colt is likely to be seen early season at Newmarket or Newbury and would be one to follow. Ballymacoll have a yearling filly by Redoutes Choice out of Desert Bloom who will be very valuable in the paddocks. The other 3yo to get a mention is the filly Divine Quickstep who is by Dansili out of another Islington full-sister called La Divina. We’ll have to wait and see on her.

    Of the 2yos it is too early to say much. They have a Frankel colt called Rainbow Legacy (presumably because he’s inbred to Rainbow Quest) who is out of a full-sister to Golan called Gift Range who has so far been a very disappointing mare. One I particularly like is the filly Superioritycomplex who is by Hard Spun and a half-sister to Abingdon. There are plenty of other nice pedigrees but they’ll not appear before July. One I would dearly love to be useful is Olive Branch (by Arcano) as this filly is the last chance for this family (that of Pilsudski and Gaily) to remain in the stud.

    All of the horses in the UK are trained by Stoute and as usual will not be rushed. I have a feeling that this could be an even better year than last year and that the momentum is building. I hope so.


    More later…….
     
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  3. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Both Light Music and Thetis have entries for the 1000G. Light Music also has an entry for the French 1000G and Thetis for the Prix de Diane.

    It's all about fillies for Bally macoll at the moment because as well as the 10th filly that Islington has produced from her 10 foals, her Galileo half-sister Justlookdontouch has just produced her 4th foal and 4th filly with Kingman foal. Full-sister La Divina has like Justlookdountouch not missed producing a foal during her time at stud and at least produced a colt by Sharmadal after previously producing 4 fillies. Amazing productivity by these 3 mares and an amazing number of fillies.
     
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  4. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Today the Queen was to have started her season off with her annual visit to Newbury races and to see her filly Daphne run. Now abandoned it will be interesting to see where she next turns out (Daphne I mean). Why? Well Mr Haggas tends to be parsimonious with his Classic entries yet had this daughter of Duke of Marmalade entered for the Oaks this week. Those of you who read around will know Haggas mentioned a filly as his dark horse and that she was entered for the Oaks. Well it wasn't Daphne but an unraced filly called Fadillah who he said would run in a fillies maiden at Sandown next week. So of Haggas's two (rare) Oaks entries which is the better? We'll have to wait and see.
    Daphne comes from the Flight of Fancy family and her dam is the difficult Daylami mare called Daring Aim. Difficult because she never appeared to exert herself too much and difficult because all her offspring have had quirks. Having said that the first 5 living foals all won and included the useful Bold Sniper.
    So with today gone the Queen has to wait a further day for the unraced Forth Bridge who appears at Nottingham. He was with Stoute but is now with Bell (in fact Bell appears to have picked up 3 colts previously trained by Stoute or Haggas) and I'd recommend a watching brief. In the same maiden Ballymacoll start their season with the introduction of Scottish Summit who ran a reasonable debut race in November. His dam, the useful and attractive Scottish Stage, has so far turned out a bunch of rogues who but for last year's 3yo have won at least something. He may win tomorrow.
    If Newbury takes place tomorrow the Queen may have a more interesting runner in the Balding trained Molten Gold (by New Approach). He managed one backward effort last season but is a closely bred (9/16?) half-brother to last year's useful 3yo Mustard (by Motivator). He could be one to follow.
     
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  5. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    With the move of Newbury to Chelmsford Dartmouth, who had been entered originally but withdrawn later because of the heavy going, got another bite at the cherry and took it well. Not the strongest John Porter I've seen but he won well and it was over an extended 13f so throws up possibilities such as the Ormonde and the Yorkshire Cup.
    Molten Gold was still pretty backward and looks as if he'll need a good bit further. Forth Bridge got very tired in the last 2 furlongs but may strip fitter next time. He probably needs 12f+. Scottish Summit ran a stinker and was tailed off. When I did the critique of Ballymacoll mares a few years back I suggested they should dump this one. They should have.
    Daphne is entered for Friday's maiden at Sandown, but so is Fadillah. This is often the toughest fillies maiden of the year and if it's not heavy may turn out to be this year. Taghrooda's full-sister is entered with a number of other well-bred maidens.
    Before that Bonhomie will probably run at Catterick. She showed promise last year, has looked reasonable on the gallops and at such an ordinary track could get off the mark.
     
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  6. Janabelle13

    Janabelle13 Well-Known Member

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    On the 6 pm News on BBC1 tonight there is going to be a bit on the Royal Stud
     
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  7. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    The Queen has 2 runners at Salisbury. The first Mainstream won with a devastaing finish on his 2nd start but pulled throughout the race. If he settles today he must go close.. I can't fancy Forth Bridge in the maiden. This is a race the Queen has won with Estmate and Fabricate in recent years but this colt doesn't look up to it
     
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  8. PNkt

    PNkt Well-Known Member

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    Her Majesty was spotted in Newmarket this morning at William Haggas' before heading over to Stoute's. A morning off "duty" for her!

    Bustino I thought you might like to read this online magazine which has an article on the Queen and her breeding/racing operation. I knew about her deals with Darley and the Aga Khan but I didn't know she had also entered into arrangements with Juddmonte.
     
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  9. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Yes she had the issue of 2 mares for about 3 years. The best result was a filly called Fiery Sunset who was by Galileo out of a Chester House mare from the family of El Gran Senor. She won a 12f maiden and should have produced a foal by Exceed and Excel this year.

    Thanks for the article.

    The hoodie Mainstream won well on Saturday. Donahoe settled him in the rear and set him alight 300m out. If he can keep it together he will go places.
     
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  10. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    It doesn't include Bell I see who surprisingly now has 9 horses of hers: so more than any other trainer. At the moment Bell seems to be underachieving. He had 2 3yos from last year but these were joined by Forth Bridge and Clear Evidence (from Stoute) and Wishpoint from Haggas. Decide the significance of that for yourself. He also has 4 2yos. One of them, Merlin, looks to be an early type.
    I'd imagine she was interested in seeing Dartmouth and the 2yo Frontispiece at Stoute's, while Call to Mind, Light Music and Daphne must be good prospects at Haggas's yard.. She seems to have fewer 2yo this year. Maybe they'll be augmented later by a few brought in animals.

    I see Dartmouth is entered for Friday as I suggested, but he'd want it good or firmer.

    Thanks again pN
     
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  11. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    A couple of big days for the Queen with a number of runners. Most prominent on Friday is Dartmouth in the Ormonde. He seemed to like the extra distance that the John Porter sprouted at Chelmsford and the 13f around Chester should hold no worries. Stoute says he didn’t like some heavy ground he encountered last year and that it set him back. If the ground is good enough he should take this Group 3 event. Molten Gold makes another start in a 12f maiden at Lingfield and while he’s likely to strip fitter he’ll do well to be placed.

    Of even more interest to the Queen will be the seasonal debut of her own-bred Light Music at Lingfield on Saturday. Her first attempt at a Group prize, she should really win this. What is surprising is that her other ‘useful’ filly, Make Fast, lines up in the same race. You would have thought they could have found another race for her. There is a Class 2 3yo fillies handicap at Ascot on Saturday she was entered in.

    The Queen has already named her yearlings. As ever they are well-chosen. Here are the cleverest names (both colts) in my opinion:-
    Round the Buoy by Henrythenavigator out of Key Point
    Sextant by Sea the Stars out of Hypoteneuse

    I'm not Bell's greatest fan but I think Forecaster could score in the coming week.

    Ballymacoll continue their trickle of runners. They are yet to have a winner this year and Friday have an extremely well-bred filly making her seasonal debut. Abingdon is by Street Cry out of an unraced Galileo sister of Islington called Justlookdontouch (which is an awful name: should have been something like Euclidia). Abingdon had one quiet but respectable run as a 2yo and starts off her 3yo campaign at Ascot. Hopefully she’ll go well and get the first win of the season for the owners. Petrucci keeps being entered then withdrawn (he was in a handicap at Chester today but withdrawn 2 days ago). When he does run he should be followed.
     
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  12. SaveTheHumans

    SaveTheHumans Well-Known Member

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    I like the Round the Buoy naming...out of one of my favourite horses in Henrythenavigator too. Will keep a close eye on him.
     
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  13. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Yes I like HtN as a sire. The mare isn't bad either as she's a Galileo half-sister to Kalanisi.
     
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  14. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Dartmouth duly won but it was more of a workmanlike performance than anything. The next step they are saying will be the Hardwicke but I wonder whether he shouldn't go for the Coronation Cup. Not always the toughest of races and he appears capable of going round corners.
    Light Music could only finish 2nd on her reappearance. Warren did say she was short of a gallop before the race but she was comfortably beaten. Having said that the race didn't go her way and she is worth another chance. I do think a race like the Jersey or Hungerford may be her limit.

    The Queen has Clear Evidence running for her today and this Cape Cross brother to Peacock is unlikely to upset Hamdan's runner. He was trained by Stoute as a 2yo but is now in the care of Bell. He'll be a better 3yo that's certain.
    Tomorrow Forecaster runs at Lingfield. This filly ran 3 times as a 2yo and didn't show much but has been working well on the gallops. I can see her running well especially now that Bell's horses are running a little better.

    Ballymacoll got off the mark with Abingdon takingly winning a 10f maiden at Ascot. She appears useful and certainly buckled down to her task in the last two furlongs. Apparently she goes to Newbury for what used to be the listed Ballymacolll Stakes. She should have a future.

    Thetis, who one would imagine is rated higher than Abingdon and Canonbury (don't forget this one), is set to reappear at York on Friday in a listed event. Liber Nauticus's sister should go close if she runs. Petrucci is entered to run at Newmarket on Friday. Will he run.
     
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  15. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    The Queen had two fillies gaining good wins in the last 10 days. Daphne won her maiden at Newmarket but rather spoiled the impression by running off a true line. She now becomes the 6th winning foal for her dam Daring Aim (from 7 produce). She has an entry for the Ribblesdale but may find that a bit of a stretch. Her 2yo brother is Missed (by So You Think)and is with Stoute. To my mind a more significant winner was Saturday’s Diploma at York. As I suggested in my introduction to this thread it was felt that she’d gone over the top when running poorly at Newmarket last back end. She put up a very encouraging performance on Saturday and if robust enough should easily pick up black type. She lengthened nicely when pressurised by the favourite and 12f, and maybe even 14f, should be within her ability. Her form places her above Daphne at the moment but she does not have the entries: maybe the Lancashire Oaks?

    There are a lot of Royal entries (mostly lesser lights) in the coming week and she may pick up a winner or two. I’d be most interested in Peacock’s brother Clear Evidence on Thursday. On Wednesday she has a purchased filly called Labyrinth making her debut in a Kempton 3yo maiden. By Lawman she is the first foal out of a Galileo daughter of a Prix de Diane winner. She starts over 7f but must surely get further.

    One disappointment has to have been mainstream’s 2nd run. He pulled strongly and ran a lifeless race. So it’s back to the drawing board with him.

    Ballymacoll continue their low rate of runners which is very disappointing. Petrucci eventually reappeared on the all-weather but could manage only a 4th. He should find a decent handicap. I will be very disappointed if Thetis does not win today.

    She is Ballymacoll’s only entered runner in the next 5 days, yet they have 22 horses in training. Is this low rate of runners and winners the result of keeping so many mares that were unraced. Horses are bred to run, that’s what they are supposed to do
     
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  16. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    I am very disappointed
     
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  17. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    No Oaks runners for these breeders despite them having Diploma, Daphne and Abingdon between them. However the Queen has 3 with chances running today. First up is Make Fast in the Surrey Stakes immediately after The Oaks. She bustled up Light Music at Newbury last year and has ability and likes soft ground. She gets all the allowances being a filly and she has a real chance.
    Later at Doncaster Hammer Gun goes for the first time in a handicap. He has a couple of tough opponents but should be up to winning this. Later in the last at Bath Final Choice can get off the mark. He ran a good race first time out this season and this Makfi gelding out of a half-sister to Dancing Brave can go one better as long as the lad gets him into the race early enough.

    Looking ahead Abingdon's reappearance at Newbury next week is eagerly awaited. Though considered lucky to have beaten Skiffle at Ascot she did, and a bold run from Skiffle will enhance her chance. It is about time some 2yos started appearing.
     
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  18. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Abingdon duly gave Ballymacoll their 2nd winner of the season and she appears useful. I think she could be a decent 10f filly but Ballymacoll are saying she should go further. I hope they prove to be right. A likely target is the Lancashire Oaks. They are still to have a 2yo entered. With a 1/3 of the season gone and only 2 winners Ballymacoll need to get a move on.

    The Queen has had two nice maiden wins this week (though one was in a handicap). Forth Bridge's win showed a lot of resolution and this gelding could do well in handicaps. As mentioned elsewhere I am bemused by the fact that they sold the dam of this one. They bought the granddam, Daralbayda, from the Aga Khan at the sales in about 2003 and Sally Forth (Forth Bridge's dam) was the result of breeding Daralbayda with Dubai Destination. Sally Forth won one race and then was sent twice to Bernardini, which one presumes shows they rated the mare. However after producing Forth Bridge they sold her! Last weekend another grandaughter of Daralbayda produced the Prix de Jockey Club winner Almanzor. These all emanate from one of the mares the Aga picked up from Boussac in the '70s. Why after 2 matings did they sell her?
    The second winner was Pure Fantasy who is by Fastnet Rock out of Fictitious, who is a full-sister to Phantom Gold (Ribblesdale winner and dam of Oaks 2nd Flight of Fancy). She had some fair form as a maiden 2yo and duly won on her seasonal debut. I'm sure they'll be interested in her for the paddocks but before that she should win a race or two more. By the way Flight of Fancy's last foal, Guy Fawkes, won so authoritatively at Redcar two weeks ago that you'd fancy him to progress significantly.

    Next week is Royal Ascot and the Quueen likes a runner there. Light Music currently has 3 entries, so is likely to go for one of them. Make Fast who ran a reasonable sort of race at Epsom last week is entered in one of those races but I feel she needs soft ground. Daphne is entered for the Ribblesdale and hopefully will get placed but I can't see her winning. Dartmouth is entered and fancied for the Hardwicke Stakes. If he has improved he must have chances. The most intriguing entry is Diploma in the Sandringham Stakes. She has just won a fair handicap at York over an extended 10f but is now entered for an 8f race. Has she been showing lots of speed on the gallops or does the Queen just want to see her run next week? Light Music and Make Fast are entered in the same race by the way. As regards Royal 2yos Elementary has been entered but not declared, while Merlin has been seen on the gallops.
     
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  19. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    Royal Ascot was a meeting of mixed fortunes for the Queen. The real low was the loss of her promising 3yo colt Guy Fawkes on Thursday. The high was the victory of Dartmouth on Saturday.
    Other lows were the runs of Light Music and Daphne, both trained by Haggas who had a poor Royal Ascot. Though the stable may be out of form both of these fillies appeared outclassed. Diploma and Fabricate ran with some credit. Dropping down from 10f to 8f Diploma ran a race that suggested she’d prefer further. She should be followed at 10f+. Fabricate ran with some credit in the 12f handicap and can win a handicap at 12-14f.
    To listen to the pundits before the race Dartmouth had no chance in the Hardwicke, yet he travelled beautifully throughout the race and won by a comfortable head. He certainly wasn’t given a hard race, just given enough encouragement by Peslier to take Highland Reel, whose jockey, admittedly, had lost his whip. Though there was an enquiry it would have been hard on Dartmouth if he’d lost the race. So a huge improvement this season from a colt that only had a rating of 102 at the start of the season. The next step looks difficult however and I’m afraid I can’t see him being a contender in the King George. Another Group 2 event should be targeted and a hunt for an easier Group 1 overseas. That’s his level.
    This week it looks as if the first Royal 2yo will run. The horse in question is Elementary who is an Exceed and Excel half-brother to the useful Husbandry. Bell’s gallop videos show him to be up with the best of his 2yos but unfortunately that’s not saying too much at the moment. He is set to debut at Kempton and a place would be encouraging as Bell (6% strike rate this season[!])rarely pushes his 2yos first time out. He is only one of 3 Royal runners today. I’d imagine this is Mainstream’s last chance to put his best foot forward or he’ll be for the chop (literally). The less talented Final Choice could score if he didn’t give his opponents a huge advantage at the start.
    In fact it’s a week of lesser lights running but at leat the Queen’s horses are running and she could have 10 winners on the board by Saturday night. The most interesting runner other than Elementary is Labyrinth on Sunday.

    The Ballymacoll season continues to be too quiet. Averaging a runner a week (from 21 horses in training) is just not good enough and this is a stud currently in decline (I’ll say more about this later). They have nothing entered and no sign of 2yos being entered or on the gallops. Yarrow looks as if she’ll take a race somewhere and Song of Namibia could win, but other than that it is all about Abingdon.
     
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  20. Bustino74

    Bustino74 Thouroughbred Breed Enthusiast

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    The Royal bandwagon rolls on and her seasonal score is 11 winners. Her total last year was 20 and her best recent score 23 so she looks well on course to beat those figures. Most important recent win was Pick Your Choice (a half-brother to Diploma) who won his first race after being off the track for nearly a year. He looks as if he’s being lined up for a nice handicap at Ascot or Goodwood. Her other winner last week was Final Choice who is on course to go to the July Sales at the moment. Her first 2yo, Elementary, did nothing special on his debut but may strip fitter next time. She runs her 2nd 2yo when Roger Charlton sends the Royal Applause colt Maths Prize to Sandown tomorrow. He is out of a full-sister to Oaks 2nd Flight of Fancy called Hypoteneuse (hence his name) and half-brother to Pythagorean who Charlton also trained and who seemed gifted but temperamental. Hopefully Maths Prize will turn out to be more straightforward.

    Later in the day Charlton runs the useful 3yo filly Pure Fantasy at Haydock. She won well on her seasonal debut and looks capable of carrying the 7lb lift she got from the handicappers. Charlton’s horses look in reasonable form and with a few winners for the Queen he should stay on the Royal roster: on ability he certainly deserves to. Saturday sees Make Fast runs at Sandown in a listed handicap on Saturday. She ran a fair race at Royal Ascot and with Moore booked could go close. Finally Labyrinth is set to reappear at Windsor on Monday, again with Moore in the saddle. I'd be disappointed if she doesn't win.
     
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