Due to the late start of the turf season, there are going to be plenty of two-year-old races between now and the end of the year and there is every chance a future star will make their first racecourse appearance.
Since the last issue there has been some high-class two-year-old racing across Europe with plenty of Group 1 races to look back on.
Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting
The first juvenile winner of the meeting was Royal Champion who made a winning racecourse debut for Roger Varian in the one-mile maiden. He was too strong for favourite Toromana inside the final furlong winning by a length and quarter. He has an excellent pedigree and should be running in Group races over a mile and quarter next year. For a greater pedigree of gaming experience follow igaming apps for their range of adventure.
Lost In Space might have taken four starts to win his first race, but he hasn’t stopped improving since winning at Lingfield in mid-August. He followed up with a win at Newmarket’s July course and he comfortably won the one-mile nursery by four lengths off a mark of 90. He was raised 10lb for that win and is likely to have his next start for a new trainer as connections have decided to sell him at the Horses-In-Training Sale at Newmarket at the end of October.
The feature race on the opening day of the three-day meeting was the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes over 7f which saw La Barrosa go off a strong favourite following an impressive debut win at Ascot which has seen plenty of next time out winners. He picked up well inside the last 100 yards having been trapped against the running rail, leading with 50 yards to go, beating Dark Lion by a length to retain his unbeaten record. He is one of the leading juveniles in the Charlie Appleby yard and he should progress into leading three-year-old in 2021.
The opening race on the second day of the meeting went to Rainbow Fire who improved on his debut eighth at Newbury to win for John Gosden and Robert Havlin, beating Roscioli by a length, the pair three and a half lengths clear of the third, Crossford. There was plenty of promise from the well supported favourite, Quintillus who raced close to the pace and had every chance but tired inside the last furlong. Both he and Roscioli should have little trouble winning next time. Rainbow Fire could progress into a Royal Ascot horse next year, depending on how much progress he makes, the Jersey Stakes or Britannia Handicap could be the races for him.
Isabella Giles took her record to four wins from five starts in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes over 7f which only attracted five runners. She led all the way under Adam Kirby and continued the good run of Clive Cox trained two-years-olds in Group races, this the fourth win of 2020. She was too strong for Nazuna, who was making the jump from nursery company into pattern company, winning by two lengths.
Five of the seven races on the final day were for two-year-olds, Saffron Beach winning the first, a 7f maiden fillies race. Well supported from 28/1 to 12/1, she was way too good for her 14 rivals winning by four and a half lengths, providing Jane Chapple-Hyam with a third winning newcomer of 2020 from just seven runners.
The first of three Group races, the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile was up next and like the Rockfel Stakes the previous day, this too attracted a field of five, however this was a much stronger race with four of the five rated 105 or higher.
New Mandate stayed on well under Frankie Dettori having taken the lead a furlong and a half from the finish, beating Ontario by three quarters of a length with pace-setting Cobh in third and the previously unbeaten pair, Gear Up and Pleasant Man fourth and fifth respectively. New Mandate could be heading for the Breeders’ Cup at Keenland in November, where he will bid to provide his trainer, Ralph Beckett, with a first Group 1 two-year-old winner.
Two Group 1 races over 6f were the next two races, the Cheveley Park Stakes for fillies and the Middle Park Stakes for colts. Eight fillies lined up for the Cheveley Park with Lowther Stakes winner, Miss Amulet the 5/2 favourite with Ryan Moore onboard for the first time. Alcohol Free, winner of the Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury, attracted plenty of support, in from an opening price of 6/1 to 7/2 second favourite. Given Dandalla was unbeaten having won at Royal Ascot and the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at the July Festival, it was a surprise to see her as big as 5/1.
The market got it pretty much spot on with the well-supported Alcohol Free, who took the lead at halfway, holding off the challenges of Miss Amulet and Umm Kulthum inside the last furlong to win by half a length. Happy Romance finished fourth, whilst Dandalla never managed to land a blow and was fifth. Alcohol Free’s trainer, Andrew Balding has had an excellent season, a first 2000 Guineas winner courtesy of Kameko, and this was his first winner in the Cheveley Park Stakes. A mile next year will be Alcohol Free’s limit based on her pedigree, she is a best-priced 33/1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas. Miss Amulet is all about speed and she should pick up some good sprint races in 2021 as too should Umm Kulthum who has progressed very well since her debut win at Thirsk.
Among the eight runners in the Middle Park Stakes were four individual Group 2 winners and a Group 1 winner, Lucky Vega, was the 5/2 favourite. His Group 1 came in the Phoenix Stakes and he was unlucky not to be closer in the Group 1 National Stakes having met with plenty of trouble in running. He made the trip from Jessica Harrington’s stable in Ireland and was the mount of Shane Foley. The UK challenge was headed by Method from the Martyn Meade yard who hadn’t raced since an easy win in Listed company in July. Gimcrack winner, Minzaal and Richmond winner, Supremacy were the next two in the betting.
Method’s race was over soon after the start as his saddle slipped, his jockey Frankie Dettori doing well to remain onboard. Just as at Goodwood, Supremacy set out to make all the running, the pair were strongly challenged by Lucky Vega a furlong and a half from the finish and had the race between them entering the final furlong. Supremacy responded well to Adam Kirby’s riding and they went on to win by half a length from Lucky Vega with Minzaal running on from the rear but never managing to challenge, two and a quarter lengths away in third. Despite having had plenty of Group winners in recent years, this was Clive Cox’s first Group 1 two-year-old winner since Reckless Abandon won the same race in 2012. The 2000 Guineas will stretch Supremacy’s stamina so the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, a race Cox won this year with Golden Horde, looks like being his target for 2021. There are certainly plenty more good races to be won by Lucky Vega and Minzaal, provided the latter can settle better.
A fillies nursery was the final two-year-old race at the meeting and that went to Mystery Angel who raced against the stands rail, just as Majestic Dawn had done when breaking the track record in the Cambridgeshire in the preceding race. Mystery Angel beat The Flying Ginger, who drifted across from the group in the centre, by a length and a half with Sayifyouwill, the only other filly to race against the stands rail in third. The Flying Ginger won her next start, a nursery at York a fortnight later. There is plenty more to come from Meu Amor and Iconic Queen who finished fourth and fifth respectively having raced in the centre of the track.
Longchamp Arc de Triomphe Weekend
There was only one two-year-old race on the first day of the two-day meeting, a conditions race over 7f. Jadoomi, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, ran out an impressive winner, drawing clear inside the final furlong to win by seven lengths. The only other British trained runner was Calcutta Cup who ran well for a long way but faded a furlong from the finish to be fifth.
Due to some issues with horse feed, Aidan O’Brien and his two sons, Joseph and Donnacha, withdrew their horses from their intended races at the meeting and rerouted their two-year-olds to Newmarket a week later. More about those runners later.
Five runners lined up for the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over 7f, where Nando Parrado, trained by Clive Cox, was the 3/5 favourite having finished second in the Group 1 Prix Morny on his most recent start. He had every chance turning into the straight but was no match for Sealiway who took the lead with a couple of furlongs to go and powered clear on the heavy ground to win by eight lengths from Nando Parrado. This was the best performance from a French trained juvenile in 2020 and Sealiway should return to Longchamp in the spring as one of the favourites for the French 2000 Guineas.
History was made in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac when Jessica Marcialis became the first female French jockey to ride a Group 1 winner, Tiger Tanaka. They managed to avoid the trouble that plenty of her rivals encountered a furlong and a half from the finish, beating Tasmania, who also avoided the trouble, by three quarters of a length. Not too many horses win three claiming races and go on to land a Group 1 but that is what Tiger Tanaka achieved prior to this success, only beaten once in her six races this year. She will face much stronger opposition in the French 1000 Guineas but thanks to this Group 1 victory, she is an extremely valuable filly.
Fev Rover, trained by Richard Fahey, was one of the fillies who met with trouble, doing well to be fourth, running on well inside the final furlong. She was sent off favourite for this race and is worth another chance in Group 1 company as too is King’s Harlequin who appeared to be hampered twice before being eased inside the final furlong.
Newmarket Future Champions Meeting
The two-day meeting began with the first division of a fillies maiden over 7f. Divine Light, a newcomer trained by Charlie Appleby, got the better of Achelois, who improved on her debut eighth, inside the last furlong to win by half a length, the pair clear of Oasis Cove, who also stepped up on her debut run.
Having gone close in the first division with Achelois, Andrew Balding took the second division with Nebulosa who led all the way and beat Subtle Beauty, who attracted plenty on support, by two and three quarter lengths. Brunnera improved on her debut run at Newcastle to finish third for in-form trainer Hugo Palmer.
The Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes over 5f was the first of three Group races on the card for two-year-olds. Method made a quick reappearance following the Middle Park Stakes and was the 11/4 favourite. He stayed on well from midfield to finish second but was no match for Winter Power who raced prominently throughout and won by three lengths, the first of three Group winners on the card for former champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa. Winter Power should progress into a smart sprinter next year for Tim Easterby and ought to be able to add to this first Group success. Burning Cash proved his third in Listed company at Doncaster last time when he was a 150/1 shot wasn’t a fluke by finishing third again.
Saffron Beach followed up her debut course and distance win by winning the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes over 7f, racing in touch with the pace, she led a furlong and a half from the finish and held off the challenge of Thank You Next by half a length with Shine For You running on well inside last 150 yards but never close enough to challenge. Saffron Beach’s trainer, Jane Chapple-Hyam was winning her first Group race with a two-year-old since 2010. Given this was just the second run of her career, there should be more to come from Saffron Beach in 2021 with the Nell Gwyn Stakes here in April an ideal prep run for the 1000 Guineas.
Having been unable to run in the Prix Marcel Boussac, Joseph O’Brien rerouted Pretty Gorgeous to the Group 1 Fillies Mile, the feature race on the card. She was one of 10 fillies in the race which included Shale, the pair having met three times already with Shale winning twice and Pretty Gorgeous once. The soft ground was in Pretty Gorgeous’ favour at Newmarket and she was the 5/2 favourite with Shale at 7/2 for Donnacha O’Brien and Ryan Moore, the same price as Isabella Giles who helped to make the pace with Dubai Fountain. Shale was off the bridle with three furlongs to go and failed to land a blow finishing sixth. Pretty Gorgeous however, travelled strongly for Shane Crosse and made progress with two and a half furlongs to go, taking the lead a furlong and a half from the finish and holding off the challenge of May Hill winner, Indigo Girl by half a length.
The third placed horse appeared to be Snowfall but following the race Aidan O’Brien revealed there had been a mix-up with the saddles of his two runners, Mother Earth the other, and it was in fact Mother Earth who had finished third and Snowfall eighth. Both horses are likely to be disqualified as a result which will promote Dubai Fountain to third place.
Pretty Gorgeous showed a good attitude inside the last furlong and she deserves to be the favourite for the 1000 Guineas, however given the likelihood of faster ground in early May, Shale might be the one to be with for the 1000 Guineas at her current odds of 16/1, whilst Indigo Girl appeals as a contender for the Oaks, currently a best priced 16/1 chance for that race.
Day two began with a nursery which saw Wobwobwob get back to winning ways under Oisin Murphy, leading all the way and holding off the favourite Zoffarelli by a neck with Mr Trick running well on his nursery debut in third.
The Zetland Stakes has had something of a resurgence in recent years, having been a conditions race in 2014, it was run with Group 3 status for the first time. A mile and a quarter is a tough ask for two-year-olds on good ground but with the ground soft, it proved to be a real challenge for some of the eight runners, Babindi, who trailed home last was beaten 30 lengths.
The final two furlongs were dominated by Lone Eagle and Recovery Run who had the race between themselves, Lone Eagle with the rail to run against staying on the better of the pair to win by a length and three quarters with Mystery Angel running on from the rear but never challenging in third and Fabilis, who ran well for a long way, fading into fourth. The big disappointment of the race was the 2/1 favourite, Kyprios who was never going well for Ryan Moore and finished sixth, beaten over 16 lengths.
Lone Eagle is going to stay a mile and a half at least next year and will be aimed at a Derby trial in the spring according to Freddie Meade. Recovery Run has finished first or second in his six races this year and despite going up in the handicap from 88 to 107, will be found a good race next year by Andrew Balding.
There was open look to the betting for the Group 3 Autumn Stakes, Van Gogh and Maximal the 9/2 joint favourites in a field of 10. Having been a little unlucky in a Listed race at Doncaster when meeting trouble, One Ruler had no such problems in this race, racing close to the pace but wide, he made progress to lead with a furlong and a half to go and stayed on well inside the final furlong, beating Van Gogh, who was forced to switch from racing against the stands rail with a couple of furlongs to go to the outside over furlong from the finish, by a length and three quarters, Dhahabi a further length and a half away in third and Megallan, who finished nicely under hands heels inside the last furlong, in fourth.
One Ruler certainly had the better run through the race than Van Gogh and there wouldn’t have been much between them had they both enjoyed a clear run through.
The most prestigious two-year-old race to be run in Britain, the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, was the final juvenile contest at the meeting and it attracted the largest field since 2010, 14. The only previous Group 1 winner, impressive National Stakes winner, Thunder Moon, was sent off the 11/4 favourite to provide Joseph O’Brien with a Group 1 double at the meeting. He has already beaten two of his rivals at the Curragh, Wembley and St Mark’s Basilica, who like Pretty Gorgeous was rerouted from Longchamp, both trained by Aidan O’Brien. The second favourite, Cadillac, attracted plenty of support, in from 7/1 to 4/1 for Jessica Harrington. The home challenge was led by Chindit who had been the subject of very positive home reports from Richard Hannon in the week leading up to the race. Chindit travelled well for Pat Dobbs but was stuck behind Devious Company who faded into Chindit with a couple of furlongs to go, leaving Chindit with no chance in the final furlong and a half.
Devilwawa, making his debut for Ralph Beckett, took the field along and was in front until headed over a furlong from the finish by St Mark’s Basilica who travelled well in midfield for Frankie Dettori. Thunder Moon travelled just as strongly as St Mark’s Basilica and he made progress with a couple of furlongs to go, having every chance but his run flattened out inside the 100 yards. Wembley, who had a wide draw to contend with, was patiently ridden by Ryan Moore and made good progress a furlong and a half from the finish, running on strongly inside the last furlong but couldn’t quite get to St Mark’s Basilica who held on to win by three quarters of a length, with Thunder Moon a length and three quarters away in third and Devilwawa outrunning his 100/1 odds in fourth.
St Mark’s Basilica, a half-brother to Magna Grecia who won the 2019 2,000 Guineas for O’Brien is one of the 8/1 co-favourites for the 2021 Guineas with Battleground, not seen since winning at Goodwood in July, and Thunder Moon, who Joseph O’Brien thinks might be better over shorter than a mile. Wembley is a best priced 12/1 and he looks sure to be thereabouts also.
Other Group/Listed Races
High Definition, another Aidan O’Brien trained colt, shot to the head of the ante-post betting for the Derby following his win in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh where he appeared to have plenty to do with two furlongs to go but finished strongly to lead close to the finish. He has won both his starts and will run in one of the Derby trials in the spring.
The Dewhurst form was given a boost when Poetic Flare, tenth in that race, comfortably won the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown a week later.
