With Ballymacoll dispersed to the winds last Autumn I have decided to keep an eye (for as long as I can be bothered) on the horses that hit the tracks. Today sees the first (I think).when In Demand (Fellowes) makes his debut in the 5.15 at Lingfield. He is a colt by Dalakhani out of a Montjeu mare called Fleur de Cactus, who is a half-sister to the dam of Fiorente. In Demand is her 2nd foal and the first foal was the useful Pivoine (by Redoutes Choice) who was being touted quite a bit this time last year. At that time he was being tried over 7f-8f but a gelding operation and a rise in distance to 10-11f saw him win races. He is now in training with Balding after fetching 340,000gns at the sales. In Demand has more stamina in his pedigree than his brother and 12f should be no problem. He is still entered in the Derby. Will he be tuned up for today's contest?.
In Demand ran very green first time out (different trainer/owner but same result) and needs to do better today to justify his 120,000gns price tag. His older brother Pivoine runs Saturday at Newbury for his new stable.
I'm sure no-one is missing Ballymacoll horses at the moment because their residual runners (so far) have been disappointing. The perennial problem is there that these damn horses never run much these days. However Knight to Behold waves a flag for Ballymacoll. His 4th dam was Sunny Valley (by Val de Loir) who was the dam of the excellent sun Princess as well as the tough Sadler's Hall. The 3rd dam, Dancing Shadow (by Dancer's Image) produced decent horses but her daughter was the dam of good colt Spectrum but also the fillies Well Head (dam of Conduit) and Ballet Shoes (the dam of Petrushka) and the Lincoln winner Streams of Gold But Dancer's Image also produced Ballerina (by Dancing brave) who was the dam of the Leger winner Milennary and a couple of other good colts as well as the Sadler's Wells dam of Knight Behold. Probably biting off a bit too much in Saxon Warrior but his mixture of speed and stamina will allow him to bustle up the field if Saxon Warrior doesn't stay.
Not too much to report. Aim of Artemis, who cost Godolphin a million, has been the chief flag bearer. She won well at Newmarket and ran well in the Coronation but was outclassed. a nice Group 3 somewhere should be her target. Back in 2013 unbeaten Liber Nauticus was strongly fancied for the Oaks. She made her second season debut in the Musidora and won it well. She ran 5th in the Oaks and it was probably a disappointing run. Soon after the race it was disclosed that she was injured and that she would also have a wind operation. She never ran again. Her first foal was a Dark Angel colt called Hidden Depths. He went into training with Stoute and ran poorly on his only 2yo start. He was sold by Ballymacoll for 38,000gns but stayed with Stoute. Unfancied on his seasonal debut he ran well to be 2nd to an odds on shot in a Windsor maiden. He looks to have a race in him. More significant has been the debut of Liber Nauticus's 2nd foal. This Exceed and Excel filly went for 180,000gns as a yearling and found her way to Mark Prescott's stable in the ownership of John Pearce Racing.Now in the last dozen or so years Ballymacoll have struggled to have many 2yo runners let alone winners, but this week Prescott started Miss Celestial in a 6f all-weather maiden. Relatively unfancied she ran a little green but won well. I'm sure Sir Mark will get more out of her and she should stay 10f eventually. . After Exceed and Excel Liber Nauticus visited Golden Horn and this colt was surprisingly sold for only 130,000gns. He will make an interesting 2yo next year. After this Derby winner Liber Nauticus visited another in the shape of Harzand and she was sold in foal to him for 425,000gns. Someone may have have got themselves a bargain mare.
One slipped through the net. Pivoine, having run down the field on his first 2 starts for Balding, powered home at Sandown once the visor was put back on. On Friday, he runs again in a Sandown handicap. He won so easily he gave the impression he could win again despite a 10lb rise in the weights. More interesting is the second start of Miss Celestial. Prescott rarely pushes his 2yos so it's likely this filly has some ability. Quite a tough race I can see Miss Celestial building on her debut win.
