Similar idea to Bustinos recent post although this will be nowhere near as easy on the inner ears. These are some of the horses I am looking forward to and will be following, some with higher expectations than others, there are a good few more but decided to cap it at 12, 6 colts and 6 fillies. Im sure many of you will aware of most of them already but hopefully there is 1 or 2 you dont know. So get your notebooks ready. Listed by class top to bottom in my opinion. Fillies My Titania - John Oxx First Group winner for Sea The Stars and first Sea The Stars runner for Christopher Tsui, a daughter of the first horse to run in his colours, the mare, Fairy Of The Night, a listed winner in the Fairy Bridge Stakes of all races. My Titania was named after the fairy queen in Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream. Her 2yo campaign has been basically the fillies equivalent of Sea The Stars, winning her maiden at the second attempt before a narrow win on her third run and first try in Group company. She has gone under the radar a bit, as Sea The Stars did, and the form is nothing to shout about, but this filly has shown glimpses of real class and seems to have inherited her sire's temperament and tendency to idle in front, just doing enough. The move she made on debut round the outside of what was just a mediocre field, with little urging from McDonagh screamed class, she bumped into a decent little sprinter that day and showed plenty in finishing second. Her second start was again reminiscent of Sea The Stars, handy early, travelled easily, quickened sharply and done what she had to do with the minimum of fuss. On her last start, she again travelled powerfully, and again just like Sea The Stars in his third start, cruised through a gap bumping another horse out of the way before coming back on the bridle. Unlike Sea The Stars, she quickened up and kicked clear before being closed down late by a good, but ungenuine horse in Chicago Girl. McDonagh reported that My Titania did not see the other horse because she was out towards the middle of the track and that his filly was pulling up in front. I have seen enough from this filly to overlook the form and believe that she is capable of posting a much higher level when given the chance and as long as the ground is nice at Newmarket, I dont think there is another filly out there who can live with her. If she can win the Guineas, the Oaks would be the next target and I wouldnt write her off staying the trip either. Balansiya - Dermot Weld First Aga Khan runner and winner for Dermot Weld and you couldnt fail to be impressed by what she showed. It probably wasnt a great maiden, and she had the run of the race, but you just dont see debuts like that very often, she was electric. Given that it was Welds first runner for the Aga Khan, im sure she would have been plenty ready to run and I dont expect huge improvement but there is not much she could have improved from that! She is surely a Group 1 filly and I hope they wait for the Irish 1000 Guineas as she would certainly be a big danger to My Titania if turning up at Newmarket. Taghrooda - John Gosden Another by Sea The Stars, Hamdan filly who was seemingly unfancied at 20/1 on debut in a Newmarket maiden. She travelled like a dream and kept finding all the way to the line to beat a solid yardstick in Casual Smile who had the benefit of two strong runs under her belt. This filly is bred to stay all day and to show that sort of speed and class was very impressive. She should be starting out in an Oaks Trial and ill be surprised if she is not a major player come the big day. Cambridge - Charlie Hills This is another potential Oaks filly, her debut was just as impressive but in a different way from Taghrooda. She is a big scopey, galloping, class looking filly and while she probably lacks the gears of the Gosden filly, she looks to have a big engine and will do plenty off the bridle. She looked to have plenty to do 2 out but she just kept picking up and finished well on top with plenty left, beating a filly who had previous experience and who went on to frank the form next time. Another for an Oaks trial, hopefully avoiding Taghrooda before the big one. Folk Melody - Charlie Appleby This filly was impressive when winning her maiden at Newmarket, I didnt quite get the same visual impression but I like the form and I like her breeding. She should be up to winning races at good level at middle distances but I wouldnt have her in the same league as the others listed. Shasta Daisy - Lady Cecil Caught my eye when checking out a nice filly of Mark Johnstons, Muteela, that one is well related but she lacks scope and got a nice trip round the inside. Shasta Daisy ran very wide on the bend but when the penny dropped she stayed on very strongly, she looks a nice big filly who should have plenty of improvement in her. She comes from a very speedy female line but is by the new Juddmonte sire Champs Elysees who was a 1m4 horse so im not sure what her trip will be, she looks to me like she could be effective from 6f to 1m. Certainly up to winning a maiden and will be interesting to see how far she can go after that. Colts Ebasani - John Oxx Absolutely love this horse, son of the mighty Manduro out of a daughter of Oxx's Irish Oaks winner Ebadiyla. He travelled with so much purpose and authority when winning his maiden at Navan, they didnt go much of a gallop which wouldnt have suited him and apparently he was nowhere near tuned up, but he got the job done comfy in the end shaping like a horse who is going to come into his own next year over 1m4. He has so much potential and I really think he could be a Derby horse. Hopefully he will go the Ballysax/Derrinstown route along with Oxx's other nice prospect Marakoush, that one looks a nailed on group horse but in similar style to his relatives, is more of a dour stayer I think. Be Ready - Bin Suroor Thought good enough to start out in a listed race and he showed why, ran a really nice race behind a decent tool in Somewhat. Went on to win very nicely at Doncaster beating Barley Mow by about 3 lengths in a pretty insignificant listed contest. He certainly showed the benefit of that first run and was much more professional, ran on very strongly and responded well to the whip. This handsome son of New Approach should stay 1m2 no problem in time but I rate him a genuine 2000 Guineas contender and the stiff straight mile should really suit him. He would have run in the Dewhurst with Outstrip but suffered a setback and didnt run again so they obviously think he is up to the top level. Hopefully he will show this season why Bin Suroor has always liked him. Munaaser - Michael Stoute Well related Hamdan colt who made a very promising debut in slowly run Yarmouth maiden which turned out to be pretty decent. He was clueless and got outpaced but ran on well towards the end, Stoutes always come on a ton for the run as we all know and this son of New Approach should prove a different proposition this season. 1m to 1m2 should be right up his street and you would hope he could end up holding his own in Group company in time. Mutakayyef - William Haggas Yet another Sea The Stars, out of the quality mile filly Infallible, showed plenty on debut and was slightly unlucky to get beat but the winner looks decent. Infallible improved a ton for her first run and if he can do the same he will be a very good horse for the season ahead. Hooded - Roger Charlton Ive mentioned this horse on here before, absolutely clueless first time out and ran a lovely race, it was nice to see him take a big step forward when winning next time. Hes by Empire Maker out of the very good mare Yashmak who was an impressive winner of the Ribbesdale in between running 4rth and 2nd in the English and Irish Oaks. Im told she has not produced anything of note yet but this colt is massive and looks to have a lot of potential. He has a mark of 80 and I expect him to make a mockery of that in a 1m2 handicap. He done well to win at a mile round Lingfield and he is only going to improve for more distance and a more galloping track. Hoist The Colours - David Lanigan This horse has been given the Lanigan treatment and Sir Mark Prescott himself would be proud. Yet another Sea The Stars, on the female side he is bred for stamina and will improve with time. You can tell he is a Sea The Stars looking at him and you can expect another easy time out the back at a short trip to get a mark. Once they step him up to 1m4 he will be the biggest certainty of the season and should rack up a 3 or 4 timer before the handicapper knows whats hit him.
Great, thanks Joe. Just arriving in Portsmouth on the Ferry so will look on Saturday, when I next get access.
Cracking thread Eddie (as was bustino's) and i cannot wait to see My Titania as a 3 year old. Just out of interest, why nothing from Ballydoyle? Not sweet on them or too many to try and pick the big one?
They have got so many Dan that are bred for the Classics and as we have seen before, the good Oaks fillies often dont come into their own until the big day after getting beat in umpteen maidens! I think War Command is rock solid in the Guineas, but there seems to have been strong support for Australia in the last few days. They obviously rate Australia as their best colt and I would agree with that, everyone knows him, was no point of me putting him up and there was no point me trying to find a better Ballydoyle colt as they probably dont have one, Geoffrey Chaucer maybe best for the rest. I quite like Adelaide, thought he was impressive first time but not sure he has the scope to improve as a 3yo like some of the others. As for the fillies, obviously Tapestry looks top class, Moyglare form is as good as any 2yo fillies form out there and she was a bit unlucky on the day but I dont see huge improvement in her. Think she might be a bit of a Moth this year, outpaced in the Guineas and not quite getting home in the Oaks. Marvellous and Dance With Another both have potential amongst a host of others but if I had to pick one of the Obrien fillies it would be Bracelet.
Very interesting Joe. It would be great to have your views on their chances whenever they run. And it would be very interesting to have recommended stakes, if any, for each run (using points as the currency) and see how they get on. Would you be happy to do that?
Really good thread Master. I think we will all have a different feel about Sea the Stars as a sire by November. Interesting comments on Coolmore. My horse for the long term from them is definitely Geoffrey Chaucer.
First runner tomorrow with Balansiya 7/4 in the 1000 Guineas Trial. Avenue Gabrial brings in a decent level of form so we have something solid to judge the race off, shes no world beater though and it would be disappointing if one of the less exposed horses was not too good for her. Bracelet is a filly I like of Obriens, ive backed her antepost for the Oaks at 20/1 so looking for a good run from her but 7f might be sharp enough for her now. Obriens Marvellous has potential and John Oxx looks to be running some of his best young horses on the card so his Harrys Princess is worth a second look. Weld has started the season well so Balansiya should be ready to go, the only worry is the ground but hopefully it wont be too bad and she can confirm the immense potential she showed on debut. The price isnt great considering the unknown potential in the race but its no surprise. 2 points win 7/4
Cambridge 33/1 Oaks - Antepost Taghrooda has been backed, 25 into 16, I got 20s but 16/1 is short enough for now, Cambridge looked the best value at 33/1 and has my biggest bet of the 3 I have backed for the race. I hear she has grown over the winter and the Musidora is the target rather than Chester. 33/1 could look enormous in due course. 2.5 points e/w 33/1
Missed Shasta Daisy during Aintree which was for the best as she ran no sort of race, Doyle let Moore cut across him and she had nowhere to go thereafter, eased down a long way out. Whether they try for a maiden or a mark now I dont know. Would have to hope that run was too bad to be true.
Munaaser runs at Pontefract tomorrow, likely to be a short price favourite and hopefully he can win. Zee Zeely looks the obvious danger with Sufranel and Munatas outside chances. No prices just now but id want 6/4, probably unlikely to get it and would reluctantly take evens or better, will be happy to watch if odds on.
Might open up odds on with the bookies then, id be hopeful tho that once the real market opens it will be trading around evens and maybe get that or 11/10. Would have to be some strength behind the Haggas runner and with Moore on and proven soft ground form there might be, 8/11 wouldnt be a fair price and thanks to betfair we usually get a fair price eventually. Or maybe it will just get smashed up and end up stupidly short.
Ebasani is indeed scheduled to run in the Ballysax on Satuday. For some reason the race is run at Navan this year.
Well Munaaser was offered all day and went off at disgraceful prices which was a saver in the end. He was running away with Hanagan at times and emptied in the straight, he will need to learn to settle better and he might be a miler on this evidence, his breeding and relations suggested that was a big possibility but I think his debut gave the false impression of a middle distance horse. It was a perfect start really, he showed plenty, we learned plenty for free and he will be a betting proposition next time.
Mutakayyef runs in the first at Newbury, likely to be stupidly short which is becoming a recurring theme, some potentially smart types in opposition, should run a big race but watching brief if under 2/1. Ebasani 4/1 runs in the Ballysax at Navan, all the usual suspects have runners and the ground will be soft enough, likely to come on for the experience and 4/1 is short enough but I really like him and im hopeful he will run a big race. 2 points win at 4/1
