We have the informative five day declarations for the Brocklesby Stakes, and it makes for very interesting reading. Twenty five horses are entered at this stage, with some very famous colours in attendance, with Khalid Abdullah entering Escalating, an early foal by Three Valleys out of a Zamindar mare. However it is the entries by the first season sire Zebedee that really catch my eye. Zebedee was a speedy precocious juvenile, who was trained by Richard Hannon Snr, and he made a great impact when winning the Molecombe (beating Stone Of Folca) and the Flying Childers in his only season as a racehorse. He has been well supported at stud (70+ have gone through the ring for this season) and I expect that he will be the sire that starts the best from those making their debuts as sires. He has one that is trained by Clive Cox, Brazen Spirit, and it is interesting that they have already jocked up Adam Kirby for the ride. The breeding isn't anything special, but the yard know how to ready a juvenile (10% fto win percentage last season), and the booking suggests they are serious about targeting this race. Magic Florence is the other Zebedee, and like Brazen Spirit, he has a jockey on the racecard, and it is the wonderfully talented Graham Lee who is down to take the ride. This horse is better than Brazen Spirit on breeding, but she was a later foal and the Given's yard isn't as prolific with their first time out winners (6% last year). She however is a half sister to the prolific Hamza, he was a precocious talent, winning on debut early in his juvenile season, and this filly has the right breeding to be as precocious as her half brother. We also have entrants from the prolific Hannon and Fahey yards, with Flyball for Hannon and Heaven's Secret for Fahey. Flyball is related to a couple of winners, and is a March foal, whilst Heaven's Secret is from a family full of sprint winners including Alben Star and Secret Place. Heaven's Secret is the more interesting of the pair but is a relatively late foal for this race, being born in late April. Then we have a horse from Bill Turner, need we say more? Paddy Again is the horse and whilst she doesn't look the best horse on breeding, she is sure to know her game and should probably run well for her claiming jockey. Mick Easterby has had a winner in this and could saddle Mountain Man, who is a gelding by Hellvelyn and is a late March foal. The one that interests me the most is Brazen Spirit who Clive Cox will want to go one better than his last runner in this race, Well Acquainted, who got nailed close home in the race two renewals previous.
The sire I feel sorry for is Winker Watson. Brilliant winner of Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and July Stakes at Newmarket as a 2yo, unbeaten in 3 as a 2yo but never won another race. Failed at stud, returned to the track and still not a win. Even tried at Meydan and finished last but one both times. Now trying his hand (so to speak) at stud again. He desperately needs a change of luck. He has one in this race called Duquesa Penguin. I would love to see this one waddle into a place.
