IT feels like the new Flat season has stepped up a gear now we’ve seen more top-notchers this week at the Craven meeting.
I have picked out a deadly dozen to take on the bookies with this summer, including a couple who really caught my eye at HQ.
AFPGet ready for the fastest horses on earth, big-money prizes and huge handicaps – it’s the return of the Flat[/caption]
Rather than go for potential Classic winners, this list is more about horses who can improve through the campaign and pay their way for connections — and, of course, us punters!
I have shied away from two-year-olds and looked for horses who have already given us a hint of what’s to come.
Middle Earth has the scope and class to develop into an Ascot Gold Cup horse for John Gosden while Roger Varian has two on my list — Charyn and Shadow Dance — and I fancy the studious Newmarket-based trainer to enjoy a good season.
Here’s my 12 to follow…
ALMAQAM
TRAINER: Ed Walker
AGE: 3; FORM: 4-
WE saw this son of Lope De Vega just once last season when he was a very green fourth in an October Newmarket maiden. Tom Marquand wasn’t hard on him but he shaped well in fourth over a mile that’s going to be on the sharp side for him.
He was picking up nicely at the line and should have learned a fair bit. He’s in the Derby and, while that will surely be asking a lot, it underlines middle-distances will be his game this season. He’s closely related to Group-class performers and should be able to make his mark.
CHARYN
TRAINER: Roger Varian
AGE: 4; FORM: 1231/2843833-1
THIS Dark Angel colt had a busy season for Roger Varian last year with seven runs — all at a high level. But his comeback win at Doncaster last month proved that hasn’t left a mark as he clocked a personal best to win the Doncaster Mile.
He had plenty in hand and is better than that Listed level especially when the ground is testing. He powered through the line and a mile and a quarter could be just as suitable when the ground is a bit quicker. He looks versatile and can strike again before the ground dries out — if it ever does!
CHORUS
TRAINER: William Haggas
AGE: 3; FORM: 5-2
WILLIAM HAGGAS is a master at bringing young horses through the ranks and this Kingman filly rates a nice prospect. She was a good fifth in a Newmarket maiden on debut and was seen again at Wolverhampton in November where she finished like a train over an inadequate 1m1f into second.
She looks all about stamina and is certain to come into her own when trying a mile and a half in the coming months. She may need another low-key run to get her handicap mark and looks the type who can land some nice prizes before ending up in Listed races later in the campaign.
DOLCE COURAGE
TRAINER: John Gosden
AGE: 4; FORM: 11-
HE didn’t run as a two-year-old and it took until October to get him on the track last year. This son of Siyouni was impressive on both runs in winning at Southwell and improving for the step up to a mile at Newcastle where he defied a penalty.
He hasn’t beaten a lot but looks a big, strong type who can progress as a four-year-old for the Gosdens. We’ll have to see how he takes to turf but he’s certainly rates a decent prospect around a mile and a quarter.
EBEN ZABEEL
TRAINER: Charlie Hills
AGE: 3; FORM: 0-5
THERE are handicaps to be won with this son of Sea The Stars who sports the famous Shadwell Stud blue and white. He showed he had something about him in a Newmarket maiden in September and still looked green when an improved fifth on comeback at Yarmouth earlier this month when Jim Crowley was very quiet on him.
He needs one more run for a handicap mark and this dark horse can then step things up.
GULF LEGEND
TRAINER: James Ferguson
AGE: 3; FORM: 6-
CONNECTIONS forked out £300,000 for this Dubawi colt who looks a nice prospect for middle-distances. We saw him just once last season where he was promising over a mile at Haydock, beaten just four lengths and running on out wide away from the principals.
The form of that race is working out well with the winner holding his own in a Group 3 before landing a hat-trick in Dubai. James Ferguson is a useful trainer who usually gets the best out of his horses and should be able to win a couple with this colt.
HAMPDEN PARK
TRAINER: Andrew Balding
AGE: 4; FORM: 431-
THIS lightly-raced four-year-old ended last season on a high, winning a nice contest at Ascot with plenty left in the tank. That was a really good showing on his turf debut and, while his opening handicap mark of 90 isn’t lenient, he has scope to improve past it for owner Sir Alex Ferguson.
He saw out the mile and a half trip really strongly under Oisin Murphy and it will be disappointing if he doesn’t win more races this season. He has lots of physical scope and looks the type to come into his own as a four-year-old especially as he didn’t see the racetrack as a juvenile.
INDELIBLE
TRAINER: Ralph Beckett
AGE: 3; FORM: 21-
CONNECTIONS think enough of this Shamardal filly to have her in the 1,000 Guineas but she shapes as though 1m2f and maybe further will be her best distance this season. She caught the eye when finishing second in bad ground at Salisbury on debut in October. She was hampered there which didn’t help and showed the benefit of that run with a convincing victory at Lingfield a month later.
She took well to the better all-weather surface and had the race won a long way from home. That was over a mile but she ran right through the line and will want at least another couple of furlongs. She looks better than a handicapper for popular Raif.
JAYAREBE
TRAINER: Brian Meehan
AGE: 3; FORM: 17-1
THIS Zoffany colt was a good winner on debut on the July course in August and was far from disgraced when Brian Meehan threw into Group 1 level in France when he didn’t get the run of the race. There was a lot to like about this comeback win and he tanked along and hit the front a quarter of a mile out.
He powered away and looks like 1m2f or even further might bring out his best this summer. I’d be surprised if this was his only win of the season.
KIKKULI
TRAINER: Harry Charlton
AGE: 3; FORM: 2-1
ANY half-brother to Frankel is worth keeping a close eye on and this colt looked smart when second on debut at HQ in November in a useful maiden. He left that form behind when blasting home under Ryan Moore on Tuesday.
He beat a nice Godolphin colt and stormed through the line over seven furlongs. He’ll come into his own over a mile and looks potentially Group class.
MIDDLE EARTH
TRAINER: J Gosden
AGE: 4; FORM: 221171-
THE Gosdens got plenty of improvement out of this Roaring Lion colt last term. He didn’t run as a two-year-old and progressed to win the Melrose Handicap at York’s Ebor meeting. He was poor in the St Leger but was keen under Oisin Murphy.
It could have been the softer ground that was against him. He proved that was just a blip by finishing the campaign with a battling Listed success at Ascot. The Gosdens know what they are doing with a stayer having guided the likes of Stradivarius to the heights. This fella may not be in that class but he is a proper Cup horse and has more improvement to come.
SHADOW DANCE
TRAINER: Roger Varian
AGE: 4; FORM: 23482-
ROGER VARIAN didn’t run this Almanzor gelding until September when he won well on handicap debut at Haydock. That was over an extended 1m3f and he showed his liking for a slightly longer trip when taking on better opposition at Newmarket in October. He tanked along in the soft ground and hit the front a long way from home.
It took a mighty effort from the winner to beat him half a length and he didn’t lie down for a second once headed. It was Alsakib who finished in front and he has since been beaten just three lengths in a Doha Group 1. That was just his fifth run and there’s surely more to come.
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