Friday 17 April – Newbury
Before the race, this looked to be a pretty decent maiden and according to Timeform, their average rating for the winner of the last five runnings of this race was 104. 12 runners were declared for this Class 4 race but there were two withdrawals before the start, SANADAAH (cut leg) who had seen a degree of support in the morning from 7/2 to 11/4, and SWEET TABOO (horse could not be identified on course).
The race was won by HARVARD MAN, Brian Meehan’s first 2yo runner of the season. Before the race, Meehan was fairly upbeat about his chances ‘HARVARD MAN makes his debut in what looks to be on paper, a well-contested maiden at Newbury. His work has been good and we are expecting a big run from this son of Equiano.’ Available at 12/1 last night, he received some support during the morning down to 8/1 (before SANADAAH’s withdrawal) and was eventually sent off at 7/1. He was prominent throughout and kicked a couple of lengths clear 2F out but only just held on from the fast finishing RING OF TRUTH. He had passed through the sales ring as a foal for 50000 guineas and then again as a yearling for 120000 guineas. His dam was a winner in USA, including the Grade 1 Test Stakes on dirt at Sarotoga (7F for 3yo’s). Five of her offspring had won previously, including a full brother who won a maiden at Wolverhampton over 5F (OR 81 after this success). After the race, Meehan suggested that the colt would be better over 6 furlongs and would probably have one more run before heading to Royal Ascot.
Before the race, Richard Hannon said of RING OF TRUTH’s chances ‘We don’t wind up our youngsters too early in the season, but Her Majesty has enjoyed quite a lot of luck at this first Newbury meeting and it looks a good place to start RING OF TRUTH. She is a full-sister to Musical Comedy, who has done us proud, so she is bred for speed and, hopefully, she will acquit herself creditably.’’ The Queen was present today to see her filly run and although RING OF TRUTH seemed to be outpaced 2F from home, once she got going, she fairly flew home and would have won if the race had been a few yards longer. She had been available to back at 4/1 in the morning but had drifted to 7/1 by the off. Her dam won a 10F maiden before finishing runner up in the Lupe Stakes (Listed) behind the eventual Oaks winner, Love Divine. Several other offspring have won and Musical Comedy achieved a Listed Race victory in the Carnavon Stakes (6F) at Newbury and has had an OR of 106.
SIXTH SENSE, one of our Featured Horses, was sent off as 5/2 favourite having previously finished third in the Scottish Brocklesby. He had to be driven along when the eventual winner went clear but rallied and got to within a length of the first two.
These three finished clear of the remainder who were headed by the 100/1 shot ZEEONEANDONLY. She had been tailed off on her debut run at Windsor only four days earlier and it will be interesting to see where she is engaged next, as having been beaten by about five lengths would probably get her a rating of 70+ in due course.
Back in fifth was THAQAFFA. Marcus Tregoning had described the colt as an ‘attractive son of Kodiac who has been showing plenty of pace at home. He is a nice type in the making but is sure to derive good benefit from the run.’ He cost 80000 guineas as a yearling but although his dam has produced several winners, none of these have been at shorter than 1 mile (highest winning OR 71). In touch but outpaced 2F out, it does seem that he will be seen to better effect over longer distances.
Before the race, Peter Chapple-Hyam had suggested that GINGER JOE ‘might need six furlongs. He’s a nice horse but might get taken off his feet.’ In spite of these comments, he was backed from 14/1 in the morning in to 5/1 2nd favourite. He was never in touch and finished eighth.
Godolphin had two runners at Newmarket yesterday who finished out with the washing. Their representative today, HAWKBILL, was bought for $350,000 as a yearling, the second foal of a dam who won over 1 mile in USA and was placed in a Graded stakes. Hooded on debut, he was soon detached and finished tailed off.
ARAGON KNIGHT swerved on leaving the stalls giving Martin Lane no chance of staying in the saddle. The Stewards held an enquiry into the incident. Having heard Lane’s evidence and viewed recordings of the incident, the Stewards found that the fall was caused by SPARKY JACK, jumping left out of the stalls in front of ARAGON KNIGHT, intimidating the colt and causing it to veer sharply right, unseating the rider. Being satisfied that the incident was accidental, the Stewards took no further action.
NEWS UPDATE
Further to yesterday’s review from Newmarket, Martin Harley, the rider of NIDNOD, reported that the filly lost her action in the dip. The Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination of the filly failed to reveal any abnormalities. Luke Morris, the rider of HILLSIDE DREAM reported that the filly was denied a clear run a furlong out.
Two Year Old Racing 2015 