Saturday 9 May – Lingfield
Six runners, four colts and two fillies, went to post for this Class 4 maiden on the turf at Lingfield over 5 furlongs. Three of these runners had previous race experience.
One of the colts with experience was RIFLESCOPE. On his previous outing at Nottingham, he lost his position at halfway but kept on to finish third. Today, Mark Johnston’s colt drifted from 9/2 to 6/1 on course but Adam Kirby jumped him out quickly, grabbed the rail and led throughout to win by 1¾ lengths.
STRONG CHALLENGE was the first 2yo runner of the season for Saeed Bin Suroor. He was purchased for 200000 guineas as a foal out of a mare who remained a maiden after 15 races. She has produced three winners at 5F and 6F, including a full brother who was second in the Gimcrack (Group 2) and earned an OR of 108 before going to race in Hong Kong and a half sister who was a Listed race winner in France. Slowly into stride and looking green, he was tucked in behind the leaders and when a gap appeared, he looked as though he would come and win the race but William Buick didn’t force the issue. He traded at a low of 1.04 in the run and as a consequence, RIFLESCOPE traded at a high of 100.
This pair finished over four lengths clear of the field. ARCHIMEDES was a disappointment in the race. He had been sent off favourite on debut but finished second 2¼ lengths behind SILVER WINGS (recently added to the Featured Horse list) at Windsor. He was sent off as the 10/11 favourite today and whilst being close to RIFLESCOPE early on, he was beaten over a furlong out. Luke Morris later reported that the colt ran flat.
After the race, Johnston spoke of the winner: ‘He kept coming on to the radar about six weeks ago and he had been working very well. We were disappointed first time out at Nottingham and we then said we would look for a race over six furlongs, but they didn’t come round quick enough so we gave him another go over five. He is very laid back and is bred to go further and I hope we will see further improvement in him over six. Any time you have a winner at this time of year you have to consider Royal Ascot. As he is by Raven’s Pass, he qualifies for the Chesham, but he might have too much speed for that.’
Saturday 9 May – Ascot
A Class 3 maiden race over 5 furlongs, consisting of eight colts and one filly, of which four had previously run.
If the Godolphin/Saeed Bin Suroor combination was a disappointment earlier at Lingfield, they redeemed themselves with STEADY PACE. Sent off at 10/1, he quickened up over a furlong out and came through on the stands rail to win comfortably by 2¾ lengths. This completed the third leg of a treble for James Doyle. Costing 80000 guineas as a foal, he is out of a mare who won at 7F and 8F (highest winning OR of 53). His half brother won three races between 8F and 10F (highest winning OR of 83).
BEAVERBROOK had been sent off favourite for his debut at Windsor but ran extremely green early on before eventually finishing fourth. That race was won by HANDYTALK, who has since finished second in Class 2 race at Ascot. Today, he led until inside the final furlong and although he kept on to get second place, he had no chance with the winner.
KING OF ROOKS (Richard Hannon) finished in third place at odds of 5/2. He cost 67000 guineas as a yearling from a mare who was the champion 2yr old filly in Italy in 2001. She has produced four winners in Britain and Italy including a Group 3 over 6F in Italy; other winning distances were between 5F and 11F.
KYLLUKEY for Charles Hills started at 33/1 and was outpaced early but kept on without troubling the leaders. Sold for 50000 guineas as a yearling, he is the first foal from a Darley bred mare who was a maiden here and in France.
Richard Fahey’s PADDY POWER was sent off the 15/8 favourite. Before the race, Fahey said: ‘He’s a two-year-old we like and his work has been good. The thing with your better two-year-olds is they always do everything so easily at home and I only hope he’s not too green when push comes to shove and shows what he can do.’ He had every chance two furlongs out but could only finish sixth. He cost 40000 euros as a yearling and his dam won over 5F and 6F, including a Listed Race in Ireland; also she was placed in Group 3 races. She has produced three winners, 6F maiden and seller winners in Britain and a winner in Spain.
Two Year Old Racing 2015 