Kingman Superstar!

Kingman justified his status as racing's new poster boy with an emphatic win in the Irish 2.000 Guineas on Saturday. The odds-on favourite made light work of his rivals, in a strong and deep field of the first classic of the Irish flat season. Looming strongly on the 2f marker, Kingman made stylish progress and left his rivals easily behind once hitting top gear. Jockey James Doyle had an easy job and didn't have to ask the colt for everything. Yet he came home five lengths in front of runner-up Shifting Power. 

Kingman Trainer John Gosden left it late to decide whether or not his stable star would go to post in the Irish 2.000 Guineas, since the ground was soft to heavy on the straight mile course at the Curragh. It says allot about Kingman's versatility considering that he ran really well in the English 2.000 Guineas at Newmarket on blistering fast ground, and that he was then able to win so easily in grim conditions yesterday. He is truly a top class colt who I would expect to turn the tables with Night of Thunder at Ascot when the two Guineas winners will clash again. 

Check out our 2.000 Guineas photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/113417287@N08/

BBOTD - Sunday 25th May 2014

14.45 Curragh: Blue Hussar @ 4/1 Betfair - 4pts win

Blue Hussar shaped nicely on his seasonal reappearance at Lingfield in the Derby trial. He was trailing and didn't look quite happy there for a long time of the race but made impressive headway in the home straight. I would imagine that he'll come on allot for this run. He looked a smart prospect when he won over 7f on soft ground at Leopardstown on debut. Outpaced halway out, he made progress on the wide outside coming around the home bend producing a nice turn of foot in the closing stages to win in some style. He might looked like a horse that wouldn't mind the Derby distance lto, but the slight drop in trip to 10f shouldn't be an issue today, due to the very rain softened ground at the Curragh, which I feel should play into the hands of this powerful galloping colt.

BBOTD - 19th May 2014

20.45 Leicester: The Kid @ 7/1 Paddy Power - 3pts win

Lightly raced The Kid got an absolute horror run on his Handicap debut at Nottingham last month. He travelled nicely making progress from 4f out and looked in with a big chance still going well over 2f out when he got badly bumped and basically crashed into another horse due to that. He lost completely his rhythm, had to pick up again, and found himself short of room around the final furlong marker again. Yet he got going and finished the race pretty well considering the circumstances. He drops in class and gets a pound off his opening mark, and could easily exploit this one tomorrow as he shaped like a horse that could be a bit better.

BBOTD - Sunday 11th of May

15.25 Leopardstown: Booker @ 10/1 VC - 2pts win

Intriguing contest this 1.000 Guineas trial with plenty of interesting contenders. I feel the Mastercraftsman daughter Booker is pretty overpriced though. She won on her seasonal reappearance, which was only her second start, a maiden at the Curragh on soft ground over 6f in extremely impressive style. Basically on the bridle 1f out and had only to be slightly pushed out to win. Sure, the form of that race is not much worth but the way she won it did really caught the eye, considering it came over a trip one would think too short of her best. She steps up to 1m now, is completely unexposed over this distance, but on pedigree should actually improve for it. By Mastercraftsman, who was able to give Sea The Stars a fight over 10f in the Juddmonte, out of a mare that won over 11f. You would think he will have plenty of stamina. But he also showed speed last time out, so 1m could be perfect for the moment. There was plenty of rain here over the last 24h, so I would imagine the ground is nowhere near good but rather sticky, which means conditions seem ideal for Booker. We'll find out if she is good enough to compete in such a field today then.

Lingfield Derby Trial

14.55 Lingfield: Blue Hussar @ 13/2 Stanjames - 2pts win

I think Blue Hussar is the best chance of two for Aiden O'Brien in this Lingfield Derby trial. If course on seasonal reappearance it is always some kind of question mark how fit an O'Brien horse is but this is a serious test to find out about the Derby credentials so I'm sure Blue Hussar is fit and well to start today. He was a massive eye-catcher on his sole start back in November at Leopardstown. He settled in rear, appeared to be outpaced over 3f out and went around the whole field on the outside approaching the home turn. He then produced a stunning turn of foot from 2f out to motor home - even though it looked an impossible task to win the race from the position he came from - but he picked one after another up and in the end he won rather easily always going away the further they went. Only a serious horse is able to overcome these kind of circumstances on debut. Ryan Moore riding is another plus. The obvious question is the trip. As this represents a step up from 7f on his debut to almost Derby distance. This is asked allot of a horse on his only second start. I don't think staying will be an issue on genuinely good ground. Out of Galileo and enough stamina on the dam side to think he has every chance to get that far. Can he settle, is my main concern though. There is some good opposition in this race, but that says nothing special I feel while Blue Hussar has the potential to be a really, really good horse. He's a big price in my book.

Selections for Saturday 10th May

14.05 Ascot: Glorious Protector @ 7/2 Paddy Power - 3pts win

I was impressed with the way Glorious Protector finished his race on his seasonal reappearance at Lingfield last month when he clearly didn't have the run of the race. He was quite keen in the early stages, he then travelled strongly off the pace until turning for home, when he was forced to turn wider than ideal, which cost momentum and ground. He seemed a bit flat footed and took a while to find back his stride, but he did so eventually and finished best of all. In the end the distance he was beaten was basically the ground he lost when turning for home, compared to the eventual winner, who was racing most of the time beside him, but got the perfect run on the inside rail. Glorious Protector is clearly ahead of this mark and seems improved and more mature now as a 4yo, he is also generally lightly raced and should have more natural improvement in him. So the 3lb rise in the mark seems more than fair and he can overcome this tomorrow.


14.40 Ascot: Gatewood @ 7/1 William Hill - 2pts win

Gatewood showed a strong front-running performance at Doncaster at the end of March on his seasonal reappearance. He lead the small field with another horse and really took off after the first couple of furlongs, which seemed a rather suicidal pace to my eye. Yet he travelled strongly, and while his front-running companion couldn't sustain the effort, Gatewood was able. The eventul winner stayed on from well off the pace but couldn't pass Gatewood easily, who was battling hard. Excellent performance in my mind. He is a bit an unlucky horse, hitting the crossbar on numerous occasions, but no doubt he is a smart horse and deserves to win another Listed race.


17.40 Thirsk: Her Red Devil @ 16/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Clearly overpriced this fily judged on her most recend big performance which came at Nottingham. She made basically all from the front that day, setting a strong pace, even though she was put under pressure most of the time by a prominent Mark Johnston runner. Yet she travelled extremely strongly, coming with a healthy lead into the home straight. The pack was after her and put her under pressure from 3f out, but she was able to find more and more. Eventually she tired inside the final furlong and was swept by the field but still it was a big performance in my mind. The drop in trip to 1m will suit tomorrow. She is still generally lightly raced and on a low mark. I expect a big performance if she is fine on the ground, which is my only slight concern.

BBOTD - Thursday 8th of May

13.45 Chester: Marcret @ 11/2 Stan James - 3pts win

Marcret seems poised to win a race anytime soon judged on his seasonal reappearance. In a good competitive Handicap at Ripon last month he travelled like a dream, made nice headway showing fine cruising speed from 4f out but and looked poised for a big challenge but didn't get any run whatsoever from 3f out. He tried desperately to get out but got hampered several times. He worked his way out, slowly from 2f out but jockey was work hard enough for it to prevent him from hanging to the right and corrections where needed. It took a while till he found his stride but he picked up eventually and run on to finish 3rd. He can race off the same mark today, which must give him a big chance, also considering that he run big races in better races in the past. He goes extremely well at Chester, won here a Group 3 back in 2012. Only concerns are the draw and the ground. He probably would prefer it a bit softer. But there is plenty of pace on, which should suit him.

Review 2.000 Guineas: Thunder spoiled the party!

The 2.000 Guineas – it was a spectacular race! Well, actually people say it was an unsatisfying race. And yes, they might be right, the split into two groups was something everyone hoped it wouldn't happen. However,  in fact didn't that add to the excitement of the race? I felt it did. The two big favourites, one the left, one to the right of the wide, intimidating Rowley Mile - who would prevail? Explosive excitement was in the air when they approached the two furlong marker as the decisive moment drew closer and closer... But then what happened? Someone spoiled the party as they all seemed to underestimate the Richard Hannon runner Night Of Thunder. 40/1! Would you believe it?! The horse was held in high regard in his yard tough, and the trainer did tell that anyone who wanted to know - before the race! And then there was King Kieren of course. A rather unlikely source of glory these days. His career seemed to come towards its end. But suddenly he's back big in business. Was it pure genius not to break the stride of Night Of Thunder when he hang badly in the final furlong? It was, it simply was! Fallon might not be the strongest in the saddle any more, but if comes to tactics, he is still one of the greats!

Kingman ran a good race. Did he empty or idle in the closing stages, when he was clear on his side? Not sure. One thing I know: He won the race on his side, and he won the race against Australia on the other side and he remains an exciting prospect – but please don't compare him to Frankel. If one horse really impressed me, it was in fact AUSTRALIA, though. 1m is certainly short of his best, but he quickened nicely and won comfortable the race on his side, though had simply nothing to race against in the final furlong - until Night Of Thunder was shifting over in the dying strides. Australia must have enhanced his credentials for the Derby. He is too short to have a bet on him for that race, but he should take plenty of beating anyway.

What about the Spanish rider NOOZHOH CANARIAS? He bounced out of the gates and lead the far side group by a frenetic pace. He is a real speed ball! That makes it all the better that he was able to be in front until the final furlong marker. He finished a very respectable sixth in the end. Put this horse in your tracker and follow him once he reverts back to sprint distances. He'll be a real star this season!

There were some disappointments in this race too. Toormore didn't get home. He is better than that. For me he looks more like the perfect 7f horse though. Give him a chance if he drops in trip. He's a good one. Major disappointment was War Command, really. He looked fine before the race, but didn't show anything during the race at all, been beaten early. He was a tremendous 2yo, but the question has to be raised – did he not train on? The next race will tell us. Until then, I'll be inclined to give him another chance. Maybe he is also better over 7f, on quick ground – that might be ideal for him. Kingston Hill was never going to be suited by the ground. He'll need further for sure, and maybe some juice in the ground too. Outstrip and Ertijaal looked ouf their depth.  

Check out all my Guineas photos on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjXfXqZd
---
© Photos: All Florian Christoph/www.Horseracing-International.com - please give credit if you want to use them.

Selections: Sunday 4th of May 2014

Really tough times at the moment, can't pick my nose it seems. Disappointing but hard work will turn things around as always, I'm sure...

15.55 Gowran Park: Soft Power @ 7/1 VC - 2pts win

Soft Power was extremely impressive when winning first time out at Dundalk back in January. She was well fancied that day and didn't disappoint, winning easily by six lengths without getting asked too much. Now on turf for the first time after a break, she is potentially up with the rest of the field and would on Handicap merits probably been awarded a mark in high 80s. I'm not quite sure about the trip, thinking sprinting might be me more of her game, but she saw out the 7f easily, and it'll be interesting to see how she fares in this kind of proper test. She has potential to be a fine filly for sure, and the rest of the field is clearly beatable. 

16.30 Gowran Park: Vastonea @ 7/1 Bet365 2pts win

Vastonea seems well treated of his current mark with conditions in favour. He impressed me at Cork two weeks ago over 10f, a trip which stretched him a bit I would imagine. He quickly was at the front of the field and lead by couple of lengths. He went off way too fast in my mind, yet he travelled strongly till the 2f marker, was even slightly leading till almost a furlong out, but then faded quickly. The drop in trip back to 1m will clearly suit and another pound off the mark won't do any harm either, meaning he is now five pounds below his last winning mark that success came over course and distance last year!

Selections: Saturday 2nd May 2014

15.30 Goodwood: Elusivity @ 10/3 William Hill - 4pts win

Really unlucky second at Epsom recently. Travelled liek a dream in rear, but then had nowhere to go over 2f out, switched inside and forced a gap eventually, while never being really touched, just bit asked very late, yet made extremely impressive headway to finish 2nd in the end. One had to be impressed with this performance. He is a very infrequent winner but clearly down to a very low mark now, and seems poised on this recent performance. Questions marks about track and ground are there, but neglectable as there speaks to much for him. 

14.05 Newmarket: Burano @ 12/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Burano didn't get any run whatsoever in the Spring Cup at Newbury recently. He travelled extremely well for a long time, better than most, looked to have loads to give 2f out but then got simply stuck in traffic with a big bunch of horses in front of his nose with nowhere to go. He wasn't beaten up to finish sixth or fifth but rather was eased down as soon as his jockey realized there is another day to live for. Burano is down to a decent mark, he ran well of bigger, against top class opposition in hot races, and while he has never won at Newmarket nor over this trip, he showed that he can handle the track in past performances, and ran extremely well over further as well over shorter throughout his career. Of his current mark he is in with a big shout if he gets a clear run, I feel.