Classic update

Filed on 8 May 2009 @ 14:30

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Horse	Rating	Comment

Sea The Stars	121	Sea The Stars turned in a top class performance to win the 2,000 Guineas in emphatic style. His breeding suggests on his dam’s side he will stay, while his sire Cape Cross suggests it may be a furlong or so too far. Indeed his dam has thrown two horses from sires with a similar stamina index; they stayed nine to ten-furlongs. Sea The Stars travelled beautifully during the race at Newmarket and won with plenty in hand. However, he showed so much speed one would normally think the Derby may be beyond him.
Delegator	119	Delegator ran a mighty race to finish second to Sea The Stars on ground he was clearly not enjoying. He deserves the utmost credit for this effort and I hope connections resist running him again on a fast surface. Delegator has run two exceptionally fast times in the early stages of a long season. Were it my decision, and I would seriously consider missing Royal Ascot and return around Goodwood time, if the ground permits. I would also like to see him tried over six-furlongs at some stage, as he possesses an enormous amount of pace.
Naaqoos	117	Naaqoos flopped on his seasonal reappearance. However, as we can see from his rating he will not need to improve a great deal to take a hand in the French Guineas; if he can return to his two-year-old form.
Amour Propre	117	Amour Propre scooted up the Newmarket straight, to record a phenomenal time for a three-year-old sprinter at this time of the season. If he continues to develop and strengthen, Henry Candy will have a champion sprinter on his hands; it could not happen to a nicer person.
Crowded House	117	Crowded House is yet to appear. His FSF rating suggests with normal improvement Classic glory at Epsom is within reach. He has the breeding to stay the distance. It should be noted that the early signs of his collateral form are far from encouraging.
Ghanaati	116	Ghanaati won the 1,000 Guineas in an excellent time though there was a tail-wind in operation on Sunday. Nevertheless, she took the whole thing in her stride and I would imagine she will be extremely hard to beat if taking in the Coronation Stakes. Long-term, she may go for the Champion Stakes. A race her trainer won in the same season with 2,000 Guineas victor Haafhd.
Gan Ahmras	115	Gan Ahmras produced a solid run to finish third in the 2,000 Guineas. He looks sure to stay the Derby distance and at this stage it is hard not to suggest he is each-way material.
Rip Van Winkle	115	Rip Van Winkle ran an excellent race behind Sea The Stars. He was hindered by a stone bruise in his preparation, having been rushed along following a setback in the New Year. In addition, he had a far from clear passage in the race itself having been short of room and pace two-furlongs from home. I am still of the opinion he is a serious Group One performer in the making. At this stage, I am unsure whether he will stay the Derby distance. We should not forget Coolmore are never afraid to get beaten in the race, before resuming a career over a more suitable distance. Rather like Sea the Stars, mixed messages come out from his breeding; I am firmly perched on the fence at present.
Finjaan	115	Finjaan will, I feel, show his best form over six or possibly seven-furlongs this season.
Mastercraftsman	115	Mastercraftsman showed enough to suggest a Group One race will come his way when he reaches match fitness.
Rainbow View	114	Rainbow View hated the ground and did not stride out until reaching the rising ground in the last furlong. It is a huge step up in distance for the Oaks, which may be her next race. Her sire is an influence for stamina, while her dam was a miler. However, she has thrown a mile and a half Group Three winner in the U.S.A. Paddock watchers and those who saw her go to post, reported she was quieter than usual. John Gosden has stated in the past, the day she stops playing up with me, is the day I will start worrying. Food for thought!
Cuis Ghaire	113	Cuis Ghaire ran well enough to suggest she should make her presence felt in the Oaks.
Fame And Glory	109	Fame And Glory will face another test in the Derrinstown Stud Trial and connections are expecting improvement over the longer trip.
Masterofthehorse &
Golden Sword	108	Masterofthehorse finished strongly in the Chester Vase, having given his stablechum far too much rope in the early stages. Until I have time to consider and review the race again, I will simply say you cannot give a horse (who was a genuine Group Three performer prior to the race), that much of a start and expect to reel him in. What makes Masterofthehorse’s run even more commendable, is the fact the race was run in a time 4.32 seconds faster than the three-year-old handicap the day before over the same distance. In addition, Golden Sword had an easy lead before winding the race up from the front after a quarter of a mile. Finally, the winner himself should not be under-estimated in future races. If Aidan O’Brien has Derby prospects in front of these two at home then we could be in for a vintage renewal.

Filed on 8 May 2009 @ 14:30

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