Gay Kelleway's Global Spectrum Potential Group Class

Why do the followers of Group Horse take note of our inside info? Because it reveals hidden talents which, most often, do their talking on the track. 

To be fair Gay Kelleway doesn't have the best string of juveniles. Never quite in the same league as her father Paul, who used to love to tilt at windmills and showed other trainers how to win. One of few trainers who used to love sending out his better two-year-olds to debut at Listed class. It always seemed a touch crazy to me but they often went well. 

Global Spectrum, a bay son of Dutch Art out of the dam Lady Darshaan (a smart filly trained by Stan Moore) ran out a nice winner on debut at Kempton when racing over seven-furlong for owner Dr Johnny Hon. He won by almost three-lengths at odds of 16/1. Followers of Group Horse made note of this particular day because many readers filled their pockets with cash. Take a look at the post we wrote here. We identified that this colt was well respected and an expensive breeze-up purchase at 130,000g. 

Note: Nice to see him win at Group 2 in Doha, Qatar, now heading for the French 2000 Guineas. 

Shock News!!!! Gay Kelleway Plans to Train in France

There was a lot to like about that debut and the way he won gave the impression much greater things were expected. 

Making his return to the racecourse on the 2nd February to compete at Kempton over seven furlongs (carrying a winning penalty and a wide draw) didn't prevent punters from getting stuck in. The early price of 7/2 (Betfair) was soon hoovered up and a sustained wave of cash chipped away at the price until 4/6f was returned at SP. 

Leading from the early stages, he never looked to be threatened by the opposition and won ''readily'' by one-and-a-half lengths. 

Connections will be looking to step up to a higher grade come the Flat turf season. Interesting to hear the views of Kelleway as they may even be thinking about a trial for the 2000 Guineas. Perhaps that is wishful thinking on my part, but you can guarantee that this able colt will be looking to step up to pattern class in his next race or two. 

Group Horse has other notable wins this week with a couple of horses which had looked disappointing. John Gosden's Albert Finney finally go off the mark on this fifth run. This gelding had been far to keen in his earlier races which made life difficult. However, he won well at Wolverhampton (30th January).

Another horse to leave his debut far behind was Charlie Appleby's Wings Of Time who we detailed on one of our two Ten Dark Horse Mailings. This bay gelding, a son of Invincible Spirit, went unfancied on debut Newmarket when starting odds of 20/1. He was definitely in need of the race and between into seventh losing by fifteen lengths. However, a gelding operation, time and stepping up to one mine and half a furlong proved positive moves. This March foal was backed to odds of 4/9f. Although suffering problems in running, he ran out an easy enough winner giving the impression there is a lot more to come. 

Friday's 2YO Update

1:30 Ascot - 

Finoah
I'Letyouknow 
Swiper 

Finoah is determined but keeps getting beat. I'Letyouknow has been beaten favourite on both starts to date. Open to further improvement. Swiper finished second last time out. 

1:50 Haydock - 

Sparkle Roll 

An expensive 750,000 yearling purchase. Strongly fancied in the betting. Gosden has a decent string of two-year-olds and they often go well when favourite. 

 2:05 Ascot - 

Prince Eiji 
Red Armada

Roger Varian's juveniles are running well and Prince Eiji is definitely one of the best in the stable. This 2,600,000 guineas yearly cost an arm and a leg and held in high regard. Debutantes are difficult to assess at times but this one could go well on his first start. An each-way price may give a little more room to play with. 

Red Armada wasn't overly fancied in the betting on debut and finished fourth of six. A huge price here at 25/1. Needs to improve but not impossible. Would give greater encouragement if backed. 

2:25 Haydock - 

*Hidden Message

William Haggas has a decent string of juveniles and they have been running well. Hidden Message cost $150,000 at the yearling sales. 

* NR

4:25 Musselburgh - 

Sky Defender

Sky Defender is a very capable horse who ran well on debut at Goodwood when narrowly foiled. There must have been an issue at York when competing in the Convivial Maiden Stakes. If back to best has strong claims here. 

6:15 Kempton - 

Sam Cooke 

Ralph Beckett's two-year-olds have been putting in some nice performances of late with a few decent winners. I actually missed Frangrant Bell who won on debut. Sam Cooke has been given a similar entry. This bay colt wasn't the most expensive at 36,000 euros but interesting from a low draw. 

Artois doesn't have any significant entries but from a statistical point of view has respectable win and place claims.    

6:45 Kempton -

Almufti
Albert Finney

Hugo Palmer isn't having the best of seasons with his two-year-olds. Blonde Warrior is about as good as they get. Almufti hasn't been seen for over two months. This son of Toronado has been fancied on both starts. He was far too keen last time out at Newcastle. There may have been a few problems along the way because it's a lengthy absence. Stepping up in distance so will need to settle. 

Albert Finney was on our 10 Dark Horse mailing. One of few to disappoint. Two races haven't seen too much potential although relatively fancied on both starts. The 25/1 odds suggests something isn't quite happening. This homebred has the hood applied no doubt with the thought of finding the key to ability. Be nice to see this horse show a little bit more. Time will tell. 

7:15 Kempton - 

Imperial Charm 
Dandhu 
Short Skirt
Desirous 

As you can see, plenty of well-entered two-year-olds going here. A fascinating race. For each-way punters, it is a shame this isn't three places. Imperial Charm and Dandhu ran in the same race at Newmarket. It was a competitive heat and there wasn't a great deal between the pair in third and fourth place respectively. The former trained by Simon Crisford is one of the stable's better two-year-olds. Dandhu is definitely in the top two of David Elsworth's youngsters. He does very well at this course. This daughter of Dandy Man is a burly type. She didn't get a very good start at Newmarket and Mosse seemed very slow to get her in contention, which cost her dear in the closing furlong. I think she would have gone close to winning. She does seem to be a little tardy from the stalls which doesn't help. Potentially this could be a problem on this turning course. I suspect she will run off the pace and maybe bigger odds in running if you bet on the exchanges. 

Imperial Charm is a decent horse and I wouldn't knock her. In fact, from a low draw, she may well lead and could make valuable lengths over the likes of Dandhu. I can see Crisford instructing front-running tactics. I could be a battle with Dandhu at the line. 

This is a competitive race. 

Short Skirt has proven she is no slouch with three seconds to date. Eve Johnston-Houghton's charge has been beaten less than two lengths on all starts. She has cheekpieces applied and stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time. 

To add to the dilemma Ralph Beckett fields Desirous. This daughter of Kingman was well fancied on debut but disappointed. The going description of good may have hidden the fact it was slow ground. The time being 5 seconds slow indicates some ease. I would imagine connections expected much better. I think this filly is well respected in the stable and could well improve on this second start. 

Conclusion: Pity this race is so competitive. A few hidden dangers make it a tricky affair, especially with just six runners. I like Dandhu but there is just a little too much going on for me. I can see her touching much bigger odds in running but that will be an obstacle to overcome. Pretty sure Imperial Charm will lead and try to hang on. Short Skirt is able. While Desirous is probably much better than most imagine. A watching brief. A good few winners will come from this race so I may just hope one or two look disappointing for future bets.

Take a look at a bet we advise today

Friday's 2YO Update - 10 Dark Horses

A lot of two-year-old race and a few horses which are worthy of note. 

I think we have three which feature on our 10 Dark Horse mailing. You will notice a few other significantly entered horses are running. I will simply detail the races of most interest. I will do my best to point you in the right direction. These are general pointers being so in advance of the race. When I bet, I use information right up to the race. Whether you wish to use this information to bet or not is your decision. 

5:25 Newmarket - 

A few of these are noted by trainers as talents. Andrew Balding's Firelight is a decent filly although I am always slightly fearful of horses shouldering a win penalty. Interesting to consider the chances of Michael Bell's Lady Aria. This daughter of Kodiac is considered quite favourably. Bell's best debutantes are usually well found in the betting but he does have a few that win at big odds. This filly is priced 14/1. Looks a pretty tough race in many respects but a horse who could make into a decent juvenile. 

6:15 Haydock - 

We have one of our 10 Dark Horses running here. *Kadar, trained by Karl Burke, is certainly worthy of note and with eight horses could well prove a fair bet for each-way backers. This son of Scat Daddy is in the ownership of Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd and 700,000 euro breeze-up purchase. This juvenile is definitely one of the best in Spigot Lodge. There is always a fear that debutantes will disappoint due to inexperience, lack of fitness or trainer unwilling to give their best prospects a hard race. However, this February foal is very interesting. John Gosden's Beatboxer is well respected in the yard and won in tidy fashion on debut. That experience is worth a lot from a horse which has proven ability. Once again, defying a win penalty is no easy task against decent opposition. 

*NR

6:35 Newmarket - 

Another two-year-old on our 10 Dark Horse list. Albert Finney is relatively fancied in the betting over this 7f trip. This home bred son of Kingman is owned by Rachel Hood. The stable debutantes often go well when priced 13/2 & less SP. They often go significantly well when priced 5/2 & less SP. A few of their debutantes disappoint. That is always the trouble with betting horses making their racecourse bow. Just about every trainer has better statistics with fancied two-year-olds on their second start. It's a fact. Still, an interesting juvenile if fancied in the market. Andrew Balding's Bye Bye Hong Kong could well be a danger and a horse worth following if not winning today. Their two-year-olds are often very good bets second start. This American-bred colt is a son of Street Sense and cost 575,000 guineas in the ownership of King Power Racing Co Ltd. You can pretty much guarantee this horse has ability. Strangely, the majority of Balding's debut winners are priced 7/1 & less SP. 

6:50 Haydock - 

Another of our 10 Dark Horses taking part in this 7f event. Commanding Officer is priced 14/1. This son of Poet's Voice wasn't overly fancied on debut when priced 10/1 and finished fourth beaten a good few lengths.He took at keen hold at York and should be more settled on this second start. It wouldn't surprise me if this colt is backed, so it could be a good move to bet early. Once again, there are a few talents in opposition such as *Motafaawit who has run well on two starts to date for Richard Hannon. A win penalty is a test at short odds, even for a talented juvenile.  

*NR

Most interesting:

6:15 Haydock - Kadar
6:35 Newmarket - Albert Finney, Bye Bye Hong Kong
6:50 Haydock - Commanding Officer

Good luck.