Is Bill Turner the Brocklesby Stakes King?

Anyone who enjoys two-year-old horse racing will be familiar with the name Bill Turner.

Turner has trained at Sigwells Farm, Corton Denham, Sherborne, Dorset for over 40 years.

A gently-spoken man, knowledgeable, and a grafter who has seen his share of gifted horses, especially sprinters. This talented trainer of two-year-olds is known for his success in the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes. I wonder if Turner has every sold a horse to Australia - I know he has to Hong Kong - or played Online Casinos AU. Great fun and many games to enjoy. 

The Brocklesby Stakes dates back to 1875, the most famous winner being Donovan (1888), trained by George Dawson, owned by William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland. Sire by Galopin, this bay colt won 18 of his 21 starts with 9 major wins including the Derby & St Leger. 

The Brocklesby Stakes is the first two-year-old race of the Flat turf season, taking place at the end of March or early April, at Doncaster racecourse, over the flying five furlongs. 

In modern-day history, dating from 1984, a number of very talented two-year-old have won this contest. 

1984 - Provideo, trained by Bill O'Gorman set a 20th-century record for a British-trained two-year-old winning 16 of 24 race and awarded British Horse of the Year (1984) & Timeform Horse of the Year (1984). This horse would have been ideal to race in America and it reminds me to play online casinos us.  

1994 - Mind Games, trained by Jack Berry, went on to race at the highest level, winning at Group 2, competing in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1).

2009 - Hearts Of Fire, trained by Pat Eddery. This son of Firebreak went on to win the Gran Criterium (Group 1) at San Siro, Italy. 

2016 - The Last Lion, trained by Mark Johnston, raced at two, concluding his career winning the Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) before retiring to stud. 

Bill Turner is synonymous with the Brocklesby Stakes 6 times. 

His triumphs include:

1996 - Indian Spark, this son of Indian Ridge raced an incredible 143 times winning 14 times. 

2002 - The Lord, this son of Averti was probably the best of Turner's Brocklesby winners if not one of the best sprinters he ever trained. He won at Listed class and achieved an official rating of 105. 

2006 - Spoof Master, won the Brocklesby Stakes on his second start, with the race taking place at Redcar. 

2008 - Sally's Dilemma, is one of just three fillies to win the Brocklesby Stakes since 1988. She raced just 11 times in her career and this was her only victory. 

2011 - He's So Cool, raced in the familiar silks of E A Brook, a loyal patron of Turner, who won the Brocklesby Stakes on his second start.

2013 - Mick's Yer Man, is a horse with a story. He won the Brocklesby by five lengths and took his second race in style. However, this son of Bahamian Bounty must have been plagued with injury and raced infrequently. However, in 2014 he won a Listed race at Ascot. Later sold by Turner to race in Hong Kong where he won prize money of over £300,000. 

In recent years, Turner has struggled to capture those past glories. Recent runners include: 

2015 - Just That Lord 7/2J 4th 

2016 - Crucial Moment 5/1 8th 

2017 - Hollofaqueen 10/1 4th 

2018 - Arthur's Spirit 10/1 8th 

2019 - Hell Of A Joker 10/1 14th 

Good luck to the stable for future Brocklesby Stakes entrants. 

**KNOW THE BEST HORSES IN TRAINING (BEFORE THEY RACE!)**

Thursday 2YO Update

2:10 Salisbury - 

Novice Stakes over 5f on good to firm going.

Four juveniles with racecourse experience and four debutantes. 

Two-year-olds with significant entries. High Horse was expected to win on debut but found a decent opponent in Big Boots who was somewhat disappointing next start under a penalty. The other entrant is Well Done Fox. A very expensive yearling at 255,000G. This son of Acclamation was a beaten favourite that day, tiring in the closing furlong. Perhaps he was slightly in need of the run. Both horses should show their worth today. 

5:05 York - 

An EBF Maiden Stakes. A Class 2 race so all significant entrants on good to firm going. Ten two-year-olds take part - just one with racecourse experience. A couple with multiple entries will be detailed, below. 

I Am A Dreamer was entered for the Brocklesby but didn't take that contest but well beaten as even money favourite at Musselburgh and then at Newmarket. Looks to need improvement. Probably more interesting is Charlie Appleby's True Belief. This bay colt is a son of Excelebration out of a once-raced mare. He cost £95,000. 

5:45 Newmarket - 

Novice Auction Stakes over 6f on good going. Fourteen two-year-olds take part. Just two horses have racecourse experience. Those of most significance include Axel Jacklin trained by Mark Johnston. This bay colt wasn't that fancied on debut, giving the impression this extra furlong would help. Usain Boat ran well on debut at Yarmouth behind easy victor Artair, who looks to be a fair type for Michael bell. George Scott's son of Casamento wasn't best away and just pushed out to take second place. He is another horse who will benefit from this extra yardage and up hill finish.

1:50 Thirsk Racing Tips (8th May)

A Novice Auction Stakes over 5f on good to firm going. 

Nine two-year-olds take part, four with racecourse experience. A restricted race type, which often favours form horses. 

Richard Fahey has been firing out runners. Not too unusual, hey. He is a very talented trainer. A number of debutantes keep winning at decent odds which is perplexing in ways. Probably due to having two horses in a race and the outsider winning. 

Bengali Spirit has run twice to date.  A small field of just three runners at Musselburgh and then this British-bred son of Garswood finished second at Pontefract. The form of that race has been franked to a point. He is one of two horses in this field to have received a significant entry. Although the winner, Carey Street, couldn't defy a 7lb win penalty next start (not easy). Bengali Spirit sets a decent level for this grade but vulnerable to a horse with a touch of ability.  

The other horse to receive a pointer is Mark Johnston's Victory Command. The Racing Post has this one priced at 16/1 with Race Bets. That's either a mistake or you will get about £1 each-way. This son of War Comman cost just 6,000G at the yearling sales, which doesn't inspire confidence. Interesting to see how the betting goes. I see the populous have him priced about 4/1. 

Ben Haslam is a decent trainer. Blazing Dream showed very good pace on debut at Ripon before dropping back as if someone was hanging on his tail. A big price at 25/1. Will need to be much fitter to sustain that pace to the line. 

Bouncing Back, Melgate Magic & Lorton are best watched.

Amy Murphy has sent out a few two-year-olds. The Newbury performer, Thegreatestshowman, looks a fair sort. She has Mazeo Lad making his debut in her silks. A recent £19,000 breeze-up purchase, she will be hoping for a good run and new owners in due course. 

Fastman hails from David O'Meara's stable. He is a talented trainer who can win with debutantes. They are a gambling stable, so they find it hard to keep their hands in their pockets if one has been flying up the gallops. This son of Elzaam cost £25,00 at the yearling sales. The betting is the best guide. 

Dragon Beat is one of two fillies in the line up. Tony Coyle has Broken Spear, who has been placed on all three starts. It should give him a line to this daughter of Dragon Pulse. The winner that day, Vintage Brut, looks a decent prospect winning by seven lengths. The runner-up wasntexpectingthat won next start and a few in behind have franked the form (although improved on their initial start). The form of Dragon Beat isn't too bad. And, although, she may be vulnerable to a couple of these could hold each-way claims at double-figure odds. Might be worth a small speculative bet. 

Conclusion: Bengali Spirit sets a fair level for the limited nature of this race but no world beater. Probably has enough ability to win this unless something pops up. Victory Command hails from a good stable. Mark Johnston's debutantes are either easy winners or poor losers. The significant entry does give hope. The price tag doesn't suggest he is a great prospect. Dragon Beat isn't without a chance. She has to take on the boys but looked professional on debut, showing decent pace and then beaten by better horses. Could hold each-way claims at fair odds. 

Brocklesby Entrants Start At Musselburgh

4:10 Musselburgh (31st March) 

Just a quick note regarding a couple of debutantes in this four-runner race. Probably nothing to get too excited about here although worth noting that Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston field a two-year-old that was originally earmarked for the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes. 

I Am A Dreamer was the sole Brocklesby entrant for Kingsley House Stables, which I would take as being significant. This son of Dream Ahead races in the ownership of M Doyle and 62,000G yearling purchase. The stable have had a couple of two-year-olds start short odds so far but no winners as yet. This February foal is priced 6/4 on the tissue market. 

As detailed, Bengali Spirit was one of three juveniles entered for the Brocklesby Stakes. Their sole runner Wasntexpectingthat was fancied at 7/2 and ran on to finish third place. With the stable having three entrants you have to consider how they fare to one another. In general, the Brocklesby entry is a fair sign of ability for Fahey. This British-bred son of Garswood [pictured] cost 24,000 euros at the yearling sales. 

Both worthy of watching today and for the future. 

NR: The Great Heir 

Welcome back...

After a long wait Group Horse is back into action with the new Flat turf season. You will notice we have a new page: Group Horse 2018. 

I'm sure a few of our regulars enjoyed watching the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes at Doncaster. It is good to see this noted two-year-old race start the juvenile season which isn't always the case. There will be winners come from these entrants/runners. Izzer was very well backed for Mick Channon. The stable hadn't won this race since before 1988. The stable seemed confident as he was backed from 14/1 - 4/1. This son of Clodovil liked the soft going and burst to the front if not a little too early by his jockey's comments. He is likely to go forward although will have the burden of a win penalty. 

The second placed, Broken Spear looks a decent sort physically and defied the 33/1 odds for Tony Coyle's stable who can spring a surprise. 

We have updated a number of potentially smart juveniles who have been entered for the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes. Interesting, that 6 two-year-olds were entered but not raced. In addition, we have a Class 2 race at Newcastle which could well feature a few smart horses considering the race is worth £12,000+. 

This is just a starting point and entries will be added throughout the season. All you have to do is take a look. I will try to detail a few betting opportunities this season so keep looking at the website on a daily basis. 

I notice a couple of people cancelled their subscription last year and they will be removed in the next couple of weeks. If you wish to resubscribe then please contact me at jason@professionalgamblers.co.uk for more information. 

The standard of horse detailed last season was worth every penny of subscription so people either keep up subscription or will be removed. 

Thanks for your support.

Brocklesby Stakes

The Two-year-old season gets into swing with the Brocklesby Stakes at 4:10 Doncaster. Soft ground isn't ideal for these debutantes. 

Learn about the History of the Brocklesby Stakes (including 2019 update)

A few regulars include Bill Turner, who fields Arthur's  Spirit. The Brocklesby has been a great race for the stable over the years and often targeted with their best juvenile. 

Other trainers who do well with juveniles entered for this race include: Richard Fahey who races Wasntexpectingthat.  

One of the more expensive horses is Declan Carroll's Langholm who cost 100,000euros. This talented trainer did well last season with his ill-fate Santry who was Group class. 

Mick Channon fields Izzer. This stable win very few races with debutantes priced over 8/1 so unless backed is best watched. 

Interesting to see John Quinn with an early Brocklesby horse with Carey Street. A stable that can go well first start and have trained a number of smart juveniles over the years. 

Best to take a watching brief.