Tuesday's 2YO Update (Frankel Watch)

More races to get your teeth into today.

Interesting to note we have a couple of Frankel offspring heading out to sea. Well, not quite, Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast. A little bit of zest to proceedings. I must admit, Frankel's 2yo crop this season have been far from inspiring. One or two have shown a bit of sparkle while a few have been pedestrian. Not sure if a horse can be pedestrian but you get the meaning (slow).

2:00 Yarmouth - 

William Haggas, a fine trainer if you have ever seen one. Most trainers would be left scratching their head if all their good owners disappeared. He certainly wouldn't want A E Oppenheimer to pack his trunk and say goodbye to the circus. Especially considering his filly, Frankellina, is sired by Frankel. This homebred is out of a lightly-raced mare named Our Obsession who was similarly owned and trained. She raced just four times: three wins after finishing sixth on debut (far from disgraced) when unfancied in the betting. She liked a trip, emphasised by her concluding victory at Listed class over 1m 4f.  Frankellina is an interesting debutant. I noticed she had at least one entry to run last week. I get the feeling connections have been looking for the right race which gives some hope. The stable do well at Yarmouth, too. 

Frankellina 5/4f 1st 

Note: Frankellina was well backed but took her time to get going. She wore down the leader in the dying strides at odds of 5/4f (touched 11/4 early on exchanges).  

Related post: Frankellina Wins at Yarmouth for Haggas

The only significant entrant. 

2:30 Yarmouth - 

Another Frankel, this time with a couple of runs under her belt. Mehdaayih was entered to run at Bath last week but withdrawn. Connections must be keen to get a win out of her this season.  If that doesn't happen today, there will be ample opportunity over the winter. John Gosden's charge hasn't been seen for a couple of months which suggests there has been an issue or two. Another homebred out of a pretty limited mare. Mehdaayih has been beaten favourite on her two starts to date. Not disgraced on debut over 7f, without proving too convincing. Then runner-up over one mile when odds-on. Looks to hold fair each-way claims but susceptible to a horse with a touch of class. 

The only significant entrant. 

Mehdaayih 4/1 1st

Note: Mehdaayih (4/1) managed to beat her stablemate, Fanny Logan, while the odds-on favourite couldn't strike a blow.  

2:40 Newcastle - 

David Simcock is always worth noting with his significantly-entered juveniles. Wiretap has received a Class 2 entry early in the season. I wasn't sure what to make of his debut. This son of Charm Spirit was quite well backed but showed little. As it turned out, it was a very stiff contest won in effortless fashion by the Group Horse Legends Of War. This colt must have had a few issues because he wasn't seen for four months making his return to Yarmouth, stepping up to 7f. There was money for this horse. An SP of 8/1, probably double those odds early doors. It turned out a funny race. It must have been slowly run. David Lanigan's Millions Memories held on for a 40/1 shock, while Wiretap was closing fast but ran out of time - losing by a head. The favourite that day, Sovereign Grant, disappointed but cruised home next start. Wiretap hold fair claims although I'm not sure I would jump in at relatively short odds. 

Wiretap 2/1 2nd 

Note: The favourite won this quite nicely under a penalty. As detailed, Wiretap held claims but not my idea of a bet at 2/1 in second. The first two were clear of the third.  

3:00 Yarmouth - 

John Gosden has Handmaiden going here. This daughter of Invincible Spirit has been runner-up on all three starts. In truth, she hasn't done much wrong, especially the second start at Newmarket when losing in a tight finish. I imagine punters were narked at her defeat last time out when 4/6f. Simon Crisford's winner was too strong. She didn't lose much in defeat - clear of the third (who has run well since). Dropping back to 6f. Another sound chance. 

Roger Varian's two-year-olds have livened up a touch since a slow early season. Gleeful has been noted by the trainer. Racing in the familiar silks of Cheveley Park Stud. She looked in need of the run on debut. Disappointed to some extent when returning at Newcastle behind Mistress Of Love who was made to look hopeless on debut but flew home that day. Gleeful is stepping back in trip. She has been found a little flatfooted so whether this drop to 6f is ideal only time will tell. 

Handmaiden 13/8 3rd 
Gleeful 10/1 4th 

Note: Handmaiden was well backed on the exchanges from 3/1. Looked to hold every chance (touched 1.5 in-running) but tired in the final furlong to finish third. 

7:10 Kempton - 

Fox Champion is a well-entered two-year-old for Richard Hannon. This son of Kodiac cost £260,000 when purchased at the yearling sales. Races under the ownership of Leicester City FC's King Power Racing Co Ltd. This April foal was all the rage on debut at Doncaster when 6/4f only to be demoted by 40/1 shot Must See The Doc. I would imagine connections were surprised and annoyed by a nose defeat. Held in decent regard and must be coming back with some hope after a lengthy absence. 

Robert Cowell has Adam Tiler. This American-bred son of Justin Phillip has been busy running six times to date. Far from disgraced in all starts bar the most recent when taking his chance in a big sales race. Not seen for a month or so. Held an official rating of 84, which has been lowered to 76. Has ability but may need the favourites to fold. 

Interesting to see Venture. Clive Cox's son of Showcasing wasn't best fancied on debut at Windsor when finishing sixth. Was meant to run at Windsor the other week when it was abandoned after a freak storm. It is worth noting that Venture was quite fancied in the betting suggesting better was expected. As mentioned before, Cox had similarly entered Red Armada show little on debut before running a great race second start. It is possible Venture was in need of the race or disappointed. Priced 12/1 with bookmakers. Could be worth an each-way bet, especially if touching big odds on the exchanges. Wouldn't be a surprise to see this horse backed.  

Fox Champion 11/8f 1st 
Venture 6/1 4th
Adam Tiler 8/1 5th 

Note: Fox Champion had the best entries and won. Touched 3/1 at one point on the exchanges but backed when the Irish horse drifted as if someone knew it wasn't going to win. Venture was backed. The draw didn't do it any favours and a little keen. Ran OK but the second and third showed ability which may have been the difference between being placed and not. Adam Tiler ran his race in fifth.

Monday's 2YO Update

Quite a few two-year-old races for a Monday. 

Very busy, as always, so I will have a quick look and detail those of significance. I have added a little bit more information from a tipping perspective. Please make the effort to share these posts. This has taken over an hour to complete. 

2:30 Brighton - 

Saeed bin Suroor has Mawahib going here. This homebred son of New Approach is worthy of note. In general, Suroor's two-year-olds have gone well this year although Royal Marine [which was on our 10 Dark Horses] disappointed on debut. He can be a touch hit and miss compared with Charlie Appleby. Still of interest. 

A form horse [not entered on Group Horse] may have a chance at big odds. James Fanshawe's Keyhaven disappointed second start and that performance may hide a horse with a fighting chance at 40/1. 

2:45 Ffos Las - 

Henry Candy doesn't have the biggest string of juveniles and few entered as significant. Layla's Dream was entered for a Class 2 race but showed next to no ability when she ran on debut. Huge odds that day and similarly big odds today at 25/1. If betting, you will have to take a leap of faith. The only hope is the two-month absence which could detail an issue on debut which may have hidden ability. Interesting if backed. 

4:55 Windsor - 

Richard Hannon has a vast number of talented colts, fillies and geldings. Take a look at the list here. Dirty Rascal has made a living from finishing second. This son of Acclamation hasn't been disgraced in four starts to date. Ran well last time out behind the talented Flashcard. It may not be a problem, but a wide draw isn't the best starting point if pushed wide or using too much energy to get to the front. A pretty hot favourite at even money. Too short price for me to be interested from a wide birth but should go well. 

In the good old days when Clive Cox had a small string, he used to do very well with debutantes at Windsor. They often hit the frame at double-figure odds. These days he has a string with ample ability. Venture is worthy of note. This son of Showcasing cost 230,000 euros in the ownership of Malih Al Basti. This debutant looks well found in the betting and holds decent each-way claims if priced 13/2 & less SP. 

6:20 Newcastle - 

Potentially a few fillies of note. Gleeful was relatively fancied on debut and ran on after showing inexperience.  This daughter of Pivotal races in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud. This homebred should improve for being off course for a month. 

I'm sure Karl Burke must have been disappointed with the running of Mistress Of Love when struggling to figure after a slow start on debut at Ayr. The $1000,000 purchase in the familiar silks of Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd started at the prohibitive odds of 2/5f. This American-bred daughter of Scat Daddy may have disliked the testing conditions. Although the going was described as good the time being over 8 seconds slow suggests it was on the soft side. Debutantes often disappoint on their racecourse bow for a myriad of reasons. Just about all trainers of two-year-old horses have much better statistics on their second start. It is a fact that experience counts. Few trainers want to give their newcomers a hard race. I suspect Mistress Of Love will run much better today. Returning to race on the all-weather is a positive. I can imagine Burke was slightly embarrassed by the debut effort and I would be surprised if she isn't there about. If available at each-way prices holds fair claims.