2YO Update: Mark Johnston's Iffraaz Shines on Debut at Carlisle

It's been a few quiet days since our last update. 

Life isn't as leisurely as it seems with so much work going on behind the scenes. However, as readers, I know you want to learn more about the best two-year-old (2yo) horses in training. I have little doubt you will appreciate the information we detail on these pages does just that. 

Whether I am serene or shouting from the rafters, all the information you need lies within this website.

Let's take a quick look at a few significantly-entered juveniles that have shown ability over the last few days. 

31st May - 

Iffraaz made a smart debut in heavy ground at Carlisle [1:10]. A big drifter in the market from 11/4 - 4/1 didn't stop this son of Iffraaj from winning comfortably by two-and-a-quarter lengths. A depleted field of six two-year-olds probably set a decent level with Hurstwood, finishing runner-up, while Declan Carroll's Kilham, who received a Brocklesby Stakes entry early season, weakened into third place after setting the pace. I think both Johnston's and Carroll's juveniles here will be making their presence felt this season. It is very likely Hurstwood will receive a significant entry, too.   

Take a look at the race result here. 

31st May - 

The Woodcote Stakes always fields talented early juveniles and this year was no exception with a small line up but a worthy test. The race featured very good win prize money of £37,350. Which must be on par with Listed races, if not Group class. 

Charlie Appleby has a nice string of two-year-olds (they keep winning) and Pinatubo had scored nicely on debut when clear of the second, who has since franked the form. This son of Shamardal started even-money favourite for this Class 2 Stakes. Hold-up tactics were employed as Misty Grey set the fractions with a bold front-running performance. I wonder if he went a stride too fast! Anyway, Pinatubo ran past Johnston's charge in the closing furlongs, to win, from a fast-finishing Oh Purple Reign. 

Another win for Pinatubo who could be heading for the Coventry Stakes 2019. Check out the betting with you local bookmakers. 

1st June - 

Another Class 2 Stakes race. It's a funny thing how trainers complain about prize money and so often these more valuable prizes feature a poor turnout. No doubt this had something to do with the ground turning to good to soft at Musselburgh. Just three entered juveniles took part. The outsider of three is a maxim often used to find a winner (statistically it is wrong). John Ryan is a canny trainer who knows the score and his entered juveniles on Group Horse are mostly up to winning a race in their two-year-old career. Bill Neigh, a relatively cheap 2yo breeze-up purchase at 27,000 guineas, was backed from 25/1 on the exchanges and returned 7/1 SP with bookmakers. This son of Mustajeeb must have a touch of ability winning by three lengths. Karl Burke's She Looks Like Fun disappointed so, in truth, it was a two-horse race, with My Kinda Day to beat. It will be intriguing to see how Bill Neigh goes next time out. The opportunity is there but still much to prove. 

Always plenty to consider. 

2:10 Nottingham - 

Just one race for Sunday. 

I will take a quick look to see if we have any significantly-entered two-year-olds running. 

Richard Hannon has Beignet taking her chance on this third start. This daughter of Canford Cliffs can run well enough on debut while her second start at Nottingham looked slightly disappointing. The form of that race has been franked with the likes of Lady Fanditha (Clive Cox), Daddies Diva (Rod Millman) & Flippa The Strippa (Charles Hills) all showing ample ability. This fast five-furlongs should be in her favour as she has plenty of pace. Likely to lead. 

The only other significant entry in this race is Charles Hills' Walton Thorns who actually raced in the Brocklesby Stakes. This son of Zebedee was priced 10/1 on debut at Doncaster but failed to show much ability at all finishing second from last [a seventeen-strong field] some 31 lengths behind the winner Show Me Show Me. 

Perhaps that run was too bad to be true. I can only imagine it was. Second start Walton Thorns was made a 66/1 shot, stepping up to 6f. This bay colt was very keen that day but held the lead until tiring rapidly in the final furlong. 

Not the easiest horse to assess and the stable may well be thinking about nursery races rather than trying too hard here. I am interested to see how he goes as there may be a glimmer of hope if some crazy prices are available on the exchanges.  However, it would be a leap of faith and the type of horse to either win or lose miserably. 

Although not receiving a significant entry, as yet, William Haggas' Al Aakif has very good claims if starting favourite. The stable debutantes' details statistics which suggest they either win or finish unplaced. 

The Element of Fickledom

People make me smile. 

You know, they say women are fickle. I am not sure who ''they'' are and I'm sure men are as fickle as f*** at times.

We send out a mailing detailing a talented horse in Firepower, trained by Clive Cox, winning the 4:55 Salisbury. 

Guess what? 

Seven people unsubscribe. You have to laugh, hey. I'm sure all of those people have their reasons but if that's what success does then perhaps I'm in the wrong job. Yes, people can believe that. I know exactly what I'm doing and I don't need anyone's plus or minus to appreciate that fact. Perhaps I should just talk about horse racing in the United States and consider the Belmont Race odds for a change of tune.

Bizarre. 

I was pleased with the performance of Firepower. They had the annoying split screen on the race which makes assessing the horses and race problematic. However, the colt is a decent looker and won ''readily'' as far as the Racing Post is concerned. I had more information about why this juvenile would be hard to beat but I couldn't detail that as it isn't in my interests. 

Thank the Lord I do all these things to please myself because this is a thankless world where the takers take in abundance. 

Sorry, if that offends anyone but for a few people that's the score. As my good friend Eric Winner says: ''There are too many takers...'' 

The number 7 means completion. So I'm taking a positive from those lesser disciples. 

I really couldn't care if 700 people disappeared because I don't make a brass farthing out of the 1000 subscribers on my list.  

Thanks for those who appreciate. Your interest is my motivation.

Let's take a look at tomorrow's two juvenile races:

1:55 Musselburgh - 

No significant entrant. 

2:35 Lingfield - 

This looks more interesting. Well, there are a few entrants who register on the Richter scale. 

Strong Power ran well in the Brocklesby Stakes when runner-up to Show Me Show Me. George Scott is one of those trainers I struggle to get to grips with on the stat front. Certainly, he has plenty of two-year-olds who disappoint at relatively short odds when making their debut. I must admit I like this son of Kodiac. He did nothing wrong at Newmarket if not going a fraction too fast but he was simply trying to make his experience count and it was nearly the case. Touching big odds-on in running, few would have believed he would have been out of the frame. It looked a decent race. I can imagine connections trying to lead all the way here. I thought at first glance this was on the all-weather, which, in my opinion, would have been a very good move. The horse to beat but there's always the worry someone will spoil the party. 

Archie Watson's Illusionist doesn't have any significant entries at present but is in a betting guide which suggests this Irish-bred son of Hot Streak could be a live opponent. 

Interesting to see how John Ryan's Sea Of Cool goes here. Silvestre De Silva has been booked and it is noteworthy this son of Sea The Stars was given a class 2 stakes entry. Most of his entered juvenile go on to win at two, which brings some interest. The downside is that very few of his two-year-olds win on debut. Could be a horse to keep an eye on the next two starts.  

Monday's 2YO Update (15th October)

A lot of races for a Monday. 

2:40 Windsor - [Abandoned]

Richard Hannon's K Club won well on debut and run creditably on all five starts to date. Has to defy the win penalty. 

Interesting to see how Venture goes. This son of Showcasing was an expensive yearling at 230,000 euros. This April foal didn't achieve a great deal over course and distance. He finished sixth, beaten a similar number of lengths. Without question, improvement is needed. It's possible he simply disappointed that day. This is one of thirteen juveniles Cox has detailed as having ability. The majority have run well if not won. Red Armada is similarly entered. Readers may recall that he ran no race on debut but went very close second start at big odds. Being off course such a long time suggests there may have been a problem. Maybe worth an each-way bet if odds allow.

3:00 Yarmouth - 

John Ryan goes well at this course. His two-year-old string has been limited this season and few of note. Battle Of Waterloo is one of just a trio of juvenile noted by the trainer. To be fair, all have been disappointing. This Irish-bred gelding is a son of Big Bad Bob in the ownership of Gerry McGladdery who is a loyal patron. Battle Of Waterloo made his debut at Newmarket over one mile. Although 150/1, he did show promise, travelling well for a long way, before tiring in the closing stages. Not the easiest horse to assess but could have a chance at 66/1 [tissue price] opened 33/1 with a couple of bookmakers.  

Tell William is trained by Marcus Tregoning. He is a capable handler although limited in numbers with two-year-olds. This son of Invincible Spirit wasn't overly fancied in the betting on debut but not disgraced. Interesting that he is just one of two horses entered for a Class 2 race. The other horse will a similar tag, Strindberg, was well backed second start and finished fourth. Tell William has something to prove but could show more today.


Tell William 12/1 9th 

Battle Of Waterloo 9/2 Unp

Note: Battle Of Waterloo was exceptionally well backed but faded tamely after setting a frantic pace. Tell William done little. 

Monday's 2YO Update

Three two-year-old races today.  

Makes a change as there is far too much racing for my liking.

The only race with significant entries is:

6:15 Chelmsford - 

6f totepool Cashback Club At totesport.com Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race) (Class 4) (2yo)

Going: Standard

Runners: 10 

Analysis: 

Not bad prize money for this race at £6,081. It's perhaps a touch surprising that the favourite, Fognini, hasn't been given the nod. I guess Archie Watson is happy enough to contest these Novice Stakes for now. 

We have two significantly entered juveniles here. Both look less than promising in their formative starts. However, I've seen plenty of horses look pretty mediocre before flapping those Pegasus wings. 

Sir Michael Stoute noted Khafooq, although this son of Kodiac hasn't really shone so far. He isn't anywhere close to the better talents in the stable that readers have noted such as Snagarius, Laylaleena & Almania. Khafooq was a marked drifter on debut and finished last. As I have said before, very few of Stoute's debutantes win when priced over 13/2 SP. Obviously, some do but they are usually the exception to the rule and often very classy horses. I think punters gave this bay colt the benefit of the doubt when returning to Leicester. He showed pace for a few furlongs but dropped away tamely. He was given a few hefty reminders which helped for half a furlong before all was lost. It was a pretty lifeless performance to be fair. Unless he has disappointed on both starts [not impossible] improvement is needed. A low draw is a positive. I wouldn't be interested in betting. 

The other juvenile noted here looks even less inspiring. However, even the best of horses can run poorly on debut. I've seen plenty finish last on debut and turn out to be very talented juveniles. It is a strange fact that when a horse finishes a disappointing last [especially when fancied in the betting] they are worth noting the second start. So who are we talking about? Shining Armor, trained by John Ryan. This bay gelding, a son of Morpheus, is out of a limited but four-times winning mare. Breeding would suggest he wants further. He cost just £16,000 at the breeze-up sales, now in the ownership of Gerry McGladery, who is a good patron to this stable. Ryan sent this horse to make his debut at Yarmouth over 5f. He showed up for a while before dropping out of contention. He wasn't fancied in the betting at 20/1. This gelding was given an entry for the Champagne Stakes (Group 2). Is that a sign of ability? Time will tell. At odds of 50/1 it is a huge price. A wide draw isn't ideal for this turning course. 

Interesting.