The National Stakes at Sandown.
This Class 1 Listed race has a history which dates back to 1889. It was known as the National Breeders' Produce Stakes until 1959. In fact, in 1932 it was the ''most valuable two-year-old race of the English calendar''.
Previous winners include the exceptional Pretty Polly (1903), The Tetrarch ((1913), Tiffin (1928), Myrobella, (1932), Tutor Minstrel (1946) & Belle Of All (1950).
Readers may remember modern-day winners including Bill O'Gorman's Superpower (1988) who won his first six races including the Norfolk Stakes and later in the two-year-old season the Phoenix Stakes (Group 1), Ireland. He was ridden in his first 8 races by Tony Ives. Superpower concluded his formative campaign when fourth in the Flying Childers when ridden by Willie Carson, behind Paul Felgate's Shuttlecock Corner (1988), who beat Sir Michael Stoute's Kerrera who went on to finish runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas at three-year-olds.
Other exceptionally gifted two-year-old National Stakes winners include:
1991 Marling (Geoff Wragg)
(Went on to win the Irish 1,000 Guineas)
1992 Lyric Fantasy (Richard Hannon)
(Went on to with the Nunthorpe Stakes)
2013 Rizeena (Clive Britain)
(Moyglare Stakes Group 1 winner, Ireland)
2014 Tiggy Wiggy (Richard Hannon)
(Top-rated European two-year-old filly)
Last year saw Tim Easterby's Vintage Brut who won on by a neck at 7/2 joint-favourite after thrashing his opponents by seven lengths when flying home on his debut at Thirsk.
2019 National Stakes Listed Race
This sprint over 5f 10y on good going has win prize money worth £17,013. From 13 paid entrants we see a field of just six two-year-olds take part.
Full Authority, trained by David O'Meara, may start odds-on favourites after winning emphatically on debut at Chester by six lengths. Willow Farm Stable has a hot string of juveniles this season.
Bryan Smart fields Proper Beau, who ran a cracking race on debut at Musselburgh when beating Alminoor by a neck. Mark Johnston's two-year-old ran out a tidy winner at Pontefract second start to frank the form.
Archie Watson's juveniles have been in flying form this season with smart two-year-olds such as Lady Kermit, Littledidyouknow & Execlusive.
Electric Ladyland won her first two starts before heading to the Lily Agnes at Chester. A wide draw wasn't the best starting point and veering to her right when leaving the stalls gave little chance of success finishing in sixth place.
Robert Cowell's Strive For Glory did just that when winning on debut at Newcastle. By all accounts, that looked a weak race and marked improvement will be needed against a few speedy types.
Charles Hills Flippa The Strippa won on her second start. This grey filly races in the familiar silks of Christoper Wright. More is needed here.
Mark Johnston is a trainer always worth a second look. The first thing you will notice about Jm Jackson is that she is a very big filly. This daughter of No Nay Never ran pretty well on debut when a beaten favourite to Ventura Rebel who will be heading to Royal Ascot with high hopes after winning at Ascot last time out, when running on with gusto to beat a Wesley Ward speedster, who had trounced his rival on debut at Keeneland, USA. Jm Jackson could improve a good deal for that first start and over a month on the sidelines.
Conclusion: Full Authority showed ample ability on debut at Chester. Proper Beau is a battling type and beat a fair opponent at Musselburgh. Jm Jackson could well improve for her first start and may run better than her odds.
Monday detailed a couple of debut winners.
Strive For Glory won on the line for Robert Cowell. It looked a poor race with the second favourite a non-runner and odds-on favourite stuck behind a wall of horses. It's all good for Group Horse but I must admit I didn't fancy the horse to win as the trainer has a poor strike rate with debutantes. I feel it won by circumstance. However, most winners are about circumstance.
At Windsor, Emten won well for Jamie Osborne and the Melbourne 10 Racing syndicate. There is little doubt the stable fancied this two-year-old to go well. The betting was a little misleading as this good-looking filly was on the edge of a betting guide which suggested a big run. She won pretty easily. It's a good sign when Osbourne's juveniles win on debut and I can imagine she will be heading to Royal Ascot.
Tuesday
Three two-year-old races on the day. Just a quick look to detail the significantly entered juveniles.
1:30 Nottingham -
Just the sole significant entry going. Richard Hannon's two-year-olds are never the easiest to assess and a few fancied of late have looked in need of the experience. Beignet is quite a well-bred filly being sired by Canford Cliffs and out of a decent mare in Cake, who did well for the stable winning on her first two starts and far from disgraced when fifth in the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) beaten less than two lengths. Beignet ran well on debut at Brighton, but couldn't hold the late charge of Paul Cole's winner. This drop back to 5f will help and that race brings valuable experience. Cole's victor is probably a fair juvenile with size and scope so I can see the form of the first two holding up. A few debutantes are in opposition, and if they are fancied in the betting could, from a statistical point of view, put down a challenge. I would take a watching brief but expect Beignet to run a sound race.
2:25 Brighton -
Another Hannon two-year-old with form. Audio is the only significantly-entered juvenile in this race. This son of Equiano cost 24,000 guineas at the yearling sales. His debut effort was difficult to assess in ways. Electric Ladyland won carrying a penalty, while Saeed bin Suroor's favourite Dark Of Night fluffed his lines with a slow start. Audio wasn't overly fancied in the betting, which may suggest he was in need of the run. Also, he was racing wide for the whole trip which couldn't have helped his cause. Audio should go well in this restricted race type although it is difficult to assess that first start.
2:45 Yarmouth -
A couple of significantly-entered juveniles here. Mark Johnston's Don't Joke is expected to improve for his first start. He was fancied to go well on debut at Bath but could never get to grips with the pace of Zulu Zander, who was carrying a penalty, for an easy win at Leicester the time before. It was a fair debut if not a little bit tricky to assess. I imagine the experience will be a plus and this better ground may be more to his liking.
The other entered juveniles is Robert Cowell's Taste The Nectar. The stable had a winner on Monday when Strive For Glory won at Newcastle. This American-bred daughter of More Than Ready cost $65,000 when purchased at the Keeneland yearling sales. It is positive that this filly holds an entry of some note. However, the stable have a poor strike rate with their two-year-old debutantes which doesn't bolster confidence. I would have to take a watching brief of this filly but hope she goes well.
Jeremy Noseda's Fleeting Princess doesn't have any entries at this time but could prove the biggest danger. If priced 11/4 and less SP could take some beating.
A few significantly-entered juveniles running today.
2:40 Southwell -
Bendy Spirit was given a Brocklesby Stakes entry. This son of Helmet wasn't particularly fancied in the betting on that occasions when the stable's first string [Show Me Show Me] won well for Ontoawinner syndicate. Bendy Spirit showed good pace but tired rapidly in the closing stages and finished nearer last than first. Better was seen next start at Pontefract. Alminoor ran out an easy winner. However, Bendy Spirit ran creditably, held up off the pace and finished with some spirit. A nice-looking colt, progressive, and is likely to show improved form today. The form of the Pontefract race has been franked to some extent. If Bendy Spirit drifts to decent odds [8/1+] could hold each way claims.
Mark Tompkin's Prosecutor is the other entrant and been backed from over 100/1 on the exchanges.
2:50 Newcastle -
Robert Cowell is a fair trainer and it is worth noting Strive For Glory has been given an entry for a class 2 race. In fact, this bay colt, a son of Dialled In, who cost $80,000, was earmarked to run at Ascot. Last year, Cowell had eight two-year-olds he identified as having a touch of class and the majority won in their formative season. It is telling that very few of Cowell's two-year-old debutantes win. Even when pretty fancied in the betting they have about a 10% chance of winning, although fair place claims. Strive For Glory is worth noting today but more for the future.
5:25 Windsor -
Interesting to note Jamie Osborne's two-year-olds this season have shown up pretty well on debut, which isn't always the case for his juveniles. Emten is a bay daughter of Bungleinthejungle in the ownership of Melbourne 10 Racing and a £36,000 yearling purchase. Once again, Osborne isn't known for two-year-old winners on their racing bow. However, he can hit the mark when they are priced 9/2 & less SP. If outside this price guide it is unlikely they will prevail.
Once again, Group Horse shows its worth with two winners on the day.