Life Begins Without Frankel
As all good Flat racing purists know, the first day of the Craven Meeting is our New Year’s Day so Happy New Year to you all and let’s hope it is a successful one.
If you are anything like me you approach this season with a sense of loss; the last 2 seasons have been special – THE FRANKEL YEARS.
With the great horse now busy at Stud, where I am told he is even quicker in his work than on the track, we need to focus on mere mortals of the horse world and try to work out what this week’s Classic trials have to offer and sort out the morning glories from the real deals.
Newmarket is the home of the morning glories and we have had some corkers down the years. Here are just a couple who have been going well over the last month and have their trainers’ eyes twinkling:
Hot Snap (Sir Henry Cecil)
This filly is a lovely half-sister to the multiple Group One winning Midday. She won on her debut at Kempton in September under a hands and heals ride from a terrible draw in box 13 after being slow away. She has progressed well through the winter and looks forward enough in her work to make a big impact in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket on Wednesday.
As with all of Cecil’s horses she will come on a few pounds for her first run and don’t be disappointed to see her finish behind Richard Hannon’s filly Sky Lantern, who is reported to have wintered exceptionally well. The Hannon fillies are flying if Zurigha’s win at Kempton on Saturday is anything to go by. Defeat in the Nell Gwyn is nothing to worry about for one of Cecil’s fillies and Diminuendo went on to dual classic success in the English and Irish Oaks after defeat in the race back in 1988.
Ribaat (Roger Varian)
This Invincible Spirit colt holds entries in the Greenham at Newbury on Saturday as well as a 0-100 at the same course on Friday. He is another who has been making all the right moves in his work. He ended last season with an official rating of 99 after a debut win at Haydock before racing far too keen for his own good in a 6f Conditions race at Doncaster. Whilst he may not make the top grade, he looks the sort who will progress with experience and if he has learned to settle over the winter he will be winning at a decent level this season and will be paying his way.
Other Newmarket horses to note this week include Frankel’s half-brother, Morpheus, who will come on a ton for the run and is stable 2nd choice in his maiden on Wednesday; Tom Queally goes with his sharper stable companion Demonic, but don’t be surprised to see Morpheus competing at a higher level as the season progresses. Another from the Cecil yard to show up well at home is the maiden Kyllachy Rise who looks as if he could be pitched in at the deep end in Thursdays Craven Stakes. He also holds an entry in a maiden at Newbury on Saturday.
Whatever you do this week remember Star Spreads will be offering prices on each and every race this season and Happy Punting to you all. Keep an eye out for news from your Newmarket Correspondent throughout the season – I cannot promise they will all be winners but you are hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth.
