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| Al Madhar |
[Trained by Richard Hannon]
Not seen since making a winning debut at Newmarket over seven furlongs in July (pictured left), in a maiden contest that has been boosted many times since, with seven of his beaten rivals going on to break their maiden tags at some stage later in the season. Al Madhar showed batting qualities that day, getting the better of Al Suhail by a neck following a sustained duel inside the final furlong. He is a son of the Aga Khan’s sire Siyouni, who is best known for siring the wonderful, multi Group 1 winning filly Laurens, while his dam Phiz – a daughter of Galileo, was a smart middle distance/stayer for John Gosden a few seasons back, winning a maiden over 1m 5f at Lingfield and was also placed in Listed company over the same course and distance. Al Madhar looks open to improvement, and will appreciate a step up in trip to at least ten furlongs, with a try at a mile and a half at some stage looking assured.
Al Qaqaa [William Haggas]
Beaten over eleven lengths when fourth of fifteen at Newmarket over seven furlongs on his debut in early October, but showed the benefit of that run when beaten narrowly over a furlong further by Stepney Causeway at Chelmsford the following month. Al Qaqaa may not be one of the stable’s leading lights, but is open to progress during 2020, and strikes me as a winner waiting to happen – particularly when given a stiffer test of stamina. He appeared to act well on the surface at Chelmsford, but could well be equally effective on turf – as the lack of experience is sure to have played a part when beaten at Newmarket. A maiden success should come his way with the minimum of fuss before hopefully moving on to something better.
Al Rufaa [John Gosden]
Got off the mark at the second time of asking at York over seven furlongs, beating the Andrew Balding trained Fox Duty Free by a neck. That win came just nine days after his racecourse debut, when four-and-a-quarter lengths fifth of twelve at Lingfield behind David Simcock’s Rovaniemi. Al Rufaa is a son of one of the sires of the moment – the four times Group 1 winning champion three-year-old Kingman, out of the maiden Cape Cross mare Clarmina. He appeared well suited to seven furlongs at two, but should stay a mile this term, however he may need to learn to settle better during his races if he is to have any chance of staying any further. Should win more races.
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| Brentford Hope (Richard Hughes) |
[Richard Hughes]
Took a Newmarket Maiden over ten furlongs in good style towards the backend of October on his only outing to date, despite showing clear signs of inexperience (pictured right). Held up, he made headway approaching the three-furlong pole, and led on the bit with a furlong to run – before quickening away to comfortably account for Princess Bride by five lengths. It was a good education, and a ride perfectly executed by Jamie Spencer, with hopefully plenty more to come. Brentford Hope is a son of Camelot, and will have no trouble staying at least another couple of furlongs. He holds an early entry in the Irish Derby, but will need to step up significantly if he was to take up that entry. However, there is lots to look forward to for his trainer Richard Hughes and owners Bernardine and Sean Mulryan, and he is already looking a fair purchase at 130k euro from the Arqana Breeze up sales in May.
Custodian [Richard Fahey]
First foal of the Elnadim mare Zuhoor Baynoona (also trained by Fahey) and from the first crop of the four times Group 1 winner Muhaarar, so boasts a pedigree all about speed. Custodian got off the mark at the second time of asking when taking a Novices event at Pontefract in August in fair style by three lengths from the Karl Burke trained Ainsdale (who went on to win three times later in the season – improving to a mark of 98), that followed a debut at Ayr that was not without promise in a race that also produced a couple of future winners. I’m not certain why Custodian didn’t race after August, but he remains open to further improvement during his second season, with distances of around six furlongs always likely to prove ideal. He may well be one for a handicap campaign in the North at that trip.
Emissary [Hugo Palmer]
Emissary is by Kingman, from the Sadler’s Wells mare Soviet Moon – whose best offspring to date (by some way) is the 2010 Epsom Derby winner Workforce. He also has a full sister, the lightly raced Strelka – winner of a Novices event at Kempton over a mile and a half from four starts for Ralph Beckett. Emissary was successful on his only outing last term, when taking a nine and a half furlongs contest at Wolverhampton in the second week of October. The form of the race doesn’t appear anything out of the ordinary, but there was much to like about the manner of the win, and he looked to have more in hand than the two-and-a-quarter length winning margin suggested. Emissary looks open to improvement over middle distances at three, and should be equally at home on turf or an artificial surface. It will be disappointing if this nicely bred colt cannot add to his winning tally.
A Royal bred colt by the Epsom Derby winner of 2008 New Approach, out of Her Majesty’s mare Touchline who was twice placed in Listed company over seven furlongs and a mile. First Receiver had two outings as a juvenile, and ran well in both. He finished third on his debut at Newmarket in July over seven furlongs behind Al Madhar in a race that the form has been franked since on a number of occasions. While on his second run – some four months later, he was beaten just half a length at Kempton over a mile by the Godolphin runner First View, who was following up a win at the track the previous month. I would imagine First Receiver would start his season off over a mile in Maiden or Novice company, but may well make up into a nice handicapper over ten furlongs with a bit more experience behind him. He has the added bonus of acting on both turf and an artificial surface.
Higher Kingdom [Archie Watson]
A once raced son of Kingman, who must have been expected to run well on his racecourse debut judging by the betting. Starting a well backed 8/11 favourite he didn’t disappoint his supporters, always travelling well and quickening clear inside the final furlong of a seven furlongs Novices event at Kempton in October – beating the William Haggas trained Star Of Wells by a comfortable looking four lengths. He looks open to improvement at three, and may well be much better than the bare form of the race. Higher Kingdom is a half-brother to four individual winners, including a couple of Listed winners in France, and it would be nice to think that he could progress to that sort of level with a bit more experience behind him. Distances of around a mile should suit, and it will be a major disappointment if he cannot add to his winning tally over the coming months.
Raining Fire [James Fanshawe]
(pictured right) A half brother to useful winners Colonial Classic (8.5-12f), Flaming Marvel (12-14f) and Sleeping Lion (11-14.5f) who hinted at ability on debut in a 10f novice event at Newbury last May won by subsequent St Leger winner Logician, making some late gains from off the pace to finish ninth. He wasn’t seen again (gelded in interim) until contesting a 9.5f novice event at Wolverhampton five months later, waited with and unable to muster the speed to get on terms with the principals as he came home in sixth behind Nsnas. He signed off with a second place finish in a four-runner 12f novice event back at Wolverhampton 11 days later (hooded), waited with and shaken up with half a mile left to run, outpaced three furlongs out but responding well in the home straight to take second close home behind Bye Bye Lady (beaten 1 length). This gelding looked very much a work in progress last year, suited by the step up in distance last time though circumstances not really conducive to making it a thorough test at the trip. Handed an opening mark of 75 and likely to return a more rounded individual, he should do well in 12/14f handicaps this term.
Tiempo Vuela [trainer John Gosden]
Nice 3yo filly who put up a very likeable performance on her only start last term, when taking a Novices Stakes over the straight mile at Newcastle in October, travelling well throughout and quickening away inside the final furlong to pull three lengths clear of the Mark Johnston trained Tulip Fields – despite drifting left in the latter stages. It rates as fairly smart form, as the runner up already had a rating of 81 and Tiempo Vuela appeared far superior. She is bred to be suited to middle distances at three, being by Lope De Vega out of a mare that won over 1m 5f. She strikes me as a smashing filly to take into the forthcoming season, and can only improve as she gains experience.
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