A review of two-year-old day at Newmarket as Richard Hughes introduced a smart-looking newcomer in Brentford Hope who sluiced up under Jamie Spencer.
Brentford has plenty of Hope
Richard Hughes' Brentford Hope made a big impression on debut when running away with the Coates & Seely Brut Reserve Maiden Stakes under Jamie Spencer at Newmarket on Wednesday.
The son of Camelot was making his first racecourse appearance over 10 furlongs and sauntered clear to win by five lengths in tremendous style.
Spencer was effusive in his praise afterwards, telling Racing TV: "Obviously it's slow ground over a mile-and-a-quarter but he went through it very easily. The trainer has been going on about him for a while, so when he was due to run here I text my agent and asked him to get me on that as Hughesy has been banging on saying he's got a good one.
"On today's performance you couldn't disagree with him."
Hughes himself said: "I'd like to think he's a pretty smart horse. I rode him in June and I thought he's a mile and a half horse in time, but over the last month he's shown pace. He must be a good one.
"He's bred to stay, he's a fabulous horse to train and I'm lucky to have him.
"I keep saying I'm waiting for a good horse and I haven't really found one, but riding him the last month I was thinking, I wonder is he good, as I haven't had one yet, but the feel he gave me last week, he must be a good horse."
Eyecatcher: BRENTFORD HOPE. This was a one-horse race and it was all about the classy winner who absolutely bolted up..
Click here to add to your FREE My Stable tracker.
Convict lands nursery swag
William Haggas' Convict ran out a convincing winner of the Matchbook EBF Future Stayers Nursery under Tom Marquand.
The son of Australia took no prisoners as he bolted up off a mark of 85, going clear in stylish fashion once he hit the rising ground.
Sent off the 6/5 favourite, he improved for the step up to 10 furlongs after just being beaten off a 2lb lower mark over a mile at York last time out.
Haggas said afterwards: "The track caught him out last time, but he clearly stays well and he'll clearly get a mile-and-a-half on pedigree.
"We'll have to see how he does, but I'd like to geld him. He'll probably get clobbered by the handicapper but I do think that race collapsed a bit, he probably didn't even quicken."
Eyecatcher: CONVICT. The winner was much the best and he might even be one for a Derby trial in the spring if his trainer doesn't steal his crown jewels.
Click here to add to your FREE My Stable tracker.
Cham-pagne moment for Beckett
Ralph Beckett’s Chamade won the opening Allicare Fillies’ Novice Median Auction Stakes on two-year-old day at Newmarket on Wednesday.
A raft of interesting juveniles ran on the card including a posse of well-bred newcomers, but Chamade had seen a racecourse before as she finished 10th on debut at Lingfield at the end of August.
That experience wasn’t lost on her over the seven-furlong trip on the Rowley Mile, but it was the first-time blinkers that really made the difference as she won from a prominent position under Richard Kingscote.
The Sepoy filly had half-a-length in hand at the line from John Gosden’s newcomer and 7/4 favourite, Mostly, a half-sister to Group One winner Journey. She made good late gains and looks one to follow as she steps up in trip as a three-year-old.
Al Gaiya, one of the most experienced fillies in the field with two previous runs, was a further four-and-a-half lengths back in third.
Kingscote told Racing TV afterwards: "She was never really in contention first time, so the blinkers have obviously done the job. Ralph says she’s trained in them at home and they woke her up. She was comfortable on the front end and she picked up really well.
"That hill was stiff enough, Frankie was coming but once she quickened up she got away. It’s a bit of a slog today but not the slowest I’ve ridden on in the last few weeks, but it’s a bit tacky, a bit hard work and a bit of a headwind."
Eyecatcher: MOSTLY. Well-bred and stayed on well for second under Frankie Dettori. Will have plenty to offer stepping up in trip as a three-year-old.
Click here to add to your FREE My Stable tracker.
Beckett doubles up again
The Beckett yard continues to fire in the winners and Trefoil made it 10 from his last 25 runners in the Matchbook EBF Future Stayers Novice Stakes.
We don't know about future stayers, perhaps future Oaks horse would be a more apt description of this daughter of Teofilo who beat what looked a good field on paper by a length-and-a-quarter in fine style.
Owned by Julian Richmond-Watson, who won the Oaks with Beckett in 2008 with Look Here, Trefoil is a half-sister or sister to a couple of horses that stayed 1m4f for her trainer and she's one to bear in mind for next year heading into the winter.
A little keen in the early stages, she pulled her way to the front under Kingscote and she responded impressively for pressure when it looked as though she might be headed going into the dip.
Eyecatcher: ORIENTAL MYSTIQUE. By Kingman, out of Madame Chiang, David Simcock should be delighted by her debut as she stayed on well for fourth and looks one to keep onside over middle distances next year.
Click here to add to your FREE My Stable tracker.
King reigns on debut
King Leonidas justified 13/8 favouritism in division one of the Coates & Seely Blanc de Blancs Novice Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday.
The expensive 750,000gns son of Kingman picked up really well on the far side under Frankie Dettori, responding well to his jockeys hands and heel urgings to get on top by two lengths.
John Gosden's juvenile didn't need to be ridden too vigorously to get on top of this field and it was very much a case of job done nicely for the well-bred newcomer.
Roger Charlton's Evening Sun stayed on well for second with Blue Skyline third for David Elsworth.
Eyecatcher: EVENING SUN. The Queen's son of Muhaarar did well to come through a gap towards the stands' side and he improved from his Newbury debut.
Click here to add to your FREE My Stable tracker.
Tom Collins makes most of experience
David Elsworth's Tom Collins landed division two of the Coates & Seely Blanc de Blancs Novice Stakes at Newmarket.
The son of Dubawi, a 9/2 chance, had already run at Haydock and Kempton and was taking on mostly inexperienced rivals at HQ, seven of whom were newcomers.
He came out of the dip well and stayed on up the hill to beat John Gosden's Galsworthy (3/1 favourite) by a length-and-three-quarters with Al Aasy back in third.
"You're never sure what you're taking on," said Elsworth, "especially here, with nice well-bred horses. I ran him at Haydock and he was as green as grass, but he ran very well at Kempton and was still learning.
"What the form is worth I'm not sure but I'm going to tell everyone he's a Guineas horse!"
Eyecatcher: AL AASY. William Haggas' Sea The Stars newcomer travelled into this strongly, didn't seem to handle the dip too well but then ran on again under considerate handling for third.
Click here to add to your FREE My Stable tracker.