ToF Tidbits - 12 July 08

Just a few bits and pieces that I think are worth mentioning:

This past week saw the Newmarket July meeting. I had three runners at the meet; Spitfire, Alfathaa and Unleashed. I was home on Wednesday afternoon to see Spitfire take 2nd in the Toteswinger Handicap, a class 2 heritage handicap over 6 furlongs. He had shown decent enough form in the past and had Frankie Dettori on board. I put my money where my mouth is and put some each way money on him. Good for me! He was 2nd by only 3/4 of a length.
It was Alfathaa and Unleashed's turns on Thursday. I wanted to have a bet on them both, as they both looked to have great chances, but I completely forgot! Unleashed ran in the Bahrain Trophy, a listed event over 1m5f. He too lost by 3/4 lengths, but was 4th.
Alfathaa ran in the 4.20, a class 2 conditions stakes over a mile. I have always had a lot of faith in Alfathaa and I believe he is still improving. He led for long time, racing keenly, but was beaten by Generous Thought to finish second by, you guessed it, 3/4 lengths.

2yo filly Acquiesced made her debut on 3 July in a maiden at Newbury. She ran an excellent 2nd losing only by a short head to Starlarks. She is owned by Mrs J Wood and trained by Richard Hannon.

Silver Moose broke the $200k mark in prize money yesterday when he won an allowance optional claiming race at Monmouth Park. He is owned and trained by Edwin Thomas Broome. Congrats to him. Silver Moose is one of my favourites :o)

Eastern Anthem ran 3rd today in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Silver Cup Stakes, a listed handicap over 1m6f at York, behind Yellowstone and Gull Wing. I really quite fancied him in this and he came off a good performance in a listed event at Goodwood last month. It was the first time he tried this distance and it looked like it was just a furlong too far for him, especially in the heavy ground. A decent performance, but he should do better next time out. He will win a listed event in time.

Callwood Dancer is about to try to equal her performance in the Nassau S when she takes onfive of her Nassau rivals in a 7-horse field in the $300k Dance Smartly (G2) at Woodbine. She beat Quiet Jungle by a nose last time, but today Quiet Jungle has a 8 pound advantage, Callwood Dancer carrying 121 to Quiet Jungle's 113. I know she can do it. C'mon girl!

Here Comes The Guineas

I am so proud that two of my ToF horse have made it to the 2,000 Guineas this year. It promises to be a great race with New Approach firmly at the head of the betting with many believing he should be the easy winner. Of course I beg to differ.

Ibn Khaldun : By a miler out of a miler, he is perfectly bred for the Guineas. His dam Gossamer in fact won the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2002. Gossamer is also a full sister to Barathea, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and was second to Zafonic in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in 1993. Ibn Khaldun has nothing but improved over his two-year-old season and the noises coming out of the Godolphin camp are positive. If he kept up the progression at the same rate as through last year, he will be right up there and should be capable of winning. He is likely to be 3rd in the betting behind New Approach and Raven's Pass. I definitely feel he is a better horse than Raven's Pass. Whether he will be able to beat horse-of-the-moment New Approach, we will find out tomorrow. He is trading at 4/1 to 9/2 at the moment. I put some money on him last October at 25/1. Fingers crossed! He could be a superstar...

My other runner is Alfathaa. He has recovered from his foot problem and will likely take his place in the starting stalls tomorrow. He is a bit of an enigma. I am not quite sure what to expect of him. He ran well enough last year as two-year-old and was not far behind the leading two-year-old colts. He won a maiden by five lengths over a mile and finished a creditable fifth in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge (G2) behind City Leader by only 1 1/4 lengths. His sire Nayef won G1s at 3, 4 and 5 and his dam was a listed winner at 4, so plenty of scope for improvement for him over the coming season. Whether he is ready for such a big task yet remains to be seen, but I hope he will run well. I have bet him each way for tomorrow, as I think he definitely capable of running a good race.

The field:
SC PP Horse (Jockey)
1. 4 Alfathaa (Richard Hills)
2. 8 Bahamian Kid (Ted Durcan)
3. 3 Dream Eater (Martin Dwyer)
4. 6 Fireside (Alan Munro)
5. 10 Henryhenavigator (Johnny Murtagh)
6. 9 Ibn Khaldun (Frankie Dettori)
7. 11 Moynahan (Richard Quinn)
8. 2 New Approach (Kevin Manning)
9. 5 Perfect Stride (Ryan Moore)
10. 1 Plan (Michael Kinane)
11. 13 Raven's Pass (Jimmy Fortune)
12. 15 Scintillo (Richard Hughes)
13. 12 Stimulation (Steve Drowne)
14. 14 Strike The Deal (Eddie Ahern)
15. 7 Stubbs Art (Seb Sanders)

My somewhat biased prediction for tomorrow:

1. Ibn Khaldun
2. New Approach
3. Alfathaa

ToF Tidbits - 16 April 08

Twilight won a maiden special weight at River Downs yesterday. A product of the last US crop of Silver Charm before the stallion relocated to Japan, the grey colt made his debut in style, winning by 2 lengths for breeder/owner Lucy Bassett and trainer Jeffrey Thornbury.

Alfathaa is out of the Craven Stakes and probably also the 2,000 Guineas. The son of Nayef was going to take on some of the big boys in first big prep for the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby. Some of the contenders include Raven's Pass, City Leader, Declaration of War and Scintillo amongst others. However, his trainer William Haggas reports that Alfathaa has a foot abscess, and the poor colt is very sore. Haggas says he might go straight for the Guineas if the colt is fit enough, but things have not really been discussed with owner Hamdan Al Maktoum yet. I hope to see him fit and ready soon. I am expecting big things from this colt. I like him a lot!

(Twilight (USA) - 05 grey colt - Silver Charm x Daydream, by Believe It)
(Alfathaa (GB) - 05 bay colt - Nayef x Arctic Char, by Polar Falcon)