What it’s all About

Written By George Allen

Newsletter #48

My favourite time of year…

We are heading into the high summer, Royal Ascot week is upon us. More on that below.

Firstly, looking to the next crop of champions, for all stud farms around Europe this is a key time of year for their respective yearling crops.

The horses now have had a steady supply of spring grass in their gut.

The sales companies are on the road to judge yearlings before putting the catalogue together for the sales in the autumn.

Horses are growing rapidly in height and in their muscle mass. The extra pressure on limbs can be a nightmare. Many farriers will be scurrying from farm to farm paring a little here and a little there to keep yearling’s legs as straight as they can.

It’s around this time where you notice that horse that you hoped and prayed for.

Will he fill out? You hope they respond to mother nature’s offerings and urgings. The one you maybe bought on a chance or didn’t give much chance to when they were born initially.

That magic happens now, or at least manifests itself now.

So while we sit and watch the Coventry to the Jersey, Sandringham to the Wokingham, the magic is happening for next year out in the fields.

That’s why this is my favourite time of the year.

Derby Delight for Sir Michael

The English Derby and the Oaks are now in the rearview mirror for 2022.

On the theme of magic, the Derby doesn't cast the same spell that it did in the past, on the racing public nor the general public. It’s a shame but it’s reality.

The industry doesn’t seem to want to breed to horses that seem “slow”. Winning the top 3 year old race over 1m 4f doesn’t cut the mustard for stallion operations anymore.

I will throw my hat into the ring and say that Desert Crown is very good, but I cannot see him standing at stud in Britain or Ireland, marketed as a flat stallion. Unless, he manages to win at a mile and even at that, being a son of Nathaniel won't help his case. Another bizarre shame.

The Oaks produced a flying finish with the favourite Emily Upjohn narrowly going down to Tuesday the for Aidan O’ Brien. Tuesday just unofficially turned 3 on the day, kept her head down to hold out for victory.

This is a race that is still held in high regard, with breeders undeterred to breed “slow” mares to fast stallions.

I think class is a more prudent barometer of genetic dominance. Class is unique and tripless, slow or fast, class horses come to the fore. Acknowledging and determining class is the grey area. In my eyes Emily Upjohn will prove the classiest 3 year old filly of her generation, I’m not on my own with that view either.

Landrover Sale

On a jumping note, the first of the two major NH store sales was held at Goffs last week. The trade continued the trend of all sales from the end of 2021 right through to the present. Very strong with all the main figures showing an increase.

The key point I took when analysing the sale was the presence of USA owners and trainers buying Irish stores to send back to race in the USA. A first for such a sale in my memory at least.

A 5 minute read…

You may not be familiar with Japanese racing or the rise of the behemoth that is Japanese thoroughbred breeding, here’s a 5 minute article published by the Racing Post that’s worth your time.

July July

The July sale catalogue has just been released and we are stifling through each and every lot in the search for one and maybe two new horses to join our string.

We will be on the hunt for a dual purpose horse who can mix it between the flat and jumps.

A handful of people followed up with an expression of interest last week on joining our NH syndicate.

If it seems something that would be up your alley, send us back a reply to this email.

Stallion Watch

I find it fascinating to study how the first season sires fare out with their early runners.

Havana Grey has had a blistering start to his second career.

We felt he would be successful with his early runners, the stock he produced physically seemed that way inclined.

I would caution not to get too carried away yet, when assessing a stallions first crop I like to see standout horses come through, we haven’t had enough blacktype 2 year old race to judge the merit of Havana Grey’s best horses as of yet.

Royal Ascot Day 1 Preview

2.35

Just enjoy Baaeed he really shouldnt get beat in this. If you want to have a bet maybe backing Lights On in betting without Baaeed might be worth a small investment at around 6/1. She is the only mare in the field but looks to be improving with age and she can pick up the pieces behind Baaeed.

3.05

The Coventry stakes looks a cracking race to me this year and I find it very hard to be mega confident of having a bet. If pushed I’d side with Persian Force as he has looked uber impressive so far in 2 starts and has plenty more to come. However there are several very likable types up against him and it might be best just to enjoy this contest.

3.40

Kings Lynn looks worth a good bet each way to me in this contest. He was arguably very unlucky in this race last year when not getting a clear run of things. I believe he is the best of the British and Irish horses and will confirm the form of his recent run against Twilight Calls. I’m not a fan of Golden Pal’s and believe Nature Strip while the one to beat is worth taking on. Odds of 14/1 look generous about Kings Lynn and once he gets a cleaner run through he should go close in what looks a weaker race on paper this year than last year.

4.20

Coroebus is the one to beat in the St James’s Palace Stakes.However Lusail looks the forgotten horse in the race. I thought he ran a lovely comeback behind Perfect Power and then got no run at all in the Guineas. He stayed on ok at the finish there but the winner had gotten away from him. Again with a cleaner run through this time he should get a lot closer to Coroebus and odds of 20/1 look much too big.

5.00

No surprise a staying handicap at Royal Ascot and Willie Mullins supplies a short priced favourite with Ryan Moore in the saddle. Bring On The Night is firmly in the could be anything category and Make My Day for Ryan’s dad Gary Moore looks the bet of the race to me. He looks to of had a lovely prep to my eye staying on well in 2 mile hanidcaps the last twice. He handles the ground and looks to be crying out for this longer trip. He looks fairly handicapped also and appeals as a solid each way bet to me.

5.35

Foxes Tales done us a big favour winning here last year and I see no reason why he won’t go very close in this contest tomorrow. He will be fully fit after his two runs this year and dropping back into listed company will help. Otherwise he looks to have everything in his favour. Another one to note in this race is the filly Aristia and it may well be worth backing her each way also.

6.10

Get Shirty appeals as a progessive stayer and could be fairly handicapped over this 1 mile 6 furlong trip. He looks best suited to this trip and at odds of 9/1 rates a solid each way bet in this contest


Horses to follow:

Make My Day - 5.00

Kings Lynn - 3.40

Get Shirty - 6.10

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George Allen https://www.Brownsbarnthoroughbreds.com
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