Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien already seems to have one hand on the trophy for the Investec Derby scheduled for Epsom on June 2 with the hot favourite Camelot, but he would very much like to send his highly promising Ernest Hemingway to the big event as well believing that the Galileo colt could turn out to be a potentially high-class performer in his own right this term, writes Elliot Slater.
Generally on offer at just 20/1 for the mile-and-a-half colts’ classic, Ernest Hemingway is one of the more left-field Betfair Epsom Derby Tips given he has only ever been seen in public once before – when hacking up by 10 lengths in a maiden on the Polytrack at Dundalk in mid-April. It was a performance though that strongly hinted that O’Brien and the Coolmore triumvirate who jointly own the imposing three-year-old might well have another potential star on their hands.
Ernest Hemingway is a tremendously impressive colt who stands over a great deal of ground, and it is no surprise that he failed to make it to the racecourse as a juvenile as he has taken time to fill his sizeable frame. Sent off the 5/2 second-favourite with Betfair on his racecourse bow, O’Brien’s colt was bounced out of the stalls by young Joseph O’Brien and made every yard of the running in the 11-furlong contest, impressively quickening clear from well over a furlong out to score under hands and heels in the manner of a horse who could well turn out to be a major force both this term and in the future.
Aidan O’Brien has made no secret that he wants to run in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York as long as the ground is decent as he would be reluctant to send his charge to Epsom with only one previous outing, so the weather and going on the Knavesmire will have a crucial bearing on just which direction this exciting prospect will take this term.
Although he tasted defeat for the first time at the hands of Noble Mission in a tactical renewal of the listed Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes at HQ on 2000 Guineas day, there is still plenty the Betfair Horse Racing punters liked about the way Godolphin’s Mariner’s Cross went about his business – and he could yet be amongst the starters for the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs on June 2, writes Elliot Slater.
The imposing son of Dubawi had made his racecourse bow on the Rowley Mile just 16 days earlier having failed to make it to the track as a juvenile as a result of his not inconsiderable size and scope. Making up for lost time, the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained colt put up a very taking performance in what may well prove to be a better-than-average renewal of the Wood Ditton Stakes, leading until headed at halfway, before storming back through to take it up again two furlongs out, then running on strongly up the hill to score by a length-and-three-quarters from the highly touted Mukhadram.
Sent off the 9/4 second-favourite behind Noble Mission as he stepped up to 10 furlongs for the listed contest on his return to Newmarket, Frankie Dettori’s mount raced prominently in a contest run at a dawdle for the first five furlongs but looked as though he might well prevail when bounding to the front over a furlong from home. Hard driven inside the final furlong, Mariner’s Cross was caught close home by Noble Mission and beaten a neck but lost little in defeat and gave the distinct impression he will be suited by a more strongly run race over an extra couple of furlongs.
That is exactly what would face him before Epson Derby 2012 betting picks up pace and, at current odds of 33/1, there will be many people who view the Godolphin colt as a potentially interesting each-way candidate for the showcase Group 1 contest.
Ballydoyle maestro, Aidan O’Brien, will be hoping to strengthen his hand for the Investec Derby at Epsom, on June 2, when his talented colt, Wrote, takes his chance at Leopardstown, on Sunday, in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes over 10 furlongs, writes Elliot Slater.
Available at between 16/1 and 33/1 in the Epsom Derby 2012 Odds for the blue riband mile-and-a-half contest, on the first Saturday in June, Wrote has plenty to live up to following the tremendous success of his stable companion Camelot in the Qipco 2000 Guineas.
The winner of the first classic of the season is now offered at just 5/4 on Betfair to do the double for O’Brien and owners John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor.
As has been well illustrated in the days since Camelot’s victory, the Ballydoyle team has immense strength in depth, as proven by the 25/1 shock success of Homecoming Queen in the 1000 Guineas, and by Windsor Castle’s 66/1 defeat of his odds-on stable companion, St Nicholas Abbey, at the Curragh, a day later.
Wrote, third in the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot, in September, behind another Ballydoyle colt Daddy Long Legs, then travelled to the US and put up a stunning effort, when easily landing the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf over a mile at Churchill Downs, in November.
He was probably in need of the run, when shaping well for a long way, before fading close to home to finish third again to Daddy Long Legs at Meydan, at the end of March, in the Group 2 UAE Derby.
Reported to have come on nicely since his run in Dubai, Wrote is far from a forlorn hope for Epsom, but the son of High Chaparral will have to put in a big performance, on Sunday, to convince punters he poses a genuine threat to the majestic Camelot.
Roger Charlton’s smart sprinter, Bated Breath, looks set to make his seasonal return at York’s May meeting, where a potential bid for the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes looks very much on the cards, at the start of what could be a massive season for the son of Dansili, writes Elliot Slater.
Last term, the five-year-old mixed it with the best sprinters in the business, and invariably gave a good account of himself, after beginning the term with back-to-back victories in a Haydock conditions race and a listed contest at Windsor. Enjoy betting on horse racing with www.betvictor.com.
After finishing a highly respectable fifth to Society Rock in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, in June, Bated Breath then ran a stormer, when going down by just half a length to Dream Ahead in the July Cup at Newmarket a few weeks later.
The pair pulled clear of their rivals, in what was one of the best sprint contests of the 2011 campaign.
After failing to land a blow back over five furlongs in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, in August, the Prince Khaled Abdullah-owned five-year-old then failed by only a nose to gain his revenge on Dream Ahead in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock, in September.
He failed again by just a neck to win the Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine in Canada, a few weeks later.
Not seen since finishing down the field in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin, in November, Bated Breath has reportedly done very well during the winter break.
Charlton and his team are looking forward to giving their star a first outing of the term, in what is already building up to a hot Duke of York Stakes, with the likes of Hoof It, Society Rock, and Margot Did all likely contenders for the six furlong affair. Have a bet on horse racing on Bet Victor.
The Group 1 JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, on May 19, has already been marked down on most racing calendars as the day that the mighty Frankel is set to return to action this season. The news that both Excelebration and So You Think may take him on means that we could be in for a truly outstanding contest, writes Elliot Slater.
Excelebration joined Ballydoyle at the end of last season, after enjoying a fine time of things, last term, despite the fact that he was forever chasing Frankel’s shadow, including when runner-up to Sir Henry Cecil’s superstar in the Greenham Stakes.
He was third behind the best racing odds favourite, Frankel, in the St James’s Palaces Stakes at Royal Ascot, and a four-length second to the Prince Khaled Abdullah-owned star in the QEII Stakes, at the end of the term.
In between those races, the former Marco Botti-trained son of Exceed and Excel won two Group 2 races, and then landed his own piece of Group 1 glory, when beating the smart Rio de la Plata in the Prix du Moulin and Longchamp, last September.
So You Think is coming to the end of his glittering racing career, as he will retire to stud in the summer, but remains a very smart performer. Last season, he won the Coral Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes, as well as running with tremendous credit in a host of other top events, at distances between 10 and 12 furlongs.
Fourth to Monterosso in the Dubai World Cup, at the end of March, he will certainly be fit enough to do himself justice. The prospect of both him and Excelebration trying to outwit the seemingly unbeatable Frankel will surely draw a huge crowd to Newbury.
The race is already being built in the horse racing betting news, as one of the best of what is sure to be a very exciting season.
Mayson put up a stylish performance to land the listed Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes at Newmarket’s Craven meeting and looks set to take another step up the sprinting ladder when bidding for the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes at York in mid-May, writes Elliot Slater.
Trained at Malton by the high-flying Richard Fahey, the four-year-old came into the Newmarket contest having run well on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster some 18 days earlier when finishing third to The Cheka in the listed Cammidge Trophy and had a number of racing betting tips behind him.
His handler had also made no secret of the fact that he felt the run on Town Moor had brought his charge very much to concert pitch.
Usually a front-runner, Paul Hanagan’s mount was held up in touch with the pace at HQ and the change of tactics worked a treat as the son of Invincible Spirit travelled powerfully in the hands of the champion jockey before quickening smartly to take up the running entering the final furlong, then drew away to record an easy three-and-a-half length victory over the rock solid Jimmy Styles, with Internationaldebut a further length-and-a-half away in third.
Mayson, a close fourth in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood as a juvenile, had proved himself a tough and consistent sprinter last term where amongst his best efforts he ran third to Pepper Lane in the prestigious Great St Wilfred Handicap at Ripon in August, finished third in the listed Rous Stakes at Newmarket in October, before ending the term in failing by just a neck to peg back the useful Sirrius Prospect in the listed Wentworth Stakes on the final day of the season at Doncaster in November.
Fahey reports his charge to have strengthened up and filled out nicely through the winner and anticipates that Mayson will go well on his first outing in Group 2 company at his local track in a few weeks time, making him one of the more credible horse racing tips.
Narrow defeats at the highest level for Roger Charlton were very exasperating, last year. Bated Breath lost by seconds in the Darley July Cup and the Betfred Sprint Cup, while Clowance and Cityscape came third. That anguish was eased within a few hours of the 2012 turf season commencing, as Cityscape won in Dubai, pocketing £1.9 million for owner Khalid Abdullah.
That same horse may well be required to stand-in for his illustrious owner-mate – Frankel – in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, next month, and perhaps even at Royal Ascot, if Frankel does not recover from his injury in time.
If he is not required in the super-sub role, there are plenty of targets overseas for him to be aimed at. After a frustrating time at Group 1 level last year, Charlton has plenty of interesting candidates for the highest level of racing again, this term, including Bated Breath and Top Offer.
The latter horse looks sure to take his chance in Saturday’s Aon Greenham Stakes, a recognised trail for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, although having recovered from an injury, Top Offer will probably have softer ground than ideal to cope with. Be sure to check out the horse betting how to before placing a wager on the race.
Bated Breath and Cityscape will head Charlton’s older horses, with a solid back-up from others such as Camberley Too, Proponent, and Sea Of Heartbreak.
Top Offer will head the three-year-olds, but there are some other nice types; one of the less-exposed horses that have already caught the eye, this season, is Rosslyn Castle, the Selkirk colt scored at Windsor, last Monday. He looks as though he will improve over an additional 2F and remains one to watch closely.
The juvenile team do not look to include many early types, but the names, First Secretary, Magog, Pythagorean, and Tartary are ones that stand out as horses that could make their mark in online racing, later in the season.
Charlton missed out at the highest level last year but he’s already rectified that omission to his record, this year, and with his current squad he could well add to his tally in the near future.
Jim Bolger’s very promising colt, Light Heavy, as short as 12/1 in some ante-post lists for the Investec Derby at Epsom, on June 2, could attempt to win a wildcard entry into the historic mile-and-a-half classic race, by bidding for the Investec Derby Trial on the Surrey Downs track, on April 25, writes Elliot Slater.
The entry into the race of last week’s impressive Group 3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown came as something of a surprise, the contest coming so soon after his pleasing two-and-a-half-length defeat of Call To Battle on April 15.
However, Bolger’s colt is not currently entered into the Derby, and the temptation of receiving the wildcard entry into the Blue Riband, without having to stump up a hefty chunk of cash to supplement his three-year-old, is clearly proving something Bolger might find hard to resist.
Bolger reports the son of his own Teofilio to have come out of the Leopardstown race in great order, and reiterated that the progress made by the colt this spring has certainly not surprised all concerned, the horse having always been held in high regard by connections.
Should he decide to wait a little longer to race Light Heavy again, then Bolger has suggested the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, in May, as the most likely alternative step to the Epsom Derby Trial. The horse will not make an appearance in the St. Leger odds.
Light Heavy was one of 18 entries received for the 10-furlong contest, that also included the unbeaten, David Lanigan-trained, Main Sequence, a winner at Newmarket’s craven meeting.
Also amongst the entries are Godolphin’s unbeaten pair of Swedish Sailor and Gold Rally, three entries from Ballydoyle, (including the promising Curragh maiden winner, Imperial Monarch), as well as a variety of unexposed and potentially useful lightly raced colts, from a selection of other top British yards.
Despite his trainer’s insistence that impressive Group 3 P W McGrath Memorial Stakes winner Light Heavy will be targeted at the Irish Derby at the Curragh at the end of June, there has been good support for the son of Teofilio following his impressive dismissal of solid looking opposition at Leopardstown at the weekend, writes Elliot Slater.
A race with a fine history of producing high quality winners including the likes of the mighty Galileo, High Chaparral, Yeats, Fame and Glory, and last year the very useful Banimpire, the Ballysax Stakes attracted a seven-runner field with Ballydoyle responsible for three, including the Betfair 7/4 market leader David Livingston. As things transpired the favourite never looked to be going quick enough to figure in the finish and plugged on at just the one pace to finish fourth, but there was a tremendous amount to like about the way Jim Bolger’s Light Heavy quickened up from a furlong-and-a-half out to easily brush aside the long-time leader Athens, then coast away from the running on Call To Battle, who crossed the line two-and-a-half-lengths behind in second place with Tower Rock doing best of the Aidan O’Brien-trained trio in coming home a further length-and-a-half away in third.
Bolger, who was winning the contest for the third successive year, was quick to map out the Derrionstown Derby Trial as the next start for his exciting prospect before insisting he would then stay at home and go for the Irish Derby, but the Betfair Espom derby odds have been quick to respond to any possible change of mind from the winning connections and cut Light Heavy from as big as 50/1 to a best priced 16/1 for Epsom, just in case a decision is taken to supplement him into the blue riband Investec-sponsored showcase event on June 5.
John Gosden has his horses in fine form at this early stage of the campaign, and the popular Newmarket handler could give last season’s impressive Ladbrokes St Leger winner, Masked Marvel, his first outing of the 2012 campaign as soon as May 5. The four-year-old has been handed an entry in the Group 2 Qatar Bloodstock Jockey Club at his local track, writes Elliot Slater.
Also entered in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup, the following month, at Epsom, Masked Marvel made tremendous progress, last term, first signalling he could be a horse to keep on the right side when proving too strong for Namibian to win the listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood in May. The victory booked his place in the starting line-up for the Investec Derby a few weeks later, in which the son of Montjeu ran a creditable race in finishing eighth to Pour Moi.
A gutsy win in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy over 13 furlongs on Newmarket’s July course convinced Gosden that the Benny Neilsen-owned colt was worth chancing in the St Leger. The master trainer’s judgement was once again vindicated as Masked Marvel (15/2) came with a silky smooth run to sweep through the field in the world’s oldest classic, drawing away to beat Michael Owen’s Brown Panther by a cosy three-lengths.
Supplemented into the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe following his Doncaster victory, Gosden’s charge failed to fire, and was probably feeling the effects of his classic victory, when coming home last of the 16 runners behind Danedream. However, he will start this term with expectations high that he can again prove himself in Group 1 company, and the first step could be his seasonal return on 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket, next month.
Find out if Masked Marvel will run out a favourite at Doncaster, with St. Leger betting.