The Neighsayers - Flat Horses to Follow 2024

Thanks to all of you who tuned into Monday night’s spaces, we always enjoy them and hopefully they’re good fun and informative to listen too! Now hopefully you can finally get to know the horses, thanks all and let’s hope for a successful 2024.

Don Simon - Unrated (Quinny)

3yo c Sea The Stars x Snow Fairy

Form: 5

Trainer : Ed Dunlop

Owner: Anamoine Limited

 

Ran well enough at Chelmsford on debut, slightly outpaced throughout, finished race off well under educational ride . Nicely put together but shaped that he would improve with time and a debut run. He is a Sea The Stars out of a duel Oaks Winner Snow Fairy, suggesting that middle distances will be his bag in time. Snow Fairy improved from 2-3yo and with the step up in trip, and so did her offspring’s (mainly John Leaper RPR 112) , Who was also lightly raced at 2yo. This looks a very nice physical and can see this being very useful over 1m2+. Win a maiden/Novice , then to a derby trial I think. Doesn’t have Derby entry but could easily be supplemented for the priceless Classic if good enough.

 

Cherry King - Rated 53 (Quinny)

3yo b g Golden Horn x Kahlu Kiss

Form: 99-5 

Trainer: Stuart Williams

Owner: B Piper And Partner 

 

Showed little bits over inadequate trips. Made decent headway from rear in all runs but was always up against it from the position he was in. Each time he was off the bridle early but was always responding probably suggesting he will benefit from a step up in trip. Breeding would back this up being a Golden Horn, along with the dam being a 10f horse in her prime. Furthermore, the dam herself was very useful and so have the majority of her offspring, giving me hope that we haven’t seen a glimpse of what Cherry King can do on the track yet. An opening mark of 53 looks a snip once he moves up in trip.

Ejaabiyah - Unrated (Quinny)

3yo b f Frankel x Estijaab

Form: 1

Trainer: Roger Varian 

Owner: Emirates Park Pty Ltd

 

Made a sparkling debut at Kempton, always travelled strongly, and showed a very good turn of foot to put the race to bet very easily. The race form wise hasn’t done much at the moment but the way she won the race was wildly impressive. The race time wasn’t much, but her closing sectionals were impressive, clocking a 10.95 F7 and 11.38 F8 eased down. The race time wasn’t mind blowing but it was a full second quicker than the 2^ndwho ran very well. She has a very impressive pedigree being a Frankel out of a 6f group 1 winner in Australia, giving her a mix of speed and stamina. She made her debut over 1m what I think is about right for her trip wise to start off her 3yo season, but it wouldn’t shock me to see her in a 1000G trial over 7f before a tilt at the first classic of the season. Id say she has a good chance of stretching out in trip to 10-12f once she’s became more streetwise. Sky is the limit for this one. 

Mukaafah - Unrated (Swanny)

3yo b c Blue Point x Tasleya

Form: 41-

Trainer: Kevin Phillipart De Foy

Owner: Shadwell Estate LTD

Not Macarthur as thought on the spaces... Supported twice into favouritism in both his races last season, Mukaafah ran a solid debut on softer conditions that I think he likes, the winner of that is now rated low 90s. He then looked mightily impressive at Kempton, making all and not seeing a rival, the 2nd of that which he beat by 3 1/2 lengths now rated 80. 

I think he could have an encouraging campaign over 6f, perhaps 7f in time. Connections could be looking for black type in the long run and I can see this being a leading figure for the yard this season in his 3yo campaign. 

Warda Jamila - Unrated (Swanny)

3yo b f Calyx x Promise Me

Form: 41-

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Owner: Sultan Ali

Another horse I can see having an exciting 3yo campaign is the Andrew Balding trained Warda Jamila. This horse was really impressive when winning a 1m Fillies Novice at the back end of the season, beating a well touted debutant in Beatrice Shilling a shade cosily. 

She’s a 1/2 sister to Coltrane, so I can see this horse stepping up in distance, and she looks as though she can win plenty along the way this season. 

La La Lucrative - 62 (Swanny)

3yo b c Profitable x Ohh lala

Form: 633

Trainer: Gemma Tutty

Owner: David Lowe

My 3rd and final horse to follow is something more left field which I think has been rated kindly by the handicapper, and is the Gemma Tutty trained La La Lucrative. Now this horse has had 3 runs, the first very green round a bend at 6f at catterick. The horse was then dropped back to 5f for his next 2 starts, showing promise in both defeats. She was the last off the bridle in her last start, finishing 7l behind 2 horses now rated in the mid 80’s. 

Her opening mark is 62, and David Lowe tends to have horses which improve with age. I think off this mark she can be one to look forward to at galloping tracks with around the north, such as Doncaster, Thirsk and Ripon. She may get further in time being by profitable and with a decent winter under her belt she looks a nicely handicapped prospect they season for the northern tracks.

Air Force Indi – Unrated (Lewis)
3yo b f Air Force Blue x Miss Agreeable
Form: 15-
Trainer: Karl Burke
Owner: Nick Bradley Racing

Half sister to Middle Park 4th Smart Folks and Norfolk 5th (regressed badly, now resides in Hong Kong), also half to a listed winner and G3 4th in Meydan Alkaraama. She’s also a half sister to Lady Eros who some might be familiar with, still racing in the UK with the Gosden’s. The dam was unraced.

Winning debut over 6 furlongs on the July course at HQ, no question that she was best positioned that day but was green up the hill, will have learnt loads for that but would like to see her on a flatter surface. She was 5th in the Dick Poole at Salisbury, left the impression there that she may want further but her not being entered in the 1000 guineas suggests maybe not…

Whilst not sparkling, her debut form is more than fair. Dr Foster R82 in 2nd, Qirat 3rd R88, Fool’s Gold the 1/2 to The Platinum Queen back 6th rated 83 and finally Habdri in 7th now rated 91. They’re some fair horses to have beaten.

She showed plenty in that G3 at Salisbury, despite looking extremely awkward and unbalanced and slightly headstrong, she stuck on well with herself and Dorothy Lawrence the only ones who were up the pace who stayed there. Would like to see her at 7 furlongs as I think she’s very quick but just outclassed that day, only problem with 7 furlongs is that you’re very limited with your options. Possible places she makes her 3yo debut;

Depending on how good Burke’s yard think she is, there’s the listed Du Pont Neuf at Longchamp for 3YO’s only over 7 furlongs late April/early May. In the UK, the Chelmer stakes is a 3YO fillies 6 furlong listed which has to be high on the agenda on the 2nd of May. Another option could be the Ellen Challenor at Newmarket, another listed race for 3YO+ fillies. Where the 3YO’s are weighted well, getting 10lb from their elders. These races would fit well with the two novice races highlighted and hopefully, we won’t be far wrong…

Jean Ribault - 57 (Lewis)
3yo b g Ribchester x Examinee
Form: 070-
Trainer: David Menusier
Owner: Quantam Leap Racing

1/2 to Blanchland & Azteco - both RPR 110+ over staying trips so this lad should have plenty of scope to go on. Gelded within a few weeks of getting a mark of 57 suggests handicaps have been the target all along.

Showed a fair level of ability on debut at ascot but was entitled to improve for that run, trainer’s MO isn’t often first time out winners. He was sat relatively handy before tiring away which can be excused. No show in his other 2 starts but I'll firmly put lines through them. 

I'd normally expect trainer to show up at Newbury, Sandown or Goodwood but not really a suitable race at those courses early season. Think these would be the most suitable targets. Could see him starting off at the mile before going on to 10 furlongs.

13th April - Yarmouth 1m 46-65 3YO only

22nd April - Windsor 1m 46-65 3YO only

25th April - Beverley 10F 46-60 3YO only

29th April - Windsor 1m 46-60 3YO only

Wild Waves - Unrated (Lewis)

3yo b c Crystal Ocean x Guenea

Form: 44-

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Owner: Jeremy & Germaine Hitchins

Bred for staying trips, damsire was a mile and a half horse, much the same as his sire Crystal Ocean. Dam produced winners from 10F all the way up to 15F. Lesser rated progeny have been ran over shorter trips. Even the unraced dam was a half to a German G1 winner and an Italian Oaks winner.

Hate to go all Cliché on but this horse epitomises "anything he does at 2 is a bonus" cos he's bred to be better with age and distance. Entered up over an extended 10 furlongs this Saturday at Doncaster and I'm hoping to see something nice on this big galloping track.

Can't knock his 2yo form at all, Starlore rated in the high 90's, the 2nd is unrated still, the 3rd who beat him half a length is rated 108 and is a listed and group 3 winner and then behind in 5th we have Devil's Point rated 111, who's group 1 placed. Serious company to be keeping over 7 furlongs on debut. Not just the bare form that's on offer here. If you watch back, he could've finished closer if he had breathing room at the furlong pole. 

The form of the 2nd start not as Impressive on the bare form but again how he went through his race was delightful. Was handier this day and tried to make it a test but he was just short of pace, not beaten miles and was staying on again at the finish. He's got a solid foundation to work with and he could genuinely be anything.

Salamanca-Unrated (Elliot)

3yo C Sea the stars x Awesometank

Form:2

Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Owner: PW Harris

This colt started off in a back end Nottingham Maiden which can often be a good source of finding good middle distance horses for the future, he was entered in the Futurity at Doncaster and the chat pre-race was that the plan was to run should he win at Notts, but things didn’t go to plan as he missed the break and ended up last through the first part of the race which isn’t ideal on heavy ground. Once they turned for home he managed to make up the ground eyecatchingly without being asked too many questions, only finding the favourite (who had the run of the race)too good. Shoemark looked after him once he knew he was beat.

Salamanca is still in the English and Irish Derby’s so is obviously well regarded, I’d imagine he will start off in an early season maiden over 10f where he would be fairly tough to beat. Would be hopeful he could develop into atleast a listed class horse.

Reach-OR87 (Elliot)

6yo m Sea the stars x Ameliorate

Form:041181

Trainer:Michael & David Easterby

Owner:Amity Finance Racing 

Slightly unusual putting up a 6yo Mare as a horse to follow but I’m a massive fan of Reach. She was sold by Godolphin having never made the track and didn’t make her debut until she was 4 so must’ve had some issues.

She improved 13lbs over the course of last season and I would expect similar to come this year, it took them a few runs to find her ideal conditions but they finally have her sussed out, 1m2 on rattling ground is perfect. The neck winning margin at the ebor festival doesn’t suggest how easily she did it, came there travelling like the wrath of god suggesting even 9f or a mile could be okay.

Obviously the fact that they have kept her in training means they will have black type as their main ambition for the season but wouldn’t mind them using the mark of 87 as I still think she has a decent bit in hand. Could pick up some weak listed races in France which has been mentioned but she wouldn’t be certain to get her ground.

There is a 10f handicap on the Friday of the Dante meeting which could work well of the ground was decent, they ran Yorkshire lady in the same race last season so wouldn't be a shock.

True Cyan-Unrated (Elliot)

3yo F No nay never x Realtra

Form:1

Trainer:Roger Varian 

Owner:Barronstown Stud

Very impressive winner of a hot Newmarket maiden at the end of September, she showed a blistering turn of foot to put the race to bed within a couple of strides, the clock backs this up as well. The form of the race is already beginning to look strong with the second and third both winning next time out.

Saffron Beach won the same maiden in 2020 and went on to be classic placed and win G1s and I would hope this filly could follow in her footsteps. My only concern going forward would be that she looked very quick, a mile on slow ground could test her stamina and the pedigree backs this up. I could see her being targeted and the Fred Darling or Nell Gwyn first time up where she would have a serious chance especially on nice ground.