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OBVIOUSLY my main 3-year-old this year is Churchill but there is no point putting up a horse the whole world knows about.
Horses like him are advised as 2-year-olds when odds for big races are good, if there are any mistakes below just let me know as I have been busy while doing this.
Tartini (USA) 3yo chestnut colt
Breeding: Giant’s Causeway (USA) – Vignette (USA)
Trainer: John Gosden
Owner: George Strawbridge
I have to start with this horse as I was very impressed with his win last year in the Golden Horn Maiden Stakes at Nottingham. You might realise with the name of the race it’s the same one Golden Horn won on debut. Tartini is a half brother to Thought Worthy, Flying Officer and Lucarno. Tartini’s win last year was impressive in many ways, he was inexperienced as it was his debut, he was outpaced early on, ran very green, was racing 1lb overweight and his speed in the last furlong was outstanding. There is room for a massive amount of improvement in him this season, he is bred to run over further, it’s not inconceivable that he could be a Derby horse but I prefer him for the St Leger at 25-1.
Astronomy’s Choice (GB) 3yo bay filly
Breeding: Redoute’s Choice (AUS) – Astronomy Domine (UK)
Trainer: John Gosden
Owner: Robin Geffen
This horse did catch my eye last year, she ran over 7f at Newmarket, she was one of the first horses to come off the bridle. She showed signs of inexperience but I liked the way she battled and she actually won a shade cosily in the end. It was over a distance that didn’t suit and she will benefit from a step up in distance this season and in an open Oaks this year she could be worth a bet at 33-1.
Aljezeera (GB) 3yo bay filly
Breeding: Frankel (UK) – Dynaforce (USA)
Trainer: Luca Cumani
Owner: Al Shaqab Racing
There was a lot of hype about Frankel progeny last year, especially on this thread, and while I can understand people getting excited about his first crop it can get a bit over the top as people see the name Frankel and that’s it. This was the main Frankel filly I was interested in and it’s because I like the Dams side of the breeding mixed with Frankel. On the Dams side she has some Daynaformer in her, that’s what I like and her breeding says she will improve massively as a 3yo. Her debut run couldn’t have gone any better, she jumped out well, settled into the race and was just pushed out hands and heels to win by a very comfortable 2 1/2 lengths and is definitely a horse to watch this season as the step up in distance is only going to improve her. At 33-1 for The Oaks she could be worth a shot.
Poetique (IRE) 3yo chestnut colt
Breeding: Halling (USA) – Lyrique (IRE)
Trainer: John Gosden
Owner: Godolphin
How impressive was this horse at Newcastle in December. Not the quickest away, ran a bit green but quickened up well to win by an eased down 8 lengths, he will have a lot of improvement as the horses he beat weren’t up to much but he did it well. Looks to be a handicapper early in the 2017 season but he could progress into a decent horse, just look at Jack Hobbs and there isn’t much between the two on their debut runs although Poetique will have to be good to progress like Jack Hobbs. But he does look that type of horse so as a massive long shot I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him as an Irish Derby horse but I would be backing him in races before that as he has a bha rating of 88 just now. Christmas comes early if he got to run in a handicap off a mark close to that.
Talaayeb (GB) 3yo bay filly
Breeding: Dansili (UK) – Rumoush (USA)
Trainer: Owen Burrows
Owner: Hamdan Al Maktoum
One run one win for this really well bred horse and was gambled on debut from an opening 25-1 down to 10-1. Jockey Paul Mulrennan was desperate to get this horse covered up and in doing so lost some ground but she travelled well, always looked the winner and as the commentator said that day “she oozed class”. 20-1 for the 1000 Guineas and 20-1 for The Oaks, I wouldn’t rule her out of either of those races but also she could end up in the Irish versions.
Big Challenge (IRE) 3yo chestnut colt
Breeding: Sea. The Stars (IRE) – Something Mon (USA)
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Owner: Godolphin
Impressive winner on only run last season, ridden by Josephine Gordon he always travelled well and quickened up nicely winning eased down in a hands and heels ride and is in my “could be anything bracket”. But I do have a gut feeling he could be half decent and I wouldn’t mind seeing him in one of the Derby trials. Big Challenge is worth keeping an eye on and I quite like him as an outsider.
La Cochere (FRA) 3yo filly
Breeding: Le Havre (IRE) – Lady Meydan (FR)
Trainer: J C Rouget
Owner: G Augustin-Normand
A trip to France now with La Cochere and this was impressive on her only run. She was slowly away but the way she won was breathtaking, it may have only been by 3/4 length but she won cheekily in a hands and heels ride. What makes this even more impressive is the second horse Senga was fourth in the Group 1 Marcel Boussac beaten 1 3/4 lengths by the winner Wuheida of Godolphin and she was only a length behind my 1000 Guineas tip Promise To Be True. She isn’t priced up for any of the big races but watch this space, she is good.
God Given (GB) 3yo bay filly
Breeding: Nathaniel (IRE) – Ever Rigg
Trainer: Luca Cumani
Owner: St Albans Bloodstock Limited
This trainer is a genius with his 3yo handicappers, which I have said numerous times, and after a disappointing debut she showed promise on her next run. She is a horse that will want further and is definitely a horse to follow when handicapping and who knows where it could take her, she is a half sister to Postponed after all.
Alicante Dawn (GB) 3yo chestnut colt
Breeding: Equiano (FR) – Sofonisba (UK)
Trainer: Brian Smart
Owner: Brian Smart
This horse hasn’t put a foot wrong in his short career. Four runs as a 2yo he won three of them, last time out in a 2yo Listed race at Ripon he broke well, made the running and just as it looked like he was going to be overtaken he battled well and eventually won quite easily. I definitely want to following this sprinter this season as he will be profitable.
Coronet (GB) 3yo grey filly
Breeding: Dubawi (IRE) – Approach (UK)
Trainer: John Gosden
Owner: Denford Stud
This horse was mentioned by kwadan on this thread and it’s good to see people spotting good horses to follow so well spotted kwadan. I mentioned in my reply that I liked her win in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket when beating Cunco by a neck. She was held up at the back, she did run green, had a high head carriage and go bumped late on but she battled well over a distance that will probably turn out to be perfect for her. And as mentioned by kwadan the other day it was a race against the colts – “anyone remember So Mi Dar?” She was also pitched in against the Colts on only her second start for the same trainer. She will probably go for the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket. “Gosden has won the last three runnings with Swiss Range, Jazzi Top and Taghrooda” or the Musidora Stakes at York “Gosden has won the last two runnings with So Mi Dar and Star of Seville”
Coronet could run in the 1000 Guineas but I think she will prefer 1m 2f+ and she is 12-1 second favourite for The Oaks.
I hope this proves useful to people and of course profitable to people, I advise getting online to watch these horses' previous runs to make your own mind up.
At some point soon I will be putting up my Older horses to follow and also my Two Year Old horses to follow. Some of these haven’t had their names released yet.
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