Back to the Flat - some Fancies for the 2008 season

Horses to follow

1, Spacious, will be my selection for the 1000gns at Newmarket without a doubt, this daughter of Nayef is 2 out of 2 last year and the vibes are right for 2008 also she is my idea of a Royal Ascot filly!Though she will be going to Newmarket without a run under her belt it should not be a hinderance and at a present 6/1 she is still the value bet.(Duly ran a cracker to be 2nd and now goes to Royal Ascot!)

2, Ravens Pass, Gosden reckons this fellow is his best chance of classic glory and i agree with him, won his first 3 in great style before encountering softish ground behind New Approach at HQ at the end of October. Was a fine 2nd on his reappearance at Newmarkets Craven meeting and was well clear of the third horse taking that into account he will have come on a bomb and if the ground is right (good) the 2000gns is his for the taking! Well the mile looks to have been a bit too far for him and connections are looking towards a sprinting season which would seem to be the right thing!

3, Confront, Another 2000gns prospect who is also fancied for the Derby but will have his work cut out to beat the afore mentioned at Newmarket and i think the Derby track at Epsom will not be his cup of tea but he is the ideal type for the Eclipse at Sandown if carrying on where he left off last season! Disappointed bigtime on his comeback at Newbury but he must be given another chance as that was surely not his true form and he is certainly better than that!

4, Comeback Queen, Unusual filly this being a grey daughter of Nayef! Trouble in running at Kempton on comeback after a bad ride when 2nd in a listed race over a mile,had to weave her way through that day and showed a great turn of foot over a distance too short,she has the hallmarks of a Oaks winner in the making. Had a terrible time on her latest run in York playing up in stalls and whatnot so we will have to wait and see what connections think as to where she goes next.

5, Tamayuz, Unbeaten french colt who has entries in both the English and French 2000gns who has courage for a fight as he showed last time at Longchamp when getting the verdict in a 3 way photo, connections seem to favour the french equivilant and he will be hard to beat if taking that route!Ran well in above mentioned from a bad draw finishing in mid-field but will improve for that run!

6, Alfathaa, Third to Spacious on his debut and then skated up in his maiden at Newbury (by 5 lgth) but then came unstuck on soft ground in a Grp2 event behind a horse which finished 2nd in a Grp1 later in the season. As with all Nayefs the better the ground the better their chances and this fellow has all the right entries!Ran well for a long way in 2000gns and will surely come on a bomb for that and cannot be discounted at top level!

7, Zarkava, French and fast and really top class! She will win the french 1000gns and more than likely anythingelse she contests over a mile and maybe a mile and a quarter but sadly the Oaks could be a furlong too far! Toyed with the opposition in French 1000gns and confirmed her position as the best filly in Europe at the moment!

8, Spinning Lucy, Great filly this tough as they come but i fear trying to get her to stay a mile will find her out! Maybe the Nell Gwynn over 7flgs will be up her street but anything further will not suit, could be top class if sticking to 6flgs.

9, Il Warrd, Well impressed with this one at Kempton in a listed race over a mile and he should win more races but the question is how good is the sand track form when talking about winning a classic? Well the runner-up he beat is well regarded by connections and is being aimed at the German 2000gns so that puts his win in a better light!Unplaced in French 2000gns but will be seen at his best in slightly lower company for sure.

10, Gaspar Van Wittel, As mentioned above he goes to Germany for their 2000gns and will come on a load for his recent 2nd to Il Warrd as he missed the break there and was well clear of the others so should be able to put his finishing speed to good use giving him a great chance abroad.Finished 2nd oncemore in 3 runner event and has since been btn in Listed company albeit in slowly run races! Best watched for time being maybe a straight mile at Royal Ascot could do the trick?!

Older Horses,

1, Lucarno, Our idea of The Eclipse winner and will maybe end up as a good Arc prospect at the backend of this year, but he will win more group races this season whatever the distance!He is our main horse to follow this year.(Ran flat on his debut due to the soft ground but will have needed it anyway)

2, Galactic Star, Nice looking son of Galileo who hasnt been over tried to date! he will be contesting all the top 1,1/2m races this year and hopefuly he can make the grade at that level, interestingly he also holds an entry for the Irish St Leger in September. Started off well at Newmarket when finishing third to Getaway!(Has since been btn by Doctor Dino and Zambesi Sun in France!)



3, Cape Hawk Did really well on the sand over a mile but seemed well below form on grass at Sandown last time, can be forgiven that run but will have to do better next time if he is to remain on our list!(Beaten easily oncemore and is not one to rely on!)

4, Aqaleem Won the Derby trial at Lingfield last year and progressed when third in The Derby itself but was unlucky after that in a slowly run event at Goodwood when going down by a neck to Yellowstone! He holds an entry at Ascot namely the Hardwicke Stakes(grp2) and his main aim would be the Irish St Leger and maybe a shot at the Arc! Who knows what he could do if he has gone the right way over winter!g

5, Coastal Path Undefeated in 6 runs which include two Group2 and 3 events at his beloved Longchamp! he is being aimed at the Ascot Gold Cup by Andre Fabre and he doesnt come over to England if his charge isnt good enough! So watch out for him in the summer months to come!!.

6, Anna Pavlova She can be brilliant but is so dependant on soft ground that connections withdrew her after arriving in France to find the ground was riding fast only last month. They will be doing a rain dance in the coming months no doubt! She loves a galloping track and has entries in the Pretty Polly and the Coronation Cup to boot but as stated she needs rain!

7, Satwa Queen Another Grp2 winner fron France who has had very few runs but is really consistant and reliable when turning up! Seems to run best with cut in the ground but is nowhere near as dependant as the above mentioned as we saw when she chased home Nannina at Ascot on fast ground in June!

8, Getaway Very impressive on his comeback at Newmarket in the Jockey Club Cup and is now fav for almost everything hes entered in! King George, Arc, etc! His connections will be hoping he can follow in the hoofprints of Manduro and Shirocco!

9, War Artist Australian bred but has been doing his running in South Africa! Came over to England to be trained by J M P Eustace for Vintage Thoroughbreds. Started off on the sand in March behind Jack Sullivan when 2nd in a listed race and then at HQ on his first try on the grass since he arrived he ran a cracker to be 5th to Zidane finishing really well. Group company was next on the cards and a second place to Assertive giving the field 5lb was proof that he is settled in and running true to form! He will be contesting all the top sprints and will be hard to beat at Ascot in the Golden Jubilee Stakes next.