2020 Flat - News before the off

Charlie Appleby admits he is in the enviable position of having few worries heading into the QIPCO 2000 Guineas with Pinatubo.

It’s little wonder given the son of Shamardal enjoyed a brilliant and unbeaten six-race campaign which brought him Group One wins in the National Stakes and Dewhurst and a rating of 128, the highest for a juvenile in Britain since Celtic Swing in 1994.

“The draw would be one thing,” the trainer pondered when asked what his main concern was ahead of the first Classic of the season in a QIPCO British Champion Series press conference on Wednesday.

“As we know at Newmarket they are probably going to come from left to right with the stands’ rail being the higher numbers. You’d like to get a draw to help William to get in a position where he’s comfortable on him.

“Outside of that I don’t want to sound too confident but he’s pleasing us. He’s the highest rated two-year-old we’ve seen for the last 25 years, he looks great, has won on all ground conditions and more importantly won on that track so we’re in the fortunate position where he ticks a lot of boxes going into the race. Let’s hope we see the Pinatubo we saw as a two-year-old.”

Marco Botti has set his sights on Royal Ascot with Malotru after a planned trip to Germany had to be called off.

The Newmarket handler had been looking towards Monday's German 2000 Guineas at Cologne with his charge, who won an Italian Group Three last term and was on the mark in Listed company at Lingfield in February.

However, Deutscher Galopp announced on Tuesday that runners from Britain, Ireland and France would not be permitted as access to racing in those countries for German runners is not clear.

Andrew Balding reports Kameko to be “as ready as he could be” for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas as he puts the finishing touches to the Vertem Futurity winner’s Classic preparations.

Plans for a prep-race had to be scrapped with the sport in Britain being suspended in March. However, it’s scheduled to resume at Newcastle on Monday with the Guineas taking place at Newmarket on Saturday.

“I couldn’t be happier with him at the moment. He had a gallop at Kempton last week and Oisin (Murphy) rode him in that. I couldn’t have been happier with the way he went. He looks magnificent and is a lovely horse to have anything to do with it. We’re all really excited," the trainer said in a press conference to promote the QIPCO Guineas Festival.

“It’s the same for everyone not having a run beforehand. If you were the only person who couldn’t have raced in this period then obviously you’d be at a disadvantage but everyone is in the same boat.

2020 Flat - The Single Picks

Martin (11) - Al Madhar, Angel Power, Boosala, Clog Maker, Cognac, Custodian, Encipher, Grace and Danger, Kingbrook, Kinross, Royal Crusade

Steve (8) - Anapurna, Cloak of Spirits, Cressida, Cross Counter, Ghaiyyath, Magnetic Charm, Momkin, Thunderous

Tony (10) - Anthony van Dyke, Foorat, Giorgio Vasari, Kameko, Magic Wand, Mogul, Petite Mustique, Sergi Prokofiev, Waldkonig, Wichita

Cod (13) - Deirdre, Emmasamiclau, Ginger Fox, Lady Dancealot, Millisle, Pao Alto, Rydan, Sotsass, Straight Right, Theobald, Threat, Tropbeau, Victor Ludorum

Peej (12) - Art Du Val, Corvair, Enemy, King Ottokar, Living in the Past, Malotru, Mayfair Spirit, Military March, Mums Tipple, Pocket Square, Sextant, Starcat

Neil (10) - Ascension, Defoe, Flippa The Strippa, Graceful Magic, Lord Glitters, Magical Memory, Max Vega, Morando, Paxos, Speak In Colours

Bob (13) - Brad The Brief, Glass Slippers, Goshen, Last Look, Liberty Beach, Little Becky, Lord North, Magical, Magnetised, Pierre Lapin, Salamanca School, Sun Chart, White Moonlight

Cliff (8) - Dubai Warrior, Free Solo, Highest Ground, Ketil, Khaadem, Mount Everest, Palace Pier, Space Traveller

2020 Flat - Alphabetical List

Those in Red carry the named individuals single pick bonus

Albigna                 Cliff, Cod,

Al Madhar                 Martin  

Alpine Star              Cliff, Peej

Anapurna                    Steve

Angel Power            Martin

Anthony Van Dyke     Tony

Art Power                     Martin, Neil

Arizona                      Cod, Neil

Art Du Val                  Peej

Ascension,                Neil

Battash                   Cliff, Neil

Berkshire Rocco     Martin, Steve,

Boccacio                 Martin,  Steve    

Boosala                    Martin   

Brad The Brief         Bob

Brentford Hope      Bob, Martin, Steve

Circus Maximus       Cliff, Tony

Cloak of Spirits         Steve

Clog Maker               Martin

Cognac                      Martin

Corvair                       Peej

Cressida                     Steve

Cross Counter           Steve

Custodian                  Martin 

Deirdre                           Cod

Defoe                               Neil

Dubai Warrior                Cliff

Earthlight                         Bob, Cliff, Cod,  Martin, Tony,

Emmasamiclau                  Cod

Enable                              Martin ,Neil,  Steve

Encipher                          Martin

Enemy                             Peej

First Receiver                Martin, Steve

Flippa The Strippa           Neil

Foorat                                 Tony

Free Solo                          Cliff

Ghaiyyath                        Steve

Ginger Fox                       Cod

Giorgio Vasari                Tony

Glass Slippers                 Bob

Goshen                             Bob

Grace and Danger            Martin

Graceful Magic                  Neil

Highest Ground                Cliff

Hypothetical                    Martin, Steve

Japan                          Cod , Steve Tony     

Kameko                        Tony

Ketil                              Cliff

Kew Gardens               Cod , Neil

Khaadem                      Cliff

Kingbrook                   Martin

King Ottakar              Peej

Kinross                        Martin

Lady Dancealot            Cod

Last Look                     Bob

Liberty Beach               Bob

Little Becky                   Bob

Living In The Past,        Peej

Logician                       Bob, Cliff, Neil, Peej, Tony

Lord Glitters                 Neil

Lord North                   Bob

Love                              Cliff, Peej

Magic Wand                   Tony

Magical                       Bob

Magical Memory           Neil

Magnetic Charm        Steve

Magnetised                Bob

Malotru                        Peej 

Max Vega                 Neil

Mayfair Spirit             Peej

Military March          Peej   

Millisle                       Cod

Mogul                         Tony

Momkin                     Steve

Morando                   Neil

Mount Everest           Cliff

Mums Tipple             Peej

Palace Pier                    Cliff

Pao Alto                        Cod

Paxos                              Neil

Pettite Mustique         Tony

Persian King                   Cliff, Peej

Pierre Lapin                    Bob

Pinatubo                        Bob, Cliff, Cod, Martin, Neil, Peej, Steve,  Tony

Pocket Square              Peej

Quadrilateral               Bob, Cod, Martin, Neil, Peej, Steve

Royal Crusade            Martin

Rydan                            Cod

Salamanca School        Bob

Search For A Song           Bob, Tony

Sergi Prokofiev             Tony

Sextant                           Peej

Shine So Bright            Cliff, Tony

Siskin                               Peej, Tony

Sottass                           Cod

Space Blues                   Steve, Tony

Space Traveller            Cliff

Speak in Colours           Neil

Stradivarius                      Bob, Cliff, Neil

Starcat                            Peej

Star Catcher                  Cliff, Steve

Straight Right                 Cod

Sun Chart                         Bob

Technician                     Neil,   Peej, Tony

Theobald                          Cod

Threat                                Cod

Thunderous                     Steve

Tropbeau                        Cod

Victor Ludorum              Cod        

Waldkonig                      Tony

Wichita                            Tony

White Moonlight           Bob   

2020 Flat - Strings

Cliff   Albigna,  Alpine Star, Battash, Circus Maximus,   Dubai Warrior, Earthlight,  Free Solo, Highest Ground,  Ketil, Khaadem,  Logician, Love,  Mount Everest, Palace Pier, Persian King, Pinatubo, Shine So Bright, Space Traveller, Stradivarius, Star Catcher

Bob, Brad The Brief, Brentford Hope, Earthlight, Glass Slippers, Goshen, Last Look, Liberty Beach, Little Becky, Logician, Lord North, Magical, Magnetised, Pierre Lapin, Pinatubo, Quadrilateral, Salamanca School, Search For A Song, Stradivarius, Sunchart, White Moonlight

Peej, Alpine Star, Art Du Val, Corvair, Enemy, King Ottokar, Living in the Past, Logician, Love, Malotru, Mayfair Spirit, Military March, Mums Tipple, Persian King, Pinatubo, Pocket Square, Quadrilateral, Sextant, Siskin, Starcat, Technician

Cod, Albigna, Arizona, Deirdre, Earthlight, Emmasamiclau, Ginger Fox, Japan, Kew Gardens, Lady Dancealot, Millisle,  Pao Alto, Pinatubo, Quadrilateral, Rydan, Sottsass,  Straight Right,  Theobald,  Threat, Tropbeau, Victor Ludorum

Tony, Anthony Van Dyke, Circus Maximus, Earthlight, Giorgio Vasari, Japan, Kameko, Logician, Magic Wand, Mogul, Petite Mustique, Pinatubo, Fooraat, Sergei Prokofiev, Search of a Song, Shine So Bright, Siskin, Space Blues, Technician, Waldkonig, Wichita

Martin, AL MADHAR, ANGEL POWER, ART POWER, BERKSHIRE ROCCO, BOCCACCIO, BOOSALA, BRENTFORD HOPE, CLOG MAKER, COGNAC, CUSTODIAN, EARTHLIGHT, ENABLE, ENCIPHER,  FIRST RECEIVER, HYPOTHETICAL, KINGBROOK, KINROSS, PINATUBO, QUADRILATERAL

ROYAL CRUSADE

Steve, Anapurna, Berkshire Rocco , Boccaccio,   Brentford Hope, Cloak of Spirits, Cressida,  Cross Counter, Enable,  First Receiver,  Ghaiyyath, Headman, Hypothetical, Japan, Magnetic Charm, Momkin,  Pinatubo, Quadrilateral, Space Blues, Star Catcher,  Thunderous

Neil, Ascension, Arizona, Art Power, Battaash, Defoe, Enable, Flippa The Strippa, Graceful Magic, Kew Gardens, Logician, Lord Glitters, Magical Memory, Max Vega, Morando, Paxos, Pinatubo, Quadrilateral, Speak In Colours, Stradivarius, Technician

2020 Flat Profile - The ones that didn't make it!

These are horses the Editor had anticipated being in strings and had researched for the handbook, they look a handy bunch !

Armory 3 y b c Galileo – After

LIFETIME RECORD	RUNS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	OR	BEST TS	BEST RPR
Flat Turf	7	3	2	2	£110,703	£273,282	110	95	111
Stakes	5	2	2	1	£100,991	£262,135	110	95	111
	7	3	2	2	£110,703	£273,282	—

A busy 2 year old with 7 runs to his name, he made his debut at Leopardstown in June, finishing 3^rd in a 7f maiden, beaten 1 ¼ l behind Justifier, then at the end of the month, won a similar event at the Curragh, beating Arranmore by 2 ¼ l. At the end of July he stepped up to group 3 level at Leopardstown, winning over 7f by 5l from stable mate Toronto, then at the end of August , won a 7f group 2 at the Curragh by ¾ l from Rebel Tale. In September he was 2^nd at the Curragh in the 7f Group 1 National stakes, beaten 9l by Pinatubo, then, at the beginning of October was third at Longchamp in the Group 1 1m, Prix Jean- Luc Lagardere, beaten 1 l behind Victor Ludorm, and finished the season with a 20 l 2^nd at Longchamp behind Alson in the 7f group 1 Criterium International.

He will make his mark at Group level again this season

Trainer A O’Brien

         Born With Pride  3 y b f Born To Sea – Jumooh

LIFETIME RECORD	RUNS		2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	OR	BEST TS	BEST RPR
Flat Turf	1	1	0	0	£17,013	£17,013	—	89	101
Stakes	1	1	0	0	£17,013	£17,013	—	89	101
	1	1	0	0	£17,013	£17,013

Interesting filly who is certainly in the could be any thing category, but showed above average potential in her only start last season, winning a 1m fillies listed race at Newmarket at the beginning of November, beating Peaceful by a neck. She was a 20’1 shot that day , so no doubt her victory on her debut at listed level was a surprise to connections, but the fact she started off there suggests she was showing plenty in her home work. She has a 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks entry, and it would be no surprise if she proves to be top class.

Trainer W.Haggas

Cayenne Pepper 3 y ch  f Australia – Muwakaba

IFETIME RECORD	RUNS		2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	OR	BEST TS	BEST RPR
Flat Turf	4	3	0	0	£60,753	£91,171	110	89	109
Stakes	2	1	0	0	£42,523	£72,941	110	89	109
	4	3	0	0	£60,753	£91,171

Smart 2 year old filly who should spice up proceedings in the big fillies races this season. She made her debut at Leopardstown in June, winning a 7f fillies maiden by ¾ l from New Dawn, then followed up at Tipperary in July taking a 7f stakes race by 1l from Royal County Down (gave 1 lb). Stepped up in class and distance next time out in August at the Curragh she won a 1m group 3 by 2 ½ l from So Wonderful, and finished the season with 4^th at Newmarket in October in the 1m group 1 Fillies mile, beaten 3l behind Quadrilateral. As mentioned else where the fillies form is very muddled, and this one certainly looks capable of being a major player this season.

Trainer J.Harrington

Daayeh 3y ch f Bated Breath – Affluent

LIFETIME RECORD	RUNS		2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	OR	BEST TS	BEST RPR
Flat Turf	6	3	3	0	£112,924	£332,451	110	100	110
Stakes	5	2	3	0	£107,749	£327,276	110	100	110
	6	3	3	0	£112,924	£332,451

Very smart 2 year old who has won 3 and finished 2^nd in her 6 runs to date. She made a winning debut at Newmarket in May last year, wining a 6f fillies novice stakes by 1 ¾ l from Raffle Prize, then took the 6f group 3 Albany stakes at Royal Ascot by 1 ½ l from Celtic Beauty. She then was 2^nd at Newmarket in July, in the 6f group 2 Duchess of Cambridge stakes, beaten 1 ¾ l by Raffle Prize (gave 3lb), then in September, stepped up to Group 1 level at the Curragh, finishing 2^nd, beaten ¾ l by Love in the 7f Moyglare stud stakes.. She returned to winning ways at Newmarket at the end of the month taking the 7f group 2 Rockfell stakes by ½ l from Stylistique, and finished the season with a 2^nd at Santa Anita in the 1m group 1 Juvenile fillies turf, beaten 1 ¼ l by Sharing.

She is likely to be kept to a mile with the Guineas being her early target and she is a major player amongst the 3 year old fillies.

Trainer R.Varian

Innisfree  3 y b c Galileo – Palace

LIFETIME RECORD	RUNS		2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	OR	BEST TS	BEST RPR
	1	0	1	0	—	£43,000	107	87	110
Stakes	2	1	1	0	£58,468	£101,468	111	87	110
Flat Turf	3	2	1	0	£67,786	£70,625	111	71	108
	4	2	2	0	£67,786	£113,625	—	—	—

High class 2 year old who should figure in the major Group 1’s this season, he made his debut at Naas in July in a 7f maiden, finishing 2^nd, beaten 4 ¼ l by stablemate Year of the Tiger, then at the end of the month won a 7f maiden at Galway by a neck from Shekhem. At the end of September he stepped up to Group 2 level at the Curragh and won the 7f group 2 Beresford stakes again by a neck from Shekhem , and finished the season with 2^nd at Newcastle in the 1m group 1 Futurity stakes, beaten a 3 ¼ l by Kameko.

Trainer A O’Brien

Raffle Prize, 3 y ch f Slade Power – Summer Fete

LIFETIME RECORD	RUNS		2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	OR	BEST TS	BEST RPR
Flat Turf	6	3	3	0	£119,577	£255,887	114	101	114
Stakes	4	2	2	0	£107,749	£242,520	114	101	114
	6	3	3	0	£119,577	£255,887

Very smart 2 year old, she made her debut at Newmarket in May last year finishing 2^nd  6f fillies novice stakes beaten 1 ¾ l by Daayeh, then won a 6f maiden at Chester by 5l from The New Marwan ( gave 5lb). She stepped up to group 2 company at Royal Ascot in June winning the 5f Queen Mary stakes by a head from Kimari, then followed up at Newmarket in July, taking the 6f group 2 Duke of Cambridgeshire stakes by 1 ¾ l from Dayeeh (received 3lb). She then stepped up to group 1 company at Deauville in August, finishing a neck 2^nd to Earthlight over 6f in the Prix Morny (received 4 lb from winner ), then finished with 2^nd at Newmarket in September in the 6f group 1 Cheveley  Park Stakes, beaten 1 ¾ l by Millisle. As can be seen the 2 year old fillies form is very muddled, but she should certainly pay her way this season, and a mile would look to be her limit on breeding.

Trainer M.Johnston

Premier Power 3 y ch c Siyouni – Pelerin 

LIFETIME RECORD	RUNS	WINS	2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	OR	BEST TS	BEST RPR
	1	1	0	0	£3,881	£3,881	—	70	100
Flat Turf	1	0	1	0	—	£1,540	—	75	86
	2	1	1	0	£3,881	£5,421

Was initially submitted by Tony then removed, will he regret it, time will tell,.One who falls in to the could be any thing category, he made his debut at Newmarket in August, finishing 2^nd in a 6f maiden, beaten a head by Power Train. He went off evens favourite for that , suggesting he was highly thought of at home, and won next time out at Kempton in October, winning a 6f novice stakes by 5l from Tom Collins. He doesn’t hold any Group 1 entries currently, but certainly looks capable of winning more races this season, at distances up to a mile his breeding suggests,

Trainer R.Varian