Who will be our star performer of 2018?
Sun 04 Mar 2018
Every year, we seem to have the uncanny knack of finding talent from the horses we have purchased; whether as yearlings, 2 year old 'breezers' or horses-in-training. Our team began the quest to find our stars of 2018 last August and since then we have seen those yearlings being coached by their trainers into budding racecourse stars! Our continuing stable visits with owners and prospective owners have allowed us all to see their transformation at close quarters.
As we count down to the start of the season and early closing race entries are made (see them here: http://www.middlehamparkracing.net/entries.htm), thoughts turn to which of our horses will be pattern race performers. At this point of any 2yo’s life, nobody knows which horses are destined for stardom and which are destined for mediocrity, but there are some anecdotal examples we have been discussing today we thought we would share!
In March of their 2 year old career:
Richard Fahey's REALTRA worked well at the open morning, Keith Dalgleish's CLEM FANDANGO pulled 6 lengths clear in gallop at home, SANDIVA worked great on Richard's Malton gallops (only subsequent Group 3 winner Rose Blossom had ever galloped up there better.)
In April Tim Easterby had reported “boy he can gallop” about CAPTAIN DUNNE and said of VENTURA MIST “she can gallop!"
However there are those who would go on to stardom who showed no early signs at home that they would ever compete at Group 1 level - KOOL KOMPANY, LILY'S ANGEL and LEXINGTON TIMES. Incredibly too our first Group 1 winner TOORMORE (pictured) waited until May to show us that “he could be the real deal.” He of course went on to also be crowned European Champion 2 year old colt!
It begs the questions, which of this year’s cohort will be a star? It’s as likely to be a horse with shares remaining, as one whose syndicate is complete. Here's some more evidence of that:
Rather amazingly 70% of the shares in ESENTEPE were still available in mid April of her 2yo career. She went on to be our first Group race winner in 2012, when winning the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes. 25% of shares in dual Group 2 winner KOOL KOMPANY were still available on 1st March of his 2yo career.
So if you are still to choose your 2 year old to race this year, take a look through the selection here on our site. Here's a shortcut to the available horses: http://www.middlehamparkracing.net/buy-shares.htm
It should be a whole heap of fun finding out who the stars will be this year and which horse will be our 37th Group and Listed winner. We also have the golden 1,000 winner target to aim for. If we have a year as last year, with 91 winners, we will be popping champagne corks when we do!