Racing Post Trophy: Chasing The Dream

Name a class two-year-old horse race? In truth it could be one from a vast list but come the end of the season I'd take a punt the Racing Post Trophy will be one of your favourites. 

This Group 1 flat horse race is open to colts and fillies racing over a distance of 1 mile. 

Make a note in your diary: 3.50 Doncaster, Saturday, 24th October.

Why? Because this year's winner will be fancied to go well in the Classics: Guineas, Derby, St Leger. 

The Racing Post Trophy has a rich history. Established in 1961, it was called the Timeform Cup, founded by legendary professional gambler, Phil Bull. The inaugural winner name Miralgo, trained by Harry Wragg.

In 1989 it was renamed the Racing Post Trophy by its present-day sponsor.

It is the last Group 1 race of the British Turf season. 

Many equine talents have won this race before literally touching the stars. Five went on to win the Derby including: Reference Point (1986), High Chaparral (2001) Motivator (2004), Authorized (2006) & Camelot (2011). 

The record books detail that Lester Piggott (1966 - 84) & Pat Eddery (1976 - 92) have five wins each. 

(Sir) Henry Cecil has an outstanding ten wins: Approved (1969) - King's Theatre (1993). 

Reference Point was particularly memorable in 1986. Sent off 4/1 second favourite to Cecil's first string, Suhaillie, this bay colt, a son of Mill Reef, ran out an impressive five-length winner and that year named the highest rated two-year-old in Europe. Priced 6/4f, he went on to win the Derby, ridden by Steve Cauthen, by one and a half lengths, in the familiar yellow and black polka dot silks of owner Louis Freedman. Later that season, he won the St Leger at odds of 4/11.   

Sue Magnier is the leading owner with six winners (1999 - 2012) including two future Derby winners: High Chaparral & Camelot. 

Aidan O'Brien has trained seven winners in the last eighteen years. 

The fastest time for the Racing Post Trophy is set at 1:37:03 by Casamento (2010), trained by Michael Halford and ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Last year's winner, Elm Park, pictured, trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Andrea Atzeni has since proved disappointing in the Derby when finishing second from last. 

Who will win this year's contest? Now there's a question? At present there are 104 entrants. All colts/geldings bar two fillies, both trained by Mark Johnston.

Out of interest, can you imagine how many two-year-olds Aidan O'Brien has earmarked for this race at the first entry stage? 

An incredible 30 horses. This shows the true wealth of talents at BallyDoyle. Nearly a third of all entrants from one training establishment. 

Deauville - A P O'Brien  4/1

Foundation (John Gosden) 1/1

Johannes Vermeer - A P O'Brien 8/1

Marcel - P W Chapple-Hyam 50/1 

Mengli Khan - Hugo Palmer 11/1

Port Douglas - A P O'Brien 20/1

Tony Curtis (Richard Hannon) 10/1

Just a small field of seven star two-year-olds. The winner will be a top-class juvenile with Classic race aspirations. Will this year reveal the sixth Derby winner? O'Brien sends three in an attempt to beat the progressive Foundation, trained by John Gosden. The favourite will take some beating. 

A race to enjoy come win, lose or draw. Take a look at the history of this great race by clicking the video (below). It details the trainer with the most win, the horse with the fastest time, leading owner plus much more. Did you know this race was first founded by a legendary pro gambler? Do you know his name? Take a look now. This video has been made exclusively for High Class Equine & Eric Winner. Share with race fans as I'm sure they will enjoy it.   

O’Brien duo dominate Guineas markets

The Trials are under way for the first classics of the 2015 flat racing season. John Gosden’s Faydhan flopped in the Free Handicap this week while there were victories for Kool Kompany and Osaila in the Craven and the Nell Gwyn Stakes respectively. Here is an update on the current market leaders.

1000 Guineas

Aidan O’Brien’s Found is a strong favourite for the 1000 Guineas on the strength of her impressive victory in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac last October.

She quickened to beat Ervedya and Jack Naylor decisively and the form has since been boosted by the runner-up. Ervedya won the Group 3 Prix Impudence in very soft ground and is likely to head to Newmarket for His Highness The Aga Khan. She handles the ground so well that day that there must be a slight concern that she will struggle on a faster surface.

Found had beaten her stable companion Together Forever at the Curragh on her debut before finishing third to Cursory Glance in the Moyglare. That race was on good to firm ground over seven furlongs with the pair separated by Lucida. Together Forever went on to win the Group 1 Dubai Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and is also on course for the Guineas. Richard Hannon’s Osaila was just edged out of fourth place on the line. She won the Nell Gwyn Stakes by a short-head from the persistent New Providence on her seasonal reappearance.

Beautiful Romance ran on well to finish third and is currently thought most likely to lead the Godolphin challenge. That was only her second start having won her maiden at Doncaster by nine lengths last October. She is trained by Saeed bin Suroor who also has brilliant UAE Guineas and Oaks winner Local Time entered in the race.

Veteran trainer Barry Hills has elected to go straight to the Guineas with Salisbury maiden winner Fadhayyil, runner-up to Lucida in the Rockfel Stakes. She enjoyed a racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting, the same preparation that was employed successfully with Ghanaati in 2009.

Richard Hannon could also have a second string to his bow with Tiggy Wiggy. She was a brilliant two-year-old but is not guaranteed to get a mile. She runs in the Fred Darling Stakes over seven furlongs, after which a decision will be made about the Guineas.

Latest odds (16.04.15) 5-2 Found, 9-1 Together Forever, 10-1 Ervedya, 12-1 Lucida, Osaila, 14-1 Fadhayyil, 16-1 Beautiful Romance, Malabar, 20-1 bar

2000 Guineas

Ballydoyle also dominate the market for the 2000 Guineas, despite the eclipse of John F Kennedy in his trial. The hot favourite is Gleneagles, the winner of the Grand Criterium at Longchamp, although later disqualified and placed third.

That was the fifth consecutive race in which the son of Galileo had passed the post in front. He had been particularly impressive when winning the seven-furlong National Stakes at the Curragh. Not unlike Australia last year, the horse has been the subject of heavy ante-post support this spring with his price crashing from 10-1 in early March to around 5-2.

He could be joined in the race by stable companion Highland Reel, another progressive son of Galileo. He won a minor race at Gowran Park by eight lengths in July and followed up by winning the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Richard Hannon’s Ivawood suffered his first defeat when beaten by Charming Thought in the Middle Park in October and bids to redeem his reputation in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury. He will be joined in the field by stable companion Estidkhaar, a disappointing favourite in the Dewhurst. That race was won by Belardo in a first-time hood and he will also make his reappearance at Newbury for new owners, Godolphin.

Racing Post Trophy winner Elm Park will go straight to the 2000 Guineas, although he is widely regarded as a Derby prospect. His victories at Newmarket and Doncaster are more often responsible for producing Epsom contenders but Balding is convinced that he has the speed to be competitive in the first colt’s classic. He has won on all types of ground but any ease in the going would probably be in his favour.

One of the earliest classic trials was at Leopardstown where Zawraq emerged an impressive winner for Dermot Weld. The son of Shamardal is out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and connections believe he will definitely make a Derby colt. A final decision on his participation at Newmarket is yet to be made.

Golden Horn earned quotes of 16-1 after winning the Feilden Stakes at the Craven meeting for John Gosden. However, his future looks likely to be over middle distances with the Dante Stakes or the French Derby mooted as possible targets.

The Guineas could also receive the added interest of an American raider in the form of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Hootenanny. Trainer Wesley Ward brought him over to win at Royal Ascot as a two-year-old and he could run at Newmarket if he impresses at Keeneland in his trial.

Latest odds (16.04.15) 9-4 Gleneagles, 9-2 Ivawood, 8-1 Highland Reel, 12-1 Zawraq, 14-1 Elm Park, Flaming Spear, Ol Man River, 16-1 Golden Horn, Belardo 20-1 bar