Juvenile Watch: an unraced trio to note and eye-catchers

Last season, I suggested that if you really wanted to know the potential of a two-year old it might be worth avoiding asking the trainer as he/she can be nervous about voicing an opinion for fear of being made to look silly or, worse still, upsetting an owner.

Instead, it pays to ask those on the ground: the breeders, the producers and the breezers. In the first year, we found great success with Johnny Hassett, Helen Jones and Tim Rusbridge, as all of them nominated a future winner for us.

This year, we start with experienced pre-trainer Rusbridge, who from his base in Gloucestershire prepared just over 70 yearlings last year, the majority of them for Qatar Racing, owners of debut winner Nobel, who he selected as one to follow.

So who does Rusbridge like for 2022? He suggests keeping a close eye on the following trio. Read what he has to say about them:

Gentle (No Nay Never ex Light The Stars)

A gorgeous filly who David Redevers paid €200,000 for at the Arqana sales. She is a good-sized, strong filly, with a good mind. At all stages of her education, she oozed athletisicm and to me she looked to have everything required to be, hopefully, a smart horse for her trainer, Andrew Balding.

Middle Earth (Roaring Lion ex Roheryn)

I had the privilege of starting Roaring Lion before he commenced his extraordinary career and I’m excited to see what he can achieve with his debut crop. Middle Earth is a Qatar Racing homebred and is a half-brother to Buckaroo, who is hopefully aiming towards the Irish 2000 Guineas with the Epsom Derby remaining a possibility.

Middle Earth is full of quality, just like his sire, and has a tremendous physique. He probably won’t be out until the backend of the season but I can’t wait to see what he can do for John Gosden.

Moonstrike (Zoustar ex Wind Fire)

He was among the first intake that arrived with me last year. He was another that showed plenty of quality and looked very much like a speed horse – as his pedigree would suggest. He has headed stateside to Wesley Ward and I’d love to think we might see him over here for Royal Ascot next month.

Richard Hannon had already introduced one exciting juvenile performer this season in the Amo Racing-owned Persian Force, who was an emphatic winner of the Brocklesby. In Miami Girl, he looks to have another, again owned by rising force Amo.

She was a wide margin winner at Newmarket on Sunday and was visually very impressive. She raced with a bit too much exuberance in the first furlong and had to be checked back off heels a couple of times but by the end of the second furlong her jockey, Rossa Ryan, was able to settle his hands on her neck as she travelled smoothly.

Miami Girl took the lead with ease as the field entered the final two furlongs and displayed an explosive turn of foot to quicken clear in impressive style, though she did show elements of greenness when drifting both left and right in the closing stages.

For a filly to beat a field of well-bred colts at this stage of the season marks her out as well above average. And it's worth remembering Hannon won the 2019 running of the race before going on to finish second in the Coventry on his next start.

Hannon suggested that the Marygate at York could be her next target before heading to Royal Ascot for either the Queen Mary or the Albany. There is certainly stamina in her family to suggest a six-furlong trip is a viable option but I would much prefer to see her use her abundant speed over the stiff 5f in the Queen Mary.

Shouldvebeenaring is another Hannon juvenile that should certainly be added to your Racing TV tracker.

He finished fourth at Goodwood on Friday – a result that looked unlikely after the first furlong. He was very slow to jump from the gate and immediately had to be chivvied into the bridle by Sean Levey, as he looked somewhat overcome by his first experience on a racecourse.

Shouldvebeenaring started to get the hang of things from there on but was still detached entering the final two furlongs. However, he then started to find his stride and showed tremendous promise inside the last furlong as he flashed home to almost snatch third.

His dam, Lady Estella, was a moderate performer but did stay 7f. Goodwood is very much a speed course so his pedigree, and the good late work he showed, would suggest that a stiff 5f or a step up to 6f will see further improvement, especially with the benefit of this experience. He holds an entry over the former trip at Ascot on Saturday.

I’m staying on theme with the Hannon yard. He has four entered for the 2.50 at Ascot on Friday – a maiden for fillies.

The most interesting of his quartet is Amaretti Virginia, a daughter of Mehmas out of the Balmont mare Soft Power. It means Amaretti Virginia is a half-sister to Ebro River, winner of last year’s Group One Phoenix Stakes.

Such a precocious pedigree, combined with the strong start Hannon has made with his juveniles, means she is of real interest.