Juvenile Watch: No shortage of ammo in the purple-and-white silks

It can often be profitable to follow a trainer or a jockey in form, for example, a friend, who I regard as one of the shrewdest punters I know, is currently showing a healthy profit by backing all Kevin Ryan two-year olds ridden by Kevin Stott.

As a general rule it’s very rare, however, to talk of an owner ‘in form’ possibly due to the increasing trend of the larger owners (with the exception of Coolmore) to spread their horses among a number of trainers.

Yet there is an owner whose two-year olds have started the current season at a blistering pace.

Amo Racing has already had 18 individual two-year old runners this season and from that have netted six separate winners (seven in total) - even more impressive is that four different trainers provided those six winners.

Owned by football agent Kia Joorabchian, Amo Racing are clearly a growing force in the juvenile division. It’s also apparent that their buying team, consisting of bloodstock agent Alex Elliott and renowned breeze-up producer Robson Aguiar, are successfully identifying stock who will be fast precocious two-year olds.

The only dent in an otherwise auspicious start to the season for them is the injury to their hugely talented retained rider Rossa Ryan, who has partnered four of their six individual winners.

I firmly believe that in top-class races having a horse and jockey partnership with previous race experience can be the difference between winning or not and I’m sure Amo Racing are desperate to get him back as soon as possible.

Good luck to Rossa who is aiming to be back in time for Royal Ascot, it will be a huge achievement if he manages it.

Amo Racing will surely have a strong hand in all races for two-year olds at Royal Ascot; here are two of their main hopes:

(Sire: Ardad. Trainer: George Boughey.)

It’s probably fair to say that more was expected of her on her debut at Newmarket, where she was sent off 9/4 favourite but trailed in a well beaten eighth.

Since then she’s progressed very nicely winning her next two outings, both over five furlongs.

Her last run at Sandown was visually impressive as she scooted clear in the closing stages to win by a comfortable four lengths and carrying a 7lb penalty. Beautiful Sunshine looks all speed and will surely run in the Queen Mary at Ascot. For my money she’s shown the best five-furlong form from a filly on this side of the Irish Sea. She will certainly face stiffer opposition at Ascot but should not be underestimated.

(Sire: Cotai Glory. Trainer: George Boughey).

Having been denied a planned first run at Doncaster, this colt made a very impressive debut at Newmarket’s Craven meeting in a five furlong novice contest, which is working out to be a good race (Ebro River, winner of the National Stakes was back in sixth).

At Newmarket he impressed me with his professional attitude and searing change of gear in the closing stages.

In the aftermath of that race, his trainer, George Boughey, suggested they would look to target the National Stakes on route to the Norfolk Stakes at Ascot.

I would propose that the soft ground prevailing at Sandown would be the reason for him missing that race, but it certainly couldn’t be viewed as a positive if he were – as appears likely - to head straight to Ascot off the back of one run.

Maybe instead connections will aim him at the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, where he’ll look to go two places better than his half brother Muker, who finished third last year.

I certainly have a penchant for juvenile performers who race in a professional way, namely by relaxing and running straight and true, so I slightly surprised myself with this week's selection for this section.

Just as he did when winning at Doncaster, the flashy-looking Ebro River (Hugo Palmer) did plenty wrong when winning the Listed National Stakes at Sandown.

He was noticeably slow away from the stalls and then having been pressed by James Doyle to secure a place on the rail, as a direct consequence of the slow start, he proceeded to race far too exuberantly.

He put the race to bed in deadly fashion before hanging noticeably left in the closing stages (he had hung right on his previous start).

He’s clearly a quirky sort and races in a sheepskin noseband (I imagine to encourage him to drop his head), yet there’s no denying that he has an abundance of ability.

I think that a stronger pace in a better quality race will see him to better effect and I’d also love to see Hugo Palmer up him to six furlongs, which might just allow James Doyle to ride more of a patient race.

I’m a fully signed-up member of the Ebro River fan club (possibly the founder member?) and firmly believe he can win at Royal Ascot, ideally in the Coventry Stakes over six furlongs.

Bond Chairman (Bryan Smart) was already a winner of a novice race before finishing fifth of seven when upped to Listed level in the aforementioned National Stakes.

At Sandown he had absolutely no luck in running whatsoever, Graham Lee had to switch to the rail two furlongs out before then having to switch back to the middle of the track.

Bond Chairman possibly also lacked that crucial change of gear over five furlongs, but he did keep on very nicely and I believe he’s capable of scoring at Listed level if upped to six furlongs.