Juvenile Watch: Simply Astounding puts down early marker

I am, I promise, going to endeavour to try my very best to ensure this column is not simply about a few powerful stables, week in, week out. 

However, that is not easy with a significant portion of the equine talent being held by a small number of operations. 

This week there is simply no getting away from a tremendously impressive performance by Simply Astounding, trained by Aidan O’Brien, at Naas over the weekend. 

By Wootton Bassett out of the brilliant mare Minding, Simply Astounding is certainly bred to be special. Indeed, her very name suggests that she has for some time been considered as potentially smart. 

If I were to be asked to describe her winning debut in one word, it would be “professional”. 

She broke smartly and settled a few lengths off the lead on the outside, relaxing beautifully despite having clear space in front of her. 

Approaching the two-furlong pole Ryan Moore started to urge her forward and while she did not show a devastating turn of foot she certainly gave generously, lengthening all the way to the line, running straight and true whilst still giving the impression that she was yet to fully understand what this job is about. 

Wootton Bassett has proved himself to be a versatile stallion. A miler on the track, most of his best progeny have been at their best over that trip or further, though he has produced a smattering of speedy types, too, most notably Bucanero Fuerte winner of the Railway Stakes at the Curragh over six-furlongs. 

Minding was tremendously versatile, winning Group Ones over distances ranging from seven furlongs as a two-year old (Moyglare Stud Stakes) to the 12 furlongs of the Oaks, and every distance in between, as a three-year old. 

Her only offspring to race, before Simply Astounding, has been Henry Longfellow, a son of Dubawi who didn’t make his racecourse debut until July of - and that came over seven furlongs. 

I’m reluctant to ever use the word “certainty” when referencing horses, but in this instance I am confident in saying it’s a certainty that Simply Astounding will improve plenty when stepped up I trip, given the manner of her performance coupled with her pedigree. 

She’s made her debut early enough to allow O’Brien to get a second run into her before Royal Ascot. The Group Three Fillies’ Sprint over this course and distance would seem the logical option. 

As for Royal Ascot, the Albany over an extra furlong would look the obvious target, but ante-post bets at this time are too fanciful for me. 

She’s unlikely to be the only high-class filly housed in Ballydoyle and they’ll need to be separated, so the Chesham, which the same connections won with the filly Bedtime Story, last year, could even come under consideration although I do think that’s unlikely. 

Logi Bear (Trainer: Richard Hannon) 

A son of Kodi Bear, he made his debut on Saturday at Leicester. He went through the first half of the race nicely, settling well against the nearside rail in behind the leaders. 

However, when asked by Sean Levey to quicken, he showed visible signs of inexperience and rolled around before belatedly getting the message, though still hanging to his right as he rallied into third place. 

As I’ve mentioned in previous series of this column, Hannon-trained juveniles are not given a hard time on debut and this ride from Levey was in keeping with that ethos. 

Logi Bear will improve significantly for this debut and I’d expect him to be hard to beat on his next start if in a similar grade. 

Glitter And Glory (Trainer: Jessica Harrington) 

This daughter of Lucky Vega finished third in the Naas maiden that was won by Simply Astounding. 

Drawn in the widest stall, she was marginally slowly away and having tracked across to the far rail found herself at the rear of the field. 

She was still travelling approaching the two-furlong pole, but while both the winner and runner-up were able to move forward Shane Foley’s mount found herself behind a wall of horses. 

Switched out to her right, she quickened up nicely and closed into third place. 

Granted a more favourable draw and a smoother passage she looks capable of landing a maiden of similar standard. 

Karl Burke has made an excellent start to the season with his two-year olds and has already referenced his belief that he does have an above average group of newcomers for the season ahead. 

On Wednesday, he runs Super Soldier in the 1.10 at Ascot and he’s one to note . I felt the debut performance of Super Soldier when winning at Leicester was worthy of an upgrade. He got bumped and hampered early when leaving the stalls and that caused him to race keenly for the first couple of furlongs, that he was then able to get on top of the vastly more experienced Alkuwarrior in a battle to the line was impressive. 

Burke will have a nice form line with the Kevin Ryan-trained Dickensian through his recent Ripon winner Clear Force as that colt finished just over a length behind Dickensian at Musselburgh. 

If racing in a more settled manner I’d fancy Super Soldier to step forward sufficiently to win this. 

Give it time . . .