Juvenile Watch: winners in waiting and a horse to follow on Sunday

There were a few that caught my eye in the past week. At Yarmouth on Wednesday, the Charlie Appleby-trained Age Of Gold delivered an excellent debut performance when powering home to win over six furlongs.

He was slowly away and needed riding forward in the first furlong before latching onto the back of the six-runner field, but once switched out for a run, he displayed a text-book head carriage and attitude, and quickly got to a commanding position. 

He’ll step forward for this run, and on pedigree, he would appreciate an extra furlong. He’s fully lodged in my Racing TV Tracker, and could well be one for Royal Ascot.

Aesterius was another who impressed when sluicing up on his debut at Bath over five furlongs. Well supported before the off, he was comfortably able to quicken up when asked for his effort, and was able to ease off in the closing strides.

He was engaged in a duel from some way out with Redorange. RaceiQ date tells us the winner posted fractions of 11.57 seconds for both the second and third furlong, and 11.94 seconds for the fourth. 

His Finishing Speed Percentage (FSP) of only 100.58%, combined with a final furlong fraction of 24.71 seconds, strongly suggests those middle splits took their toll, and he’s definitely one that wants to be kept to this minimum trip at easy tracks. 

For reference, we should also note that Redorange, who faded into fifth, posted a drastically weaker FSP of 98.16%, and a final furlong of 25.72 seconds.

The above pair were impressive, but the standout performance came at the Curragh on Sunday. Heavens Gate had posted a solid effort when second over five furlongs at Navan on her debut this month and stepped forward considerably from that effort when bolting up over an extra furlong in what looked, on paper, to be a strong maiden. 

I loved how she travelled so effortlessly through the middle part of the race before looking composed and balanced when asked by Ryan Moore for her closing effort. 

Her sire, Churchill, had plenty of pace. He was champion juvenile in 2016, but so far at stud, his best results have come with middle-distance performers like Vadeni and Blue Rose Cen. 

The dam's side of the pedigree is even more stamina-laden with a host of siblings who excelled over twelve furlongs, as well as a winning three-mile hurdler! So although she displayed plenty of pace to win this, there is every chance she’ll improve again when sent over further. 

She’s the juvenile filly that has most piqued my interest so far this season.

Stratusnine (Hugo Palmer) won’t have passed many of you by as he made eye-catching late progress when finishing second over six furlongs at York last week. He displayed greenness when slowly away from the stalls, and again when seemingly taken an age to respond to Jim Crowley’s drive in the final two furlongs. However, in the very final strides, he produced rapid acceleration and would have been the winner in another three strides. 

He’s a half brother to Ayaar, a Group Three-winning two-year old over seven furlongs, as well as classy handicapper Dual Identity. It will take an above average newcomer to prevent him from winning on his next start.

Jewel Of London (Richard Hannon) raced prominently on her debut at Goodwood and travelled deeper than any rival into the closing stages. She displayed immaturity against two rivals with race experience, though, and when asked to quicken, she forfeited the race at that stage before belatedly rallying late on under tender handling, as is the way with Richard Hannon debutants. 

She’ll stay further than six furlongs in time but should be well up to winning a regulation maiden over this trip next time out.

Bolo Neighs (Ralph Beckett) was taken off his feet early in the race won by Aesterius at Bath. He wasn't aided by his second slow start in succession, and he finished powerfully plus bumped into an above-ordinary winner. 

Another furlong might see him to better effect with there being every chance that he can yet get sharper at exiting the stalls.

Ed Walker has had three juvenile winners this season, and all three have been inside the past week in the form of Red Sand, Stage Effect and Blinky. 

Of those three, it is the six-furlong Goodwood winner, Red Sand, who is of most interest moving forward. 

A son of the aptly named Too Darn Hot out of Red Dune (already a producer of two black-type performers), he travelled much the best when upped to six furlongs on his second start before bursting clear with a smart change of gear, and then lengthening away well. 

Given how well he galloped out the stiff six furlongs, the Coventry Stakes would suit, although I’d expect him to be just shy of that quality. He is worthy of adding to your Racing TV Tracker for a novice under a penalty, or something of Listed class, though.

The next juvenile entrant from Ed Walker’s yard is Naturally, a Kirsten Rausing homebred by Study Of Man, a sire who is gradually delivering some smart performers.

This youngster runs in the 3.25pm at Lingfield on Thursday in a seven-furlong maiden, and is certainly worthy of a second look given the red-hot form of her trainers two-year-olds. She's chalked up at a best-priced 11-1 with Bet365.

Whistlejacket was nominated as a ‘Start Performer’ when winning at the Curragh this month. He holds an entry in the Group Two GAIN Railway Stakes back at the Curragh over six furlongs on Sunday, live on Racing TV. 

Being a full-brother to Little Big Bear, I would expect him to improve significantly for this extra furlong. 

Aidan O’Brien has plenty of entrants to choose from, but if Whistlejacket were to be declared, I’d make him 'nap of the day' material!