two-year-olds in the spotlight

some interesting 2yo races in the UK today, when the main event is the listed race for 2yo fillies at 17.00 CET at Newbury. Ten fillies line up, and Rosdhu Queen (William Haggas/ Ryan Moore) looks the one to beat; she won her only race, at Ripon, in fine style and the form of that race is working out very well. The one to beat is clearly Sandreamer (Mick Channon/ Martin Harley), runner-up to the smart Maureen in an Ascot Group Three last time, and from a stable whose juveniles are doing really well. Sound of Guns (Ed Walker/ Luke Morris) won well at Yarmouth last time and looks next best. The two races for 2yo maidens over 7 furlongs that open the Newbury card look equally interesting, with some very well-bred newcomers on view. Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes could well win them both with the debutant A Ladies Man at 14.50 and Sea Shanty, owned by the Queen, half an hour later. Hannon has made his reputation with speedy 2yo´s that were often very cheaply bought, but owner Julie Wood splashed out 220,000 guineas on A Ladies Man, of whom high hopes are held. The Queen´s runner was an excellent runner-up at Ascot on his debut and probably has Pythagorean (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle), a good third over this CD on his debut, to beat.
The other 2yo race which could have a big bearing on upcoming big events is the mile race at 19.25 at Newmarket this evening. Godolphin have entered four here, with Frankie Dettori riding Saeed bin Suroor´s Tarikhi presumably the main hope. Sir Henry Cecil runs Squire Osbaldeston (Tom Queally), also well regarded, while Glory City (Marco Botti/ Seb Sanders), who has run two good races here already, is easily the best of those with form. The interesting feature of this race is that it was the event chosen by Cecil two years ago for the debut of Frankel, who beat another subsequent star in Nathaniel. We are not saying that any of this evening´s runners will reach those heights, bjut it is definitely a race worth watching.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: A Ladies Man - Intimidate - Altharoos
2. Race: Sea Shanty - Related - Pythagorean
3. Race: Duster - Bawaardi - Fishforcompliments
4. Race: Grandiloquent - Require - Asker
5. Race: Rosdhu Queen - Sandreamer - Lasilia
6. Race: Delft - Byton - Take A Note
7. Race: Bana Wu - Miracle Maid - Caphene
8. Race: Satwa Laird - Matavia Bay - Blue Maisey