HORSES TO FOLLOW
GARY O’BRIEN Zanahiyr 4yo g (Denise Foster) Yes, I realise this is a “flat horse to follow” feature and at the time of writing Zanahiyr is favourite for the Triumph Hurdle. Whatever happens at Cheltenham though, the Nathaniel gelding has the potential to make up into a smart stayer on the level later in the year. At the very least he can be expected to do some damage off an initial handicap mark that is likely to be in the low eighties.
JOHN O’CONNELL Stay Well 3yo colt (Hughie Morrison) From a family the trainer knows well, the son of Iffraaj made a highly promising debut at Doncaster last September. Finishing runner-up that day over a mile, he will appreciate at least another two furlongs and should break his maiden tag this spring before going on to bigger targets.
TOM STANLEY Yibir 3yo c
(Charlie Appleby) I was very taken with the horse physically for his debut, a race won by stable companion Master Of The Seas. A big brute of a horse and hooded for that debut, he looked entirely unfurnished and one who would improve with time and age. He finished off his season winning the Haynes, Hanson & Clark over a mile and comes into this three-year- old campaign rated 100. A brother to Nassau winner Wild Illusion, he should excel over another two furlongs this year.
RUBY WALSH Thunder Moon 3yo c (Joseph O’Brien) I must admit to being slightly shell-shocked when he got well and truly put in his place in the Dewhurst by St Marks Basilica and Wembley. From what I witnessed in the National Stakes at The Curragh, where he extracted himself from a pocket inside the furlong pole and sprinted to success by a length and a half, defeating Wembley, I thought ‘superstar’. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, and all that, but whether it’s over a mile or back down to six furlongs at Newmarket for the July Cup, I will be following Thunder Moon.
ED WATSON Annandale 3yo colt (Mark Johnston) Caught the eye with a highly promising debut at Ayr’s Gold Cup meeting in September. Made all to get off the mark over 1m2f at Bath next time, then displayed tenacity aplenty to repel all challengers in making a successful handicap bow dropped to 1m at Newcastle in November. While a Derby entry may prove fanciful, I expect this Australia colt to leave a revised mark of 78 well behind during his three-year-old season, especially when he steps up to middle distances.
You can keep track of your horses via the
racingtv.com/tracker
RACING TV CLUBMAGAZINE 31
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