Great quotes: The Two-Year-Old Guide

We are thrilled to have published the second edition of our Two-Year-Old Guide. We launched our first edition in 2020 following client requests following the sad passing of Steve Taplin. We didn’t think we had the resources but when racing stopped due to the pandemic we had time to invest in a new publication.

Dan Briden interviewed dozens of the country’s leading and lower-profile trainers, bloodstock agents and owners, to learn what they had to say about their current crop of two-year-olds.

The 2021 edition is a 360-page book (including index) enhanced with photographs. A complimentary E-Book is available instantly after ordering. Full of long-term information. The 2020 edition has proven especially useful during the 2021 Flat Season. We dispatch daily and this book is an ideal gift for any racing fan.

Below are some quotes from this year’s edition that have proven accurate.

Rebecca

“A nice, strong colt who moves well at this stage. He is another one who is pretty sharp and will start at 5f in April, but he will probably be happier over 6f in the long run” – Andrew Balding, talking about Berkshire Shadow. The Dark Angel colt quickly made up into one of the leading 2yo performers of 2021, winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

“A particularly nice horse, who is a strong, easy-moving individual. The dam’s brother won the Chesham Stakes in 2015 and, given what we are seeing of him to this point, I can see that race being a realistic target for this colt” – Michael Bell’s assessment of Great Max who won on debut at Newbury before duly going on to finish a respectable third in the Chesham Stakes.

“This filly is a particularly good mover – very light on her feet. She covers the ground well and should make a useful mid-season two-year-old over seven furlongs on what we see” – Michael Bell’s quote about Miss Harmony who broke her maiden recently at odds of 18/1.

“An unassuming little colt, who is fast and very straightforward. He is both mentally and physically mature so should be making his debut before May” – Ed Bethell on Fearby who has proven one of the better two-year-old performers of 2021, winning a Listed event at Sandown and far from disgraced in defeat in the Molecomb and Gimcrack subsequently.

“A lovely, homebred daughter of Siyouni from Qatar Racing, and it is fantastic to have been sent one by them. This is a sweet, very straightforward filly who is going to get better with time. I hope to see her in action by August time” – James Ferguson talking about his recent Prestige Stakes winner Mise En Scene.

“A very nice horse who won the Brocklesby in good style. He does it all so easily at home and we’ve pretty much left him alone since Doncaster. We are aiming him at the two-year-old race at Ascot on trials day on April 28, and that will tell us whether he can go back there for the Royal meeting” – Eve Johnson Houghton on her top 2yo performer Chipotle who duly scored at Royal Ascot in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

“This colt is a strong individual and by a sire that produces plenty of tough and speedy sorts, whilst the dam was quick and has already produced a Windsor Castle runner-up. He should be in action by the end of April and is one we’re particularly looking forward to” – James Millman discussing Amazonian Dream who has started to build on his initial promise with back-to-back wins in nurseries.

“A well-balanced colt, who looks sharp and has plenty of natural speed. He has already done a few bits of work and it all comes extraordinarily easy to him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he started at the Craven meeting” – Hugo Palmer’s bullish words about his recent Group 1 winner Ebro River just prior to his debut

“New Bay had a great first season as a sire. I liked this colt a lot at the sales and have been very pleased with him. He will probably debut over 6f in May with the idea of stepping up to 7f during the summer. I can see him running only a couple of times at two, and we will train him with a three-year-old career in mind” – Kevin Philippart de Foy on his promising 2yo New Pursuit who made a successful start to his career at Epsom in July.

“A typically sharp and compact son of Mehmas, who has done everything nicely at home. He shows plenty of speed and won’t be long in making his first appearance” – Megan Nicholls talking about the Kevin Ryan-trained Melayu Kingdom who made a winning start to his career at Thirsk in April.

“A tall, free-moving horse who would probably go weak if you pushed him too soon. He has done enough to suggest he could win a race this year but is on the back burner just for now to allow him to strengthen up and mature” – Marcus Tregoning on his recent 20/1 debut scorer Ribhi.

“This is an athletic filly with a good action, who has pleased all that have ridden her this spring. Karl Burke has done so well with the progeny of Showcasing, and hopefully that proves to be the case once again” – Joe Foley’s assessment of the Clipper Logistics-owned dual winner Illustrating.

“He is a compact, neater and more natural type than you might expect from the mare. He seems to go nicely at this stage and will be out in the middle of the year over 7f” – Teme Valley’s Richard Ryan on their impressive debut winner Bayside Boy.