Potential Stars

As we come towards the final stages of the Flat season as someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and of great experience - stop sniggering - it is time to test my sage like abilities and predict some two-year-olds that will be worth backing for the major races in 2011. I have had some success recently holding some nicely priced ante-post vouchers on Sea The Stars and Canford Cliffs in the last two years so here's hoping I can do it again.
I have talked about Strong Suit previously and I am holding a small ante-post voucher about the colt at 5-1 for the 2000 Guineas. His most recent run at the Curragh when defeated by Zoffany is a little worrying as is the fact he is now available at prices as big as 10-1. Fingers crossed it was no more than an off day for the Hannon colt and the trainer has stated that he feels he that he is the best of their 100-plus two-year-olds.
Zoffany will of course be at the top of may peoples list of two-year-olds to follow. Slightly disappointing when behind Strong Suit in the Coventry at the Royal meeting you can’t knock the form of his other five runs, all victories, and of course following the Curragh victory he now has a Group One in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes to his name. On breeding a step up to a mile next year shouldn’t be a problem.
King Torus won the Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes over seven furlongs on the 28th July at Goodwood to add to his Group Two win in the 32Red.com Superlative Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the Month. Breeding would suggest that a mile would probably be the Oratorio colts limit stamina wise.
Janood was an interesting debutant for Godolphin at Newmarket on the 30th July. The Medicean colts dam Alluring Park won as a two-year-old and is a full sister to Japanese Group One sprinter Shinko Forest (Green Desert-Park Express) and half sister to the top class Derby winner New Approach (Galileo-Park Express). He is entered at Newbury and York later this month and may be one to keep an eye on.
As for the fillies, I have already mentioned Memory as the outstanding two-year-old filly to have run this year and took the 8-1 for the 1000 Guineas at the time. At this stage of the season she still looks to be the best we have seen thus far.
Many a good judge was taken with the run of Helleborine when she won the Listed Prix Six Perfections at Deauville on the 31st July over seven furlongs, following up on her debut win at Maisons-Laffitte in June over six. There is plenty of black type in the Observatory fillys pedigree and a mile looks well within her range, possibly up to a mile and a quarter. She is not guaranteed to cross the channel to race in our 1000 Guineas of course but at 20-1 she is worth a small investment at this stage of the season.

Ante-Post Bets

2000 Guineas

Strong Suit 5-1

1000 Guineas

Memory 8-1

Helleborine 20-1