Equinties - magic Mullins

Gm Equinauts

The intern was out of action yesterday and couldn’t get the newsletter club’s new horse update out, so we will send out tonight for a bit of evening entertainment to complement Monday night Windsor racing (where we potentially have another bet).

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

MAGIC MULLINS

We all know that Willie Mullins is the king, but he firmly showed us all that he has the sport at his mercy after he raided Ayr on Saturday…with his second and third team!

The master of Closutton, magic Mullins kicked off the day by getting yard legend SHARJAH to win over three miles. Willie them followed up with success in the big one, the Scottish Grand National with X and then went on to land both novice events with CHOSEN WITNESS in the handicap and QUAI DE BOURBON in the open novice. He even nearly won the Scottish Champion Hurdle with BIALYSTOK.

Mullins was smashed into 1/50 from 2/7 on Saturday night for the British trainers’ championship and he looks to already have one-and-a-half hands on the trophy, though there is still well over £600,000 in prize money to be won at Sandown on Saturday. Can we see anyone else but Mullins winning the title though? No. 

It does raise a valid question -what can British trainers do to get anywhere in the same league as him? Take Saturday’s runners as an example. MACDERMOTT was tried over two and two-and-a-half miles this season before his Fairyhouse win over three miles and he’s now won a Scottish Grand National. BIALYSTOK (although he didn’t win) came very close to landing the Scottish Champion Hurdle off a career-high mark having only managed seventh in the Galway Hurdle last August of the same mark in Ireland. These horses, who admittedly have chances of winning these types of races, are coming over to the UK and making our horses look massively inferior. People are calling for a complete overhaul of British National Hunt racing an that might be what it needs, but for now we’re saying that other trainers need to level up.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

MIDNIGHT STRIKE could be a smart 2yo for Joseph O’Brien and Teme Valley. He skipped clear at the Curragh from the Ballydoyle trained TREASURE ISLE. By STARSPANGLEDBANNER, he cost 50,000gns at the December Yearling Sale.

The loveable HAMISH landed the spoils in the Group 3 Surprise Stakes to the pleasure of William and Maureen Haggas to notch up his 11th win and his 8th at Group 3 level. Stick to what you’re good at. It would be great to see him at Epsom in the Coronation Cup, especially if he gets his soft ground. Or even jumping a pole in time!

FOLGARIA cost a measly 10k at the yearling sales but was fighting off the Cheveley Park FRANKEL filly in the Fred Darling on Saturday. Admittedly it wasn’t the strongest Guineas trial, but the Botti’s have mentioned a shot at the French 1000 Guineas as a possible target. By DUE DILLIGENCE who stands alongside HAVANA GREY, SHOWCASING and SERGEI PROKOFIEV. SERGEI is particularly interesting as he has his first runners this year, which he has already notched up 4 winners. SERGEI was a $1.1million yearling purchase for Coolmore and he is bred on the same SCAT DADDY/ PULPIT cross that produced JUSTIFY.

The 2000 Guineas trial, the Greenham was won by the gelding ESQUIRE and trained by David O’Meara who said afterwards “that was a huge surprise.” The Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot is beckoning, the time wasn’t fantastic but it was around 4 seconds faster than ISAAC SHELBY’s win last year in the race.

HIDDEN LAW looked like he was getting better and better the further he went at Newbury on Saturday. In 2022, Charlie Appleby had OTTOMAN FLEET finishing second in the race and this DUBAWI colt could be as a good as him if not better. No inspiring entries just yet but races like the Derby and St Leger probably need to come into the equation. His mother SECRET GESTURE won the Gr1 Beverley D Stakes at Arlington before being demoted to 3rd, she was a broodmare purchase after that for $3.5million to Godolphin.

SIRE IN STUDY

STUDY OF MAN is enjoying a purple patch with his first crop who have turned 3 years old. The son of DEEP IMPACT stands at Lanwades for a fee of £12,500. In the past week he has had KALPANA hose in by 10 lengths at Newmarket for Juddmonte and Andrew Balding, SONS AND LOVERS ran well in the Craven Stakes on only his second career start, SINOLOGY won a competitive fillies maiden at Newbury on Saturday beating some well bred fillies and to cap it all off BIRTHE, another filly, wins the Listed Prix Caravelle at Toulouse.

The Stallions progeny are clearly doing well after a winter on their back. DEEPONE was the stallions flag bearer last year but ironically he is the one who hasn’t made the same start as the aforementioned horses as he could only muster 4th on his seasonal return. But that was on going described as heavy so you’d be happy to put a line through it. 

Other progeny to keep on side this year include ALACRITY, FRANCOPHONE and LINGUA FRANCA for Lanwades owner Kirsten Rausing, STAR STUDDIED for trainer James Tate and Owner Saeed Manana and recent 6f winner JUBILEE WALK for China Horse Club and Qatar Racing.

WEEKEND EYE-CATCHERS

COCO MADEMOISELLE – SATURDAY 15.00 AYR

Dan Skelton’s COCO MADEMOISELLE dipped her hoof into handicap company for the first time on Saturday and she put in a solid performance, but the run of the race made the contest set up for a late closer who was on the ball. OTTIZZINI went off too hard from the front and Harry Skelton was the only one to keep tabs, and as they turned into the home straight it looked as if the six-year-old had the race won. However, she paid for her early efforts and could only get second, but an easier race (or just one with a standard pace) will suit her and she will be dangerous off her mark nto. She’s huge and will be a nice one for fences too!

CLOCKMAKER -SATURDAY 16.25

Given an easy time behind an even easier winner. Very nice performance for a debut behind a well bred Godolphin horse One to follow for sure.

GALLANT LION – SATURDAY 17.00 NEWBURY

The closing handicap of Newbury’s card on Saturday was a big heap of horses, though plaudits should go to GALLANT LION who made eye-catching progress down the outside and from the rear of the field. He was one of the shining lights for Tony Carroll last season after a success in the Racing League, but he is now with Alan King and looks to have plenty of scope to improve. By ROARING LION, he came on for his first run of the season last year and the more time he spends at King's, the more he’ll get used to the place. He has a big handicap in him this season - maybe Royal Ascot?

RISK ON

A mixed set of results this weekend -Saturday us land a banker double and gambled single on UNCE DICK for Eve’s yard. Sunday’s bets posted on X @equinties were a disaster. But that’s gambling.

19.20 MESAAFI

Looks an ew to nothing back to 6f and fit from recent run. Yard getting winners and Charlie has a good strike rate at Windsor. 5’s ew.

Add I WISH YOU in the 15.00 to another bet for close to 1x leverage (currently priced 4/5 everywhere). He’s a good single too, NAP.

Likely to be another bet at Windsor but we are watching the markets.

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