The MJ & B Plastering Supports BB With Love Novice Stakes (Class Five)

Doncaster - Friday 31st May 2024 - One Mile - 3-year-olds only - Runners: 11

The eyes of the racing world were focussed hard on the Epsom Oaks and following day's Epsom Derby, but some 194 miles away in South Yorkshire, a potentially informative novice contest took place on the Town Moor racecourse at Doncaster.

The race will be easily ignored given the events taking place at Epsom, but this run of the mill class five event was filled with potential stars and horses with Group race aspirations. There would be previous winners and beautifully bred horses on display so the notebook will be wide open for many with an eye to the future.

Since the first running of the race in 2019, there have been some classy winners of this race. The first renewal went the way of Motakhayyel for trainer Richard Hannon. He would win four times at class two level including at Royal Ascot and two Bunbury Cup successes. In 2022, the Godolphin-owned First Ruler landed this race before developing into a smart stayer, winning in Dubai and over a mile and a half. Twelve months ago, Roger Varian's Embesto remained unbeaten at the time with an easy success. He would go on to share first place in a Group Three later in the year.

Therefore, this year's lineup would be one to follow given the exploits of previous seasons, there could be a star or two lurking in the plain sight.

*Bracketed names denote the names of Sire and Dam. 
 - in the form figures denotes a new season*

1) PILOTO PARDO (Bated Breath x Ivory Charm)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Pat Dobbs
Form: 41- 

2019's winning stable would have a pin their faith on the last time out winner Piloto Pardo. 

The colt is a son of Bated Breath, a top quality sprinter who wasn't able to win at the highest level, but went close to doing so on numerous occasions. At stud, Bated Breath has produced plenty of Group winners on track. The dam Ivory Charm ran at just a modest level and won once, but comes from the family of popular stayer Red Galileo. 

Piloto Pardo would make his debut at the end of August at Newmarket's July course.  Starting out over six furlongs, the colt would be outpaced at a crucial point but kept on well into fourth. The winner of the race, Eben Shaddad would go on to finish third in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes to give the form a boost. Next up for Piloto Pardo would be a trip to Kempton a fortnight later, this time over seven furlongs. Racing prominently this time, the previous experience came to good use as Piloto Pardo showed a good change of gear to hold off the more experienced Khisah Bu Thaila.

That win would go down as a promising performance and despite an absence of nine months, there will be plenty of scope this year for the twice-raced colt.  

3) FIFTY NIFTY (Ten Sovereigns x Leala) 
Trainer: Tom Clover

Jockey: Callum Shepherd
Form: -1

Next up would be a Newmarket based gelding trained by Tom Clover who rewarded his trainer for the patience shown. A gelding operation before a horse has made its debut often suggests a behaviour problem as a younger horse. 

Fifty Nifty is a son of the high class sprinter Ten Sovereigns, a dual Group One winner over six furlongs during his career. He has yet to sire a star name as of  yet, but his son Inquisitively landed the listed Roses Stakes last season. The dam Leala was unraced herself, but related to the Grade Two hurdle runner up Definite Spectacle. Fifty Nifty is a half brother to twelve time winner Obviously, who raced in America and won a Grade One at the Breeders Cup meeting.

The gelding wasn't seen on track until the end of April this year and made his debut in an informative Yarmouth novice. He would show no signs of inexperience during the opening stages and travelled powerfully close to the early leaders. Once asked to extend, Fifty Nifty responded impressively to burst clear in the final stages and win by a widening three and a half lengths.

It was an sparkling debut performance and although the future form of that race has taken a few knocks, Fifty Nifty looked a cut above his rivals. 

4) INDELIBLE (Shamardal x Midday)

Trainer: Ralph Beckett

Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Form: 21- 

The first of the regally bred runners would come in the form of Juddmonte's Indeliable, who has a pedigree made for the highest level.

The filly is a daughter of the outstanding miler of the mid-2000's Shamardal, who won six of his seven starts on track. His stallion record is just as impressive as he sired the likes of brilliant two-year-old Pinatubo, Breeders Cup Turf winner Tarnawa and legends of Hong Kong racing Able Friend and Pakistan Star. The dam Midday is also one who needs little introduction. She would a leading lady at the turn of the 2010's and after finishing a close second in the 2009 Epsom Oaks, she developed into a four time Group One winning mare, including the Yorkshire Oaks and two Nassau Stakes. Indelible is also a half sister to the very classy Midterm, Mori and Noon Star.

With such a brilliant family, Indelible's debut last season was eagerly awaited. Making her debut at Salisbury last October, Ralph Beckett's filly would be slow from the stalls and lost early ground. She would show inexperience through the race, but kept on well into second, beaten five lengths by the useful Ten Bob Tony. A first win would come a few weeks later at Lingfield on the all-weather. Despite the sharp nature of the track, Indelible was always prominent and looked much more settled by taking a novice by just over a length. 

That win is not only valuable for a future at stud, but it is another step on the ladder of progress. Ralph Beckett had plenty of chances in the Epsom Oaks earlier in the day, but will be hoping Indelible will turn into another quality filly.

5) AJDAYET (Ten Sovereigns x Paris Rooftops)

Trainer: Archie Watson

Jockey: Hollie Doyle

Form: Unraced.

The sole newcomer of the race would be the Archie Watson-trained Ajdayet, who carried the silks of last year's winning owner Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum.

The colt is another produce of the Dewhurst and July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns, who has plenty of speed influence in his genes. The dam Paris Rooftops would be lightly raced for trainer Luca Cumani and unplaced in four starts. Ajdayet is a half brother to the smart handicapper Arkendale, a one time winner whose personal best would be a fourth in a listed race. Further back in the family, Ajdayet is also a distant relative to the tough as teak Intense Focus, who was a high class juvenile and winner of the Group One Dewhurst Stakes.

Coming from a stable which often produces first time out winners, Ajdayet is an interesting contender in this contest with a mix of stamina, speed and class in his family. 

6) AMPHIUS (Kingman x Trojan Queen)
Trainer: Harry Charlton 

Jockey: Dan Muscutt
Form: -4

Next up would be another runner for the Juddmonte operation who has a very smart family and has shown promise so far.
Trained by Harry Charlton, son of leading trainer Roger and in his first full season of training, Amphius is a son of the excellent miler Kingman, whose short career was best remembered for his electric turn of pace. The dam Trojan Queen also ran in the pink, green and white silks of Juddmonte and was based in France with the legend Andre Fabre. Trojan Queen would have a light career with two placings to her name, but is herself a daughter of multiple Group One winner Banks Hill. It would therefore make Amphius a full brother to the classy Sangarius, a colt who never lived up to his true potential but was a brilliant winner of a Group Three at Royal Ascot. Amphius is also a brother to last year's progressive handicapper Greek Order, who finished a close second in the cavalry charge that is known as the Cambridgeshire Handicap. 

The colt would be given time to develop before his debut and made his racecourse bow as recently as April. Competing in a novice over a mile at Newbury, Amphius raced in the middle of the large field. Making eye-catching headway at the furlong pole, he made his challenge but could only stay on at the same pace. He would finish fourth, less than four lengths behind the subsequent explosive, wide margin Dante Stakes winner Economics. 

The Newbury race has already worked out spectacularly and natural progression between first and second runs will make Amphius a nice prospect. It wouldn't be surprising to see the colt quickly make up for lost time. 

7) BRINDLEY (Calyx x Shanghai Rose) 
Trainer: Jack Channon
Jockey: Ed Greatrex
Form: 8-

The second runner for the Jack Channon stable has been gelded since his debut, but he should have potential to win races in the future.

The once-raced gelding is a son of the rising star of the stallion world Calyx. The dam Shanghai Rose was unraced on track, but Brindley is just her second ever foal. Further back in the family, Brindley is a grandson of the Sir Robert Ogden-owned mare Amazonas, who won at listed level and finished third in the Group One Fillies' Mile. 

Brindley would make his debut at Newbury in August last year, taking part in a valuable class two novice but sent off at long odds. Racing towards the outer flank of the thirteen runner race, Brindley began to make headway in the final furlong but would be outpaced at the finish to return home in eighth. The competitive nature of the race saw some nice sorts come out of the field, including the winner Dancing Gemini who was a close second in the French Guineas recently. The runner up Fire Demon and third Olympic Candle would improve to ratings over 90 which marked them as above average.

While there was promise in the debut run, Brindley makes his seasonal return in another very strong looking novice event. Life may be a little easier once he qualifies for handicaps after his third start.

8) ENGLISH HARBOUR (Kingman x Cursory Glance)

Trainer: Roger Varian

Jockey: Jack Mitchell
Form: -2

Another fancifully bred sort would travel to Doncaster for this test, but English Harbour had already been gelded ahead of his debut. 

The son of the brilliant miler Kingman, the gelding is bred to be smart over a mile. The dam Cursory Glance was trained by the Roger Varian stable so know the family very well. Cursory Glance spent just one season on the track but quickly developed into a star of the season. Winning at Royal Ascot on her second start, her last run would be a success in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. English Harbour is a half brother to the smart Voodoo Queen, winner of a listed race and placed at Group Three level. 

Gelded as a juvenile, English Harbour made his debut at Yarmouth a month ago. Held up in the early stages and chasing an average gallop, the son of Kingman began to make his move at the two furlong pole. He would sustain his run and caught the eye by chasing home the clear winner, Almaqam. The winner of that race was held in high regard by his trainer and has since won a listed race impressively. 

The recent form boost from his debut will improve his chances and makes English Harbour a potential smart horse given the pattern race success of his family.

9) MIDNIGHT MISSILE (Twilight Son x Dance Diva)
Trainer: Mick Appleby
Jockey: David Nolan
Form: -65

In a field full of expensive purchases and blue blooded rivals, Midnight Missile's credentials would perhaps lack compared to others, but Mick Appleby's gelding had every right of lining up with the potential for an upset always on the cards.

The three-year-old is a son of high class sprinter Twilight Son, who shot up through the handicap system in 2015 to win a Group One at the first time of asking in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. He would then become a two time Group One winner at Royal Ascot the following year in the Golden Jubilee Stakes. At stud, Twilight Son has produced some sharp sprinters, some of whom have landed pattern races themselves. The dam Dance Diva was owned and bred by the Cheveley Park Stud operation and was an honest mare on the track for Richard Fahey. She would win two listed races during her career before a career at stud beckoned. Midnight Missile would be the first foal of Dance Diva, but his younger half brother Epicurian Lad made his debut a week ago at York with a midfield finish.

Midnight Missile has already run twice in quick succession which often points to completing three starts before getting a handicap rating. Making his debut at Nottingham over a mile, he would be slightly awkward from his stall and lost ground on the group. He would be playing catch up throughout, but finished a respectable sixth of eleven. Two weeks later, he would return to Nottingham, but this time over the minimum trip of five furlongs. Slowly from the gates once again, Midnight Missile was unable to keep up with the quicker pace and brought up the rear in the five runner contest. 

Life will become easier for Midnight Missile once he moves into handicaps, but it would be a huge surprise if his third run in the month of May would be a successful one.

10) MUTAAWID (Frankel x Handassa)

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Jim Crowley 
Form: -5

One of the best bred runners in the field would be an added bonus for those attending the meeting at Doncaster to see such an illustriously bred colt.

Mutaawid carries the silks of the famous Shadwell Stud, a legendary operation in racing for many decades. He is a son of the immortal Frankel, whose fourteen race unbeaten career and achievements will be hard to surpass. Even at stud, Frankel has left a lasting legacy with progeny that includes  Cracksman, Adayar and Inspiral. His dam Handassa is also well known in recent times thanks to Mutaawid's full brother Mostahdaf, brilliant winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Juddmonte Stakes in 2023. 

With such an exciting pedigree, it came as no surprise to see Mutaawid a strongly fancied favourite for his debut in mid-May. Making his racecourse bow at Nottingham, he showed signs of coltishness in the parade ring and during the race, raced keenly in the opening stages. He began to drift to his left in the closing stages, but was well held in fifth.

His debut may have been disappointing, but given his family, it will be foolish to write Mutaawid off after one race. He has a reputation to rebuild, but he is still a bright prospect for the future. 

11) PARKLAND (Wootton Bassett x Shemya) 

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Jockey: Will Carver
Form: 3-2

Novice events often produce horses who have a talented pedigree or have shown promise in previous starts but in the case of Parkland, he falls under both categories.

The twice raced colt is a son of Wootton Bassett, a brilliant unbeaten two year old who landed a French Group One in his first season in 2010. He may have retired from racing over ten years ago, but his stallion profile has grown in recent years. His star offspring include Champion Stakes winners King Of Steel and Almanzor. The dam Shemya comes from the illustrious breeding operation of His Royal Highness the Aga Khan. She would race three times, but gained a valuable win on her final start. The pedigree contains a whole host of winners in the famous green and red silks. Parkland himself is a half brother to the smart Cormorant, who won the Derrinstown Derby Trial in 2020 for Aidan O'Brien. 

Parkland would make his debut towards the end of last year, like a few of his rivals here. Running at Chelmsford in an ordinary November novice, Parkland would be slightly slow from his stall and had to play catch up on the inner rail. After coming under pressure, the colt kept on steadily and returned home a decent third. With that promising debut under his wing, Parkland would stick to the all-weather for his next start; this time at Kempton in January.  Cutting out the early running from the stalls, he looked to have the race sewn up in the final furlong. However, he would be overtaken by a speeding newcomer in the final stages. He had to settle for second, but the newcomer winner on that day would be a certain Notable Speech, the subsequent brilliant 2,000 Guineas winner some three months later. 

Should that outstanding colt have been absent from his run at Kempton, Parkland would already have a win to his name. He had a four month break to overcome here as well as his first start on grass, but he has shown a high level of promise so far.

12) SWORD (Kingman x Ame Bleue)

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden 

Jockey: Rab Havlin
Form: 4-

The field would be completed by the second runner from the John and Thady Gosden stable, the once raced and promising Sword.

Another runner in the race to be a son of Kingman, there is also a blend of stamina in the pedigree. The dam Ame Bleue is related to some pattern level horses who won between ten furlongs and two miles, including Artiste Divine and Any Time Soon. The mare herself was also very smart on track and after winning a listed race, she finished a good second in the Group One Prix Jean Romanet. Sword is a full brother to the unbeaten five year old Oceania Legend, who won for the second time when last seen in January 2022.

The more stoutly bred horses from the Clarehaven base are regularly seen making their debuts towards the end of the year. Such examples include the iconic mare Enable, staying superstar Stradivarius and last year's horse of the season Mostadaf, who all ran on the all-weather during the winter. Emerging onto the scene in November at Kempton, Sword was fancied in the market. He would be held up in the early stages but looked uncomplicated throughout. When the pace began to increase, Sword made his move. The red and silver silks would flash home at the death to take home fourth and very much catch the eye in the process. The subsequent form of the race has also worked out well. The winner Matsuri won for a second time recently and is an exciting prospect while the sixth placed Kamboo won his maiden next time out and will line up in the Epsom Derby.

With a strong staying pedigree, Sword will definitely come into his own as a three year old. Jockey Rab Havlin will have a big day at Epsom less than twenty four hours after this race as he rides the Derby second favourite Ambiente Friendly. A win here would be a perfect way to warm up. 

Result:

1st: INDELIABLE 
2nd: AMPHIUS  

3rd: SWORD
4th: ENGLISH HARBOUR

Distances: Half a length, Three-quarters of a length, Half a length. 

5th: Fifty Nifty, 6th: Ajdayet, 7th: Parkland, 8th: Brindley, 9th: Mustaawid, 10th: Piloto Pardo, 11th: Midnight Missile.