19 September 2018

It's Magic!

This Scat Daddy colt's impressive length-and-a-quarter victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Yarmouth yesterday caused quite a stir and has even prompted bookmakers to quote him for next year's Qipco 2000 Guineas. The Ed Vaughan-trained Magic J cost the owners some £730,000 as yearling so the £7,000 prize money was the beginning of a hopefully continuing payback time. Immediately after the six-furlong sprint Paddy Power and William Hill were offering 50/1 for the Phoenix Thoroughbred-owned two-year-old for the colts' Classic over a mile which is not until next May.

The Bear Facts

Ed Vaughan is back again at Yarmouth today, no doubt hoping for more of the same. He saddles Dancing Brave Bear in the EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies' Stakes at Yarmouth. This is the Street Cry filly's first appearance since Royal Ascot in June, a result best forgotten. Dancing Brave Bear had been on top form before then, winning her first two career starts on the all-weather at Lingfield and Chelmsford and looked promising on her turf debut when runner-up to Give And Take in the Musidora Stakes at York in May. The Newmarket trainer is, therefore, hopeful that she will get back to her best form when tackling this ten-furlong Listed contest in the hands of Ryan Moore.

No time for sleeping!

This Rip Van Winkle four-year-old used to be trained by Michael Bell and produced some solid performances but hasn't had a win since July 2017. Winston C has since been transferred to Harry Fry's stables in Seaborough. The Mr Charles Wentworth-owned two-time winner also had a gelding operation last October so it will be his first start for almost a year when he lines up in today's Eppleworth Handicap at Beverley. Interestingly, this will be the first time the Dorset-based Harry Fry has had an entry at Beverley, said so a couple of question marks hover over the possible outcome.