2.30 Royal Ascot (Day 3, Race 1)
Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2YO only)
Winner £42,532
Advice: 1 pt win Reckless Abandon (6/1 general), 1 pt win
Mister Marc (7/1 general)
Ahern: Bred to be precious (He is the sixth winner out of
Petra Nova) and overcame his inexperience on Saturday to make a winning debut
for David Barron in juvenile conditions race at Musselburgh, beating 4 other
winners; Runner up was seventh in Queen Mary yesterday so form looks OK and
must be respected. 
Annunciation: Drew clear with subsequent Listed winner
Euxton Hall on debut and fancied to win at Doncaster next time but had no answer
towards Reckless Abandon’s late charge; Won easily at Windsor last time out and
Hughes’s choice but hard to rate superior to his conqueror and others preferred.
Cay Verde: Made a reasonable debut at Newbury when fifth to
Englishman (disappointed in Coventry but form still good for level) and clearly
improved when easily beating Windsor Castle winner here next time; Followed
that up with taking Listed win when never really asked to do more than he had
to do; Clearly got big chance here. 
Complicator: Showed signs of promise when fourth in York
maiden (took a keen hold early and was held up in race where the first three
were all prominent or had led at some point during the race) but thi a totally
different ball game and very hard to see him getting involved today. 
Gale Force Ten: Never got a blow in on debut at Dundalk but
as so many of his stable do, he improved enough to win next time out; Runner up
showed in Coventry that he’s a good yardstick 
Ian’s Dream: Backed like a good horse and showed promise on
Haydock debut, running around in behind before making late progress into
second; Sure to win his races but this a steep step up so soon.
Jubilee Brig: No shame in being beaten by subsequent listed
winner Celing Kitty on debut and just a neck himself behind Bungleinthejungle
(won twice after being well behind Englishman at Newbury); Landed the odds in
mandatory style last time out but still needs a massive step forward.
Mister Marc: Got the better of next time out winner with
lots in hand at Goodwood on debut and then sent to Ireland for Listed event,
where he travelled like a good horse, giving Coventry winter Down Approached
plenty to think about; Drops back in trip today and not the typical winner of
this race but has to be given consideration anyway regardless. 
Morawij: Supported into favourite for Haydock debut
(produced two subsequent winners) when he got up showing marked greenness; Tons
of scope
Ocean Applause: Seemed as if he’d take more than one run to
get to peak when always behind on recent Newmarket and while he was fourth
behind Sir Prancelot in National Stakes at Sandown, surely flattered. 
Reckless Abandon: Very green early when making an impressive
winning debut at Doncaster (beat Annunciation with plenty in hand) despite
drifting wide late on; Way he raced on his own suggest more to come for
maturity and sure to take a hand if coming on from that and should be high on
anyone’s shortlist. 
Storm Moon: Won both starts in taking style, with 4 winners
behind him in Musselbrugh maiden before then romping home with Southwell AW
maiden; Disappointed in National Stakes when batting his stablemate early for
the lead but likely better than that; Trainer’s
superb record entitles him to respect but this a far tougher task.
VERDICT: A fiercely competitive renewal. The Pearl
Bloodstock duo of Cay Verde and Ahern are both entitled to significant respect,
but there was something extremely impressive about the way RECKLESS ABANDON went
about winning his race at Doncaster (when he beat Annunciation with absolute
ease), and if staying straight he should take the beating based on that form.
It might not hurt to give serious consideration towards MISTER MARC as a
backup. He may have been beaten last time out but it didn’t stop Approve two
years ago and he gave Dawn Approach a real race when second to him as Naas. Storm
Moon’s probably better than what he’s shown so far but this is a yet tougher
task for him, while Morwji is an interesting and scopey sort.
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