At The Races

Jamie Osborne Stable Tour
18 Mar 2008

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Jamie Osborne has been a particularly good friend to this site over the past few years. His comments are always considered and his honesty about the ability of his horses, particularly two-year-olds in the early stages of the season are valuable.

Last year he saddled 29 juvenile winners from 175 runners - a 17 per cent strike rate - and there were 28 three-year-old winners among the total of 61 that he trained.

Osborne's Upper Lambourn yard is a trading one and many of last year's inmates have gone and although he has sent out 10 winners from January until the third week of March it is unlikely many of those will continue for very long into 2008.

He explained: "Nearly all of those that have run this season are likely to be sold abroad and it is pointless me including horses in this tour that I don't think will win.

"For that reason I have included several older horses, like Geordieland who will have a different campaign this season in an attempt to get him back on track.

"The other smart older handicappers like Docofthebay and Enjoy The Moment are going to be interesting and I have only included what I consider the best of last year's two-year-olds that remain - most have been sold.

"Mine is a predominately two-year-old yard and for that reason I have spoken about those I think are capable of winning up to Royal Ascot. They are all up to winning, although you must remember that mine are never fully wound up first time - however, that often doesn't stop them. I'm going to talk about nine and I think they will all win

"It would be a good idea if you came back again in July."

We will, in the meantime here is the trainer's early pick of his team.

Older horses.

DOCOFTHEBAY
4 ch g Docksider - Baize.
Mile handicapper that did not stop improving all season despite looking less than straightforward at times when tending to hang. Won at Thirsk in May off 78 and won two handicaps in July and August - the second a very competitive seven furlong event at Goodwood by half a length from Vitznau off 89. Didn't win in four subsequent outings - three in top class handicaps and the final one of those when a length second to Pipedreamer off 98 in the Cambridgeshire. Possibly over the top final start and first in Group company when just over six lengths sixth of 13 to Windsor Knot over nine furlongs at Newmarket. Might well have the ability to win at Pattern level.
"I thought he was well-handicapped going into last season and I thought his best performance was when he won at Goodwood in August but he's now 104 and got to improve again and if not he's in a difficult zone. I do think we've got some flexibility on trip because the Goodwood race when he beat Vitznau was seven and he stayed nine furlongs when he was second in the Cambridgeshire and it possible he might get a mile and a quarter. His race might be the Royal Hunt Cup but his mark at the moment looks tight. Better on fast ground and he'll never be totally straight forward. I haven't been in any rush with him. He is definitely Listed class at the moment and ready around May."

ENJOY THE MOMENT
5 b g Generous - Denial.
Dour stayer who won the 22 furlong Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot last year - got a poor run in the Ascot Stakes five days earlier. That success was off career high 92 having run a close third in the Chester Cup off 89. Finds two and a quarter miles barley far enough so is a logical choice for a repeat in the Ascot marathon where rating of 99 will be of little concern.
"His main job is the Queen Alexandra again, the longest race in the calendar - and he needs it. A specialist horse for a specialist race. I wouldn't expect to see him winning before he runs in that because the programme doesn't make it easy for him. I might put him in the Chester Cup again but I'd find it hard to see him have a winning chance off 99 and I don't want to kill him. After Ascot there'd be nothing against running him in the Cadran at Longchamp."

GEORDIELAND
7 gr h Johann Quatz - Aerdee.
Talented but tricky stayer, winnerless in ten attempts since joining present stable from France in August 2006 rated 108. Good efforts in defeat and second six times, most notably when career-best length and a half second to Yeats in 2007 Ascot Gold Cup. Rated 114 after that but never up to that standard when second final two starts. Broke blood vessel when tailed off in 2006 Melbourne Cup.
"We are going to do things slightly differently this year and make the Yorkshire Cup his first race in mid May whereas it was his third last season. Then it will be straight to Ascot for the Gold Cup in which he ran the race of his life. With regard to him being called ungenuine I think he gives you the best he's got when he's travelling well and that's it. Needs a good gallop then fast ground helps him. The times when he doesn't relax in the first half of a race are when he has problems. He gets no penalties because he hasn't won for a long time and there would be conditions races for him but I want him to be running for 100,000 grand each time he runs. This will be his last season and it would be nice to think he could win a group two, at least, before he goes."

TEARS OF A CLOWN
5 b g Galileo - Mood Swings.
Lightly raced with just seven career starts, winning two, most recent in ten furlong handicap at Ascot in July by a neck from Familiar Territory off 85. Beaten off 90 and back to 89 when just over two lengths third of nine to King Charles at Ascot in September and stays on that mark.
"He's one that wasn't moved on and he would have the chance of winning a valuable handicap and unlike the majority of my horses, he has a preference for getting his toe in. I made the mistake of running him in the Old Newton Cup on firm when he was nearly favourite and it was the wrong thing to do. I don't know the ideal trip but I'll have to have a good crack at 12 furlongs. He'd be ready in May but he is ground dependent."

Three-year-olds.

DANDY ERIN
B c Danehill Dancer - Sanctuary Line.
Progressive in three runs towards the end of last year, winning third start in nine furlong Wolverhampton maiden by a length and three quarters from Heritage Coast. Debut mark of 81 looks exploitable.
"This is a nice horse and 81 is fine as a stepping off point. Although he's over a different trip to Docofthebay he could be that kind of horse this year. He's be mile and quarter to a mile and a half but I could see him going on all year. He'll go on anything."

DRAWNFROMTHEPAST
Ch c Tagula - Ball Cat.
Improved on debut sixth at Ascot in May when easily winning at Brighton following month. Beat subsequent Nunthorpe winner Kingsgate Native a head in Listed Windsor Castle over five furlongs at Royal Ascot. Disappointing next two outings over six, final one when six lengths fourteenth of 20 to Dark Angel in valuable sales race at Doncaster. Mark of 106 means he has to up his game in group company but has room for improvement.
"He was carrying a little injury when he was running in his last two races and we had to stop. He's absolutely fine now but I'm in a similar position with him as I am with two others that we'll be talking about, Group Therapy and Dubai Princess. They are all around 100 and I'm hoping that Drawnfromthepast will be better at six than the five furlongs that will suit Group Therapy. This is a very good horse and his form with Kingsgate Native looks smart. It's possible, though, that he could run to 110 and not win a race because the programme is not easy. He won't be over raced and he's better when it's quick. One thing is certain, he's developed into a strong horse."

DUBAI PRINCESS
B f Dubai Destination - Blue Iris.
Well-regarded at this time last year and an easy winner on Lingfield debut in March. Off track after only subsequent outing when fourth in Listed race at York and came back to win modest event at Folkestone in September. Good efforts final two starts, latest when length second of 12 to Spinning Lucy in six furlong Listed race at Newmarket in November. Rating of 99 won't make things easy but no Listed penalty.
"She's got the advantage of going into fillies only races and there's a conditions five furlong sprint for her quite early at Bath which should suit well and take the gas out of her. But she's shown she stays six and I do think this is a pretty good filly. Fast ground is what she needs.

GROUP THERAPY
Ch c Choisir - Licence To Thrill.
Confirmed debut promise at Bath when sixth and won next two at Nottingham and Thirsk, beating New Jersey five lengths in the last, May 5. Short head second only subsequent outing at Windsor later that month. Rating of 101 makes handicaps look tricky.
"He is a very good horse that has developed into a good looking three-year-old - very quick and broke the juvenile track record at Thirsk on the bridle. When he was beaten at Windsor next time they had over watered and it didn't suit him - I shouldn't have run. Needs real fast ground. He split a hind pastern which has been fixed but I think he is an out and out five furlong horse and he could be one of the fastest things you've seen and while he looked strong last year he'd won two races before it was his second birthday so he's going to improve

Two-year-olds.

BLOWN IT
B c More Than Ready - Short Shadow
Unraced
"I could run him in the first week of the season but I'm not going to although I was tempted to enter for the Brocklesby at Doncaster. I don't see any point in running a two-year-old if I don't think it can win - although they aren't all going to - and the Brocklesby is very competitive and carries a hefty enough penalty. I'll more than likely run him in a maiden auction. He does have bags of speed, is very hard already and I could run him a lot but I do think he's a chance of being Ascot class so I want to give him a chance."

CHEAP THRILLS
Ch f Bertolini - Licence To Thrill.
Unraced
"Half sister to Group Therapy and looks like a colt, big, butch filly with tremendous pace that you would hope she would have with her pedigree. I really do hope that she is the real deal. The plan is maiden towards the end of April then the Marygate Stakes at York and hopefully into Ascot."

HANDCUFF
B c Lend A Hand - Peruvian Jade.
Unraced
"He's fast and forward and I could use him as my first runner because he's a tough little bastard that I like. He'd be a very good guide and if he won ok then it would be a very good sign for the rest of the two-year-olds."

LIGHTENING LINDA
B f Grand Slam - Easabeau Fille.
Unraced
"Very quick and there is a maiden fillies race at Warwick on Easter Monday. Will certainly know what to do early in the season when speed is so important."

MENERO
B c Milkom - Discoed
Unraced
"He's a three-parts brother to Milk It Mick who was a freak and I didn't expect to see another one but I'd say this one is pretty smart. He is as good as Mick at the same stage and he'll be out relatively early, mid-April, but he'd want very fast ground, floating action. One run at five then six furlongs and later seven. I'd like to keep him relaxed and there is a chance he might be a Chesham horse."

ROYAL ADELAIDE
B f Redback - Ball Cat
Unraced
"Drawnformthepast's sister and a better specimen than he was at this stage and looks pretty smart on the work she's done. Potentially as good but he did win the Windsor Castle and I'm not saying she'll do something like that. Won't think about running her until the end of April, early May."

SPIRITUAL HEALING
B f Invincible Spirit - Tarbela.
Unraced
"This filly has all the hallmarks of being a fast product of a very good sire. Very strong and forward physically but a little behind in her coat but I'm not worried about that because she's working so well and is laid back, bags and bags of speed. I'm hoping she's Ascot standard and I'll see how she takes her work until the end of March. I might still run her even though she's a bit hairy. I think she'll get six."

SUB PRIME
B c Danetime - Primo Supremo.
Unraced
"I am very pleased with the naming of this colt. Not only has he got a good name, he is pretty useful and quick and is in the catchment of first wave runners. He didn't go through the ring and because his sire's median is high I might have to send him to the Rosebery meeting at Kempton for the race that Fat Boy won last year."

THE DIAL HOUSE
B c Tagula - Marliana.
Unraced
"He's a strange horse because I've gone back through his pedigree to make sure I'm not mad because his dam's by Mtoto and I wouldn't expect him to have the speed that he has. Looks a bit like a jumping store horse, big and coarse, but strong as an ox and very, very fast. If I didn't have my clocking system that has evolved over the years to compare what two-year-olds can do I'd be very worried that I'd got a crap bunch of two-year-olds. But this horse is doing all the right times. I'd hope this is a proper horse because physically he shouldn't be doing what he's doing and he certainly shouldn't be doing it on pedigree. It's possible he could be my first two-year-old runner, possibly in a median auction at Leicester. He wants decent ground so if we had a wet period I'd run some on sand but the better ones I would want to get grass experience so I'll be patient. I don't want them to carry a penalty the first time they're on turf."

The knowledge
This is quite straightforward. Just monitor carefully all the eight two-year-olds mentioned. The trainer has been extremely open with his opinions.
It is significant that the only relatively unexposed three-year-old considered worthy of mention is handicap debutant DANDY ERIN