Majoris was something of a talking horse on debut, being one of Frankel's first crop, following a string of winners. Hugo Palmer seemed quick to detail that this bay colt would need a stiffer test of stamina with a feeling he was keen to express this February foal wouldn't taste victory at Haydock. Majoris wasn't best away from the stalls and playing catch up thereafter but to be fair to him he ran on with purpose. This extra furlong will suit and with plenty of time on the sidelines should go well.
Mutahaady was well backed on debut over 5f at Bath. This son of Elzaam started 5-4 favourite but a tardy start and then outpaced suggested this bay colt needed a trip. That was a strange race with the leaders going a stride too fast and Berkshire Boy, trained by Andrew Balding, ran on to win, who looked even more at sea than Hannon's charge. Mutahaady made progress in the closing stages and with another furlong would have looked a very different horse and gone close to winning. He was purchase for 120,00G by Peter & Ross Doyle and I'm pretty sure Hamdan Al Maktoum will be expecting much more today. An interesting horse who is clearly capable of much better and has to be appreciated.
William Knight is a trainer who often slips under the radar but a talent. In general, his juveniles need the run and those who win at the first time of asking are often pattern class performers. Eolian ran well on debut behind his winning stablemate Jackhammer, who could turn out to be a decent prospect. Eolian is a son of Poet's Cove who cost 45,000G at the yearling sales. He made his debut at Salisbury on soft ground and took a good while to warm up before running on with a purpose in the closing stages to finish 5th beaten some five lengths. The stable have respectable win and place claims with juveniles priced 13/2 & less SP second start.
In stark contrast to Eolian, Crucial Moment led and set a good pace only tiring in the closing stages where he was pipped by the above mentioned. This bay colt stuck in my mind because he was fancied to go well on debut in the Brocklesby Stakes. Bill Turner spoke of this son of Pivotal suggesting a stiffer test was needed and that this 40,000G purchase was one of the most expensive horses he had trained for Eric Brook. Crucial Moment looked weak and leggy that day and struggled to go the early pace and left standing by his peers. Clearly, Turner had made a mistake running this youngster over the minimum trip because there is no way this colt is a sprinter. He started at odds of 66/1 that day and if the going had not been so testing he would have made a fist of things and gone close to winning. The fact that Crucial Moment was beaten by Eolian will increase the odds markedly and this better going will be to his advantage. I can see this colt being sent to the front and trading much shorter odds in running. May be worth a small each-way bet.
Racemaker is a progressive horse who could well appreciate this step up in distance and respected.
Conclusion: Interesting race. A few of these are likely to improve for their debut efforts and Majoris and Mutahaady will enjoy this extra yardage. In truth, this isn't the easiest race to assess because all mentioned have live chances. Crucial Moment may struggle to win but not beyond the realms to hold fair each-way claims. I feel this colt will be sent to the front and will touch much shorter odds in running. Could be the making of a decent no-lose bet if you bet via the exchanges.