The summer months always bring a number of quality imports (usually stayers) to our shores and the recent imports are nothing short of competitive heading into Autumn. I’ve taken a look at each of the runners through the Timeform ratings which I hold a large opinion of when measuring horses up to their potential in Australia. I hope you enjoy the read and find a few to follow forward.
Lindsay Park Stable (David Hayes/Tom Dab)
Poetic Dream – Timeform 116 rating
Probably the stables best pick-up in the ‘off-season’ and was an expensive purchase.
Germany import. Group 2 winner over 1600m in the 2000 Guineas at Cologne.
Inside draw suited on the day as you see by the video below, stuck to the inside, found trouble and just ground down a win with a good turn of foot the final 300m to pick up the leaders.
Rates to go straight into Group class here and may very well me just a miler stretching up to a Cox Plate distance in the Spring.
Fidaawy – Timeform 115 rating
Career peak run in September over the 2000m dropping back from 2400m where had recorded a previous career peak.
Best runs on dryer surfaces. Will slot right into listed/Group grade. How much further can he go upwards?
Ended the prep with a very disappointing last back to 1800m… one run too many?
Would need to see improvement in AUS to be competitive in G1 top level class
Jaameh – Timeform 104 rating
Another stayer for the stable. Best runs were back in June on good tracks.. should act fine on soft but doubtful on heavy.
Listed grade at best on current ratings.
Pioneertown – Timeform 93 rating
Strong staying type that acts on synthetic.
Gets 2400m but two runs on 2800 didn’t get it so likely 2000-2400m chance and most likely wants dry track.
Untapped potential
Read what Carl Di Iorio had to say about each Lindsay Park horse in the Winning Post.
Team Williams (Lloyd Williams – Liam Howley)
Orderofthegarter – Timeform 120 rating
Listed winner and Group 3 placed.
Best performance was at Ascot in the Hampton Court Stakes running 2nd to Benbatl beating Taj Mahal and Mirage Dancer on the day. That was at 2000m.
The horse went to Group 1 class over 2400m next start and was an absolutely luckless run the whole straight and had a load to give and potentially on my thoughts could have won with clear running – scored a 110+ only for the luckless run and looks a horse that will get over further ground.
To my eye, this horse is the REAL DEAL.
2017 Grand Prix de Paris
(Out the back in the Purple – no luck the whole way in straight and had loads more to give)
2017 Hampton Court Stakes
Venice Beach – Timeform 117 rating
Up to his very best last prep with a Group 1 3rd at St Cloud over 2400m behind Shakeel and Permian (same video as above) and then followed it up with a solid 2nd behind Cracksman in Group 1 class beating home nice types in Mirage Dance,r Douglas Macarthur and others.
Beaten 6 lengths but Cracksman is clearly top 2 stayer in the region so it’s no disgrace at all that distance.
Only attempt over 2900m failed to show much.
Douglas Macarthur – Timeform 116 rating
Group 3 winner on a good surface at Leopardstown over 2000m. Ran a career peak the next two starts when well beaten in Group 1 races at Epsom and the Curragh over 2400m (did beat home The Taj Mahal on the second occasion).
Failed to end last prep over the 2800m. Was competing in the best of the best Group 1 races so defeats were no knock and is only a 4YO with a load of potential to come.
Really think this horse will be suited by the style of racing in Australia with tempo on.
Homesman – Timeform 112 rating
Group 3 winner at the Curragh with Ryan Moore onboard. Went to Belmont to a Group 1 and ran a strong 3rd on the Firm track over the 2000m.
Well proven over 2400m and handles the Soft. One to improve.
Spanish Steps – Timeform 112 rating
Best runs were last start 5th in Group 3 and three back first in Group 3 company.
Still well below the levels needed to be placing or going close in a race like a Caulfield Cup, this 2400m runner looks the type that will get over further and is still only a 4YO with more scope to come.
Harrison – Timeform 111 rating
Stakes winner in May over the 2800m…. went up to Group 1 class over 4000m to end last prep and was never suited.
Untapped potential.
Exemplar – Timeform 111 rating
Finished in September with a top class rating in a Group 3 race when 2nd to Eziyra at Leopardstown.
Handles soft tracks well.
Wisconsin – Timeform 105 rating
Deep Impact Japanese type horse. Came onto the scene solidly but hasn’t raced since July with only 4 runs on the board.
Gelded since coming here.
Pour Vous – Timeform 88 rating
Not a lot to tell about this Stakes winner who broke his maiden at Chantilly on 28 July 2017.
Ratings don’t suggest he can do much over here, but never discount this stable!
Exposed Horses
Worth noting how these three Williams runners progressed Timeform rating wise when they came out to Australia
Taj Mahal last prep ran 119 and 119 Timeform Rating, both runs better than previous 117 best in UK.
Rekindling ran 123 Timeform rating to win the Melbourne Cup, up two from the Doncaster Group 1 unlucky run 4th for a 121 Timeform rating.
Johannes Vermeer ran to just 118 Timeform rating last start in the Melb Cup, down from 120+ in the Caulfield Cup and 122 the first up run at Caulfield. Looks the type to be suited by 2000-2400m this prep.
Read what Carl Di Iorio had to say about each Team Williams horse in the Winning Post.
Chris Waller Stable
Naval Warfare – Timeform 107 rating
1600m horse. Measured up to listed company at St Cloud but yet to record the win in grade. Certainly a solid chance to improve here and acts best on firm to soft. One of the stables better recent imports.
Brimham Rocks – Timeform 107 rating
Ended last prep in October with a career peak Handicap win with 105+ Timeform rating over the 2800m. Acts very well over 2400m+ and handles all surface conditions outside of a heavy it seems to far. Looks suited to Sydney racing conditions.
Opposition – Timeform 94 rating
Very strong numbers the past two starts with a 2nd and 4th back in October.
Looking for 2400-3200m on past runs but clearly has to find another level. 5YO Gelding already
Solo Mission – Timeform 91 rating
Untapped potential? Acts on soft to firm tracks over 2400-2800m. Still a 4YO and a load of progression to come.
See the Master – Timeform 91 rating
Handicap type of horse at the moment over 1600-2000m distances. Progressed well back in July through grades but needs to make the next step to be listed quality out here. Still has time.
Tansheet – Timeform 87 rating
Three runs this prep and while scoring a poor c5 stakes win, looks a project type and still very young and raw.
Raqeeq – Timeform 85 rating
Very hard horse to keep an eye on here. 85+ timeform rating in maiden win. Last prep over in France couldn’t find the previous preps forms and was well beaten on all occasions.
Read what Carl Di Iorio had to say about each Waller horse in the Winning Post.
Anthony Freedman
Ambitious – Timeform 119+ Rating
This horse is the real deal. Japanese import with a 119+ Timeform Rating.
Hasn’t won since a Group 2 win in April of 2016 but has run some good Group 1 and Group 2 races since. Last run June 2017 was 15/18 though over the 1600m. Horse gets up to 2000m at most and loves a firm track.
The 2016 Sankei Osaka Hai Group 2
Racing 2nd in run Orange cap Blue shirt
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Joshua Reynolds – Timeform 106 Rating
Breakout year for this horse that has progressed through the grades significantly finishing off the prep in November with a 2.5 length win on all-weather surface over 2800m. Out and out staying type that could progress onwards to Caulfield Cup level.
Looks a good buy to my eye.
Footman – Timeform 86 Rating
Lightly raced ‘project’ horse acting best over 2000m and up distances. Still a maiden and last five runs were all very similar ratings wise.
Certainly good enough to win a maiden over here, get the import and purchase fees back and win a few more races.
Mike Moroney
Meteor Light – Timeform 95+ rating
Lightly raced type. Measured up to handicaps last prep and has been off for 7 months between preps. Certainly has the potential to improve again and may very well be suited over here as has acted well on firm to soft tracks. Versatile type.
Real Gent – Timeform 90p rating
Only two runs ever. Won well on heavy last start over 1600m. Handles Good and heavy but best acting on wet. Timeform P for a reason.. potential improvement.
Whosyourhousemat – Timeform 89 rating
1600m type runner who has measured up in stakes grade in the past. Looks the type to slot into racing over here and be competitive at the ratings. No superstar though.
Hang Man – Timeform 85p rating
Another Timeform P runner. Beaten in an Ascot maiden but not far and the ratings are solid enough for a horse with a racing career ahead of it.
Mirimar – Timeform 81 rating
Continues to progress slowly through the grades. 2000-2400m stayer with limited ability to date. Might need to jump or be an out and out 3200m stayer?
Read what Carl Di Iorio had to say about each Moroney horse in the Winning Post.
