Tweenhills Stallions: Horses To Watch

Racing analyst Adam Brookes selects one racehorse by each of our stallions (with runners in Britain and Ireland) that he’s looking forward to seeing again when racing returns…

Charm Spirit – GODHEAD (ex Hello Glory, by Zamindar)

Godhead – bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud And Mrs M. E. Slade – only made his debut in November, but the now four-year-old made big strides in three starts in three months, winning again in February, and he remains one to keep firmly on side.

I spent six years working for Timeform so was interested to learn they rated Godhead 101p after his most recent success in a Kempton novice. Granted that race was essentially a match but Godhead did give 7 lb and a comfortable beating to a promising colt in his own right and an opening BHA mark of 87 for John Gosden’s charge looks lenient. Interestingly, Godhead’s dam was Timeform-rated 96 at her peak.

Godhead’s owners Martin Hughes and Michael Kerr-Dineen don’t have one but two highly promising sons of Charm Spirit to look forward to as Ouzo won three handicaps in 2019 and is also Timeform-rated 101.

Havana Gold – MAWAKIB (ex Keladora, by Crafty Prospector)

While the likes of Tabdeed, Hariboux (in North America) and Alkaamel (in Dubai) are all potential Stakes winners for Havana Gold, I’m going to focus on one who is not quite at their level yet but could go off a bigger price than he should on his return after an end-of-season blip.

Mawakib was last of 10 when last seen at Kempton in September but he didn’t get any cover stepped up to a mile, and it also shouldn’t be forgotten that just two weeks earlier he’d been withdrawn at the same track after bolting before the start. That seemed out of character for Mawakib who had been progressive up to that point, winning twice and furnishing placed in strong three-year-old handicaps at Newmarket and Chester.

He’s in excellent hands with Roger Varian and I fancy him to regain the progressive thread when he returns. Mawakib is out of a Stakes-placed mare and was bred by Mrs J. E. Laws.

Hot Streak – BETWEEN HILLS (ex Breedj, by Acclamation)

Hot Streak had Listed winner Flaming Princess among his first crop of two-year-olds last year and I think he has another daughter who can also land a Stakes success: Between Hills.

After an eye-catching debut and then winning her maiden at Listowel in June, she was put straight into Group company in the Gr.3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh in July. There are three things significant about that performance, where she finished a close fourth to Roman Turbo: that she was the sole runner from the Jessie Harrington stable that had a wealth of talent amongst it’s juvenile fillies; that she was allowed by her trainer to take on colts; and that she travelled like she was very comfortable in that company for most of the way.

Between Hills was bred by Mrs Brid Cosgrove.