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21 Jun 2023

Kevin Philippart de Foy in Winning Form

As an avid follower of horse racing I scan the race card on a daily basis. Then I stop at an unfamiliar name. 

Kevin Phillippart de Foy. 

It was April, an early two-year-old race. Pokhara, ridden by Daniel Muscutt. A bay filly, a daughter of The Gurkha, in the ownership of the Run Away Racing Himalayan Syndicate. 

They sound my kind of people!

This £15,000 yearling purchase, out of an unraced dam made her debut at Yarmouth, a 20/1 shot finishing fifth of five. 

Another trainer with high hopes and limited ammunition? 

Based at Machell Place, Newmarket, Suffolk, it would have been easy to say: ''Here today, gone tomorrow.''

However, this exceptional young trainer could well be one of those few handlers which hits the jackpot

My specialist niche is two-year-old horse racing and I follow each and every season like a black taxi cab driver revises the knowledge. 

I've been very impressed with Kevin Philippart de Foy's formative season. In fact, as a rookie trainer he reminds me very much of Archie Watson when he made an impact in 2016. 

At the time of writing (21/07/2021) he has sent out just 10 two-year-old horses. For any trainer winners are hard to find. Having the talent to ready a debutante really takes a lot of skill. It's the reason most established trainers have so few horses hitting the frame when making their racecourse bow let alone winning in style. 

Taking a quick glance at the juveniles he has raced so far for the 2021 season:

Two-year-olds: Winners underlined

April: 

Pokhara 5th 

Smooth Talking 3rd 

June: 

Rock Melody 1st 

Giewont 8th 

Mehmentum 3rd 

Bailysgutfeeling 4th 

July: 

New Pursuit 1st 

Unexpected Arrival 5th 

Scot's Grace 1st 

Pearl Glory 1st 

I will update his results until the end of the turf season. 

Comments: That's a 40% win strike rate with his debutantes. From experience, any two-year-old that wins on debut is often good enough to dip its toe into pattern class. That was seen with Rock Melody who thrashed his rivals on debut at Redcar. The 16/1 shot stormed clear by over three-lengths winning comfortably. 

I bet against this filly and cursing: ''Who is this bloke!'' 

This is what the Racing Post had to say: ''Raced freely, held up in behind leaders, headway going easily two out, ridden to lead 1f out, soon edged right, went clear inside final furlong, easily.'' 

She contested the Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race) at Newmarket over 6f on good to firm going (20th June, 2021) finishing a respectable 10th, beaten just over five lengths. 

Make no mistake, you will be hearing a lot about Kevin Philippart de Foy this season let alone years to come. 

Take note of his other debut winners: 

New Pursuit 

Impressive when winning well on debut at Epsom by over two-lengths. This son of New Bay, a steal at 30,000g as a yearling. In the ownership of Run Away Racing Quest Syndicate. 

Scot's Grace

This daughter of Mehmas literally flew home when making her debut at Kempton. In the ownership of Bernard Havern, bred by Tally-Ho Stud, this bay filly was picked up for pocket money at the Tattersalls Ire Goresbridge Breeze Up @ Nmkt for £15,000. A four-and-a-quarter length victory, Scot's Grace stamped herself as a live chance for Group race success.

Pearl Glory

I was impressed and disappointed when this daughter of Cotia Glory won on debut. You've guessed it, I bet on the horse that finished second [Outside World, trained by Mark Johnston]. This bay filly won by a nose, after having traffic problems. Another inspired breeze-up purchase by this young trainer for just £12,000, from vendor Hyde Park Stud. She was purchased on the 3rd June and bringing home the bacon on the 14th July. Make no mistake this was a victory worth noting because the form of this debut effort will be proven to be high class. 

Kevin Philippart de Foy has achieved in 10 two-year-old debutantes what many established trainers have failed to do in a decade. 

Good luck for the future. 

You most certainly don't need it.