Overpriced Mixer Profile

Written on 1 May 2020

Overpriced Mixer was purchased by Owners Group at Tattersalls' Horses In Training sale in October 2019 as he looked a real athlete, and we felt if we waited for him to continue his progress through 2020, he would soon become out of our price range. He had won his final two races in 2019 for previous trainer, Jamie Osborne, and looked to be an exciting recruit both for racing on the Flat and over hurdles. Let's take a look through his form and his pedigree, which reveal he could be a really promising horse for the future.

Starting with Overpriced Mixer's pedigree, he is out of the 14-year-old Chincoteague, who was placed in five of her eleven races for Brian Meehan. She was consistent, but of limited ability, showing her best form over 1m4f+ on fast ground and the all-weather. Chincoteague was by top Godolphin Group 1 performer Daylami, and is a half-sister to two very decent horses; Indian Creek, who was trained by David Elsworth to win at Group 2 and 3 level (and also stood as a stallion), and Desert Dew, who was owned by Sheikh Mohammed and was Group-placed for trainer Barry Hills.

In addition to Overpriced Mixer, Chincoteague has bred two other foals who have won. Her oldest progeny is Maftoon, who is by Dark Angel and was trained by Richard Hannon Junior to win two races. He won as a two-year-old, over 1m1f at Nottingham, and followed up the next season when winning on the all-weather from a mark of 80, proving his class. Her other winner was less of a force, as she ended her career rated 54; Trick Shot Jenny (by Acclamation) won a handicap at Newcastle a over mile in her seven-race career, but was unsighted in all six other races, hence her Newcastle starting price of 33/1.

Overpriced Mixer is by Harbour Watch, who won all three of his races as a two-year-old for Richard Hannon Senior in 2011. After winning his maiden at Salisbury in June, he progressed to win a conditions race at Newmarket, before landing the Group 2 Richmond Stakes in July in taking fashion.

When winning the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, Harbour Watch defeated the useful multiple Group winner, Caspar Netscher, but sadly never ran again due to injury. Harbour Watch retired to Tweenhills Stud in 2013 and stood for five seasons for a fee of around £6,000, but was retired in 2017 after suffering from arthritis in his joints, relating to the injury that curtailed his career. Harbour Watch's best progeny include Waikuku (£2.5m total prize earnings), who has won a Group 1 race in Hong Kong, as well as Group 2 winner Tis Marvellous, the ill-fated Santry, who chased home Sioux Nation in the 2017 Norfolk Stakes, and decent handicapper What's The Story.

Returning to Overpriced Mixer, he made his debut on turf at Lingfield on 30 May 2019 and ran very respectably. He finished seventh of 13, but ran on well from an unpromising position, offering much hope for the future. It was not a great race (the winner, Calippo, progressed to win a seller at Leicester later in the season), but Overpriced Mixer improved tremendously for the experience to finish second in his next race. He next lined up at Chepstow on 2 July in a 7f maiden and pushed the winner, Dramatic Sands, all the way to the line. Overpriced Mixer defied inexperience on this very undulating course to share the lead inside the final furlong with Dramatic Sands, who put his extra race experience (behind top juvenile Pinatubo in a Listed race, no less) to good use. Overpriced Mixer was sympathetically ridden by Nicola Currie on this occasion, so it was fitting that she was reunited with him for his final win of the season, in October.

Dramatic Sands progressed to win a Kempton nursery handicap later in the season, and was a consistent juvenile for the powerful Archie Watson team. Overpriced Mixer was already starting to show a really attractive trait, that if his jockey keeps pushing him, he keeps finding more off the bridle. In his next race, at Kempton on 20 August, Overpriced Mixer sat in second place and travelled well off a strong pace. He looked much better balanced around the home bend, and travelled strongly into the straight, which is essential at Kempton. He led with a furlong to run, but was headed in the shadow of the post by the winner, Bronze River. That horse later progressed to win another novice race later in the season, when carrying a penalty at Chelmsford in the autumn. He ended the season rated 82, suggesting he is pretty useful.

Ten days later, Overpriced Mixer ran over a mile at Thirsk and made all the running to win a novice race. He kept on really well once again and found plenty off the bridle, which was essential, as he was pushed all the way to the line. The runner-up, Strawman, won his next race to promptly frank the form. The third-placed Urban Hero also won later in the season, showing how far Overpriced Mixer progressed through 2019.

In his final race of the year, Overpriced Mixer avenged his previous Kempton defeat by winning there on 1 October. This was another novice event, meaning Overpriced Mixer was forced to carry a 7lb penalty (for winning at Thirsk), yet this did not stop him. Once again, he made all the running and, despite looking vulnerable at both the two-furlong and one-furlong markers, he fought off all challengers to win convincingly. The runner-up, Lyricist Voice, progressed to win a similar contest at Newcastle later in the season, making the form look strong again. What was most impressive about Overpriced Mixer is that he coped with the drop back to 7f with no problems, although he was able to make use of his stamina by dictating the pace from the front.

There are several positives to take from Overpriced Mixer's form so far; he seems to be improving with every run, as his form takes a leap forward with each outing. He also travelled well in each race without being too keen, and was genuine enough to make the running. He also looks a well balanced individual, who is effective both on turf and the all-weather. His action suggests that he will cope with a little cut in the ground, which could be helpful for when he hopefully starts running over hurdles.

Looking ahead, he is eligible for 0-80 handicaps on the Flat, where we think mile-plus races will probably suit him best, on good ground or the all-weather. Overpriced Mixer will be eligible for juvenile hurdle races (only open to three-year-olds before the New Year, and four-year-olds after the New Year) until the end of the coming Jumps season (April 2021), but will also be entitled to run in most all-aged novice hurdles.

His new trainer, Nicky Henderson, has an incredible record with juvenile hurdlers, having won the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Pentland Hills, Peace And Co and Soldatino in the past ten years. Nicky is one of the greatest trainers in Jump racing history, having been champion trainer six times, as well as winning every big race, except the Grand National. Nicky has also trained winners at the country's biggest Flat meeting, as both Caracciola and Veiled have won at Royal Ascot. Caracciola also won one of the nation's toughest handicaps, the 2m2f Cesarewitch Handicap, run at Newmarket each October.

Overpriced Mixer spent time resting at EquiPrep after his purchase last October, before progressing to Jane Allison's pre-training yard to begin some canter work. He will move into very safe hands when he arrives at Nicky's historic Seven Barrows Stables in Lambourn, once his fitness and stamina has improved, all being well. Nicky often sends young horses who have come from racing on the Flat to guru Henrietta Knight for some loose jumping practice (jumping without a rider, in an enclosed arena), just as he did with Pentland Hills. This is a great grounding for young horses, as they learn to improve their jumping technique without interference from a rider, which can help when they later progress to racing over obstacles.

Former leading Jumps trainer Henrietta Knight trained Best Mate to win three Gold Cups, with late husband Terry Biddlecombe, as well as top two-miler, Edredon Bleu. Henrietta takes many horses into her yard for short periods to help with their jumping, either at the start of their careers or if they have jumping issues that require some refinement. She has also been in the headlines recently for buying some valuable Irish point-to-pointers for various clients.

We look forward to Overpriced Mixer moving to join Nicky in the next month or so, all being well, and hearing what the current champion trainer thinks of him. We think Overpriced Mixer has potential both on the Flat, where some improvement may remain in handicaps, as well as over hurdles. Either way, there is plenty to look forward to once horseracing returns to our nation's courses, hopefully in the next month. In the meantime, we hope you, your family and friends remain safe at this testing time.