A big week of racing continues in the United Kingdom with days two and three of the July Festival at Newmarket. Many of the heroines of Royal Ascot return to the track seeking more group stakes glory in the heart of UK horse country. The royal meeting itself may be over, but the older milers will return to Ascot on Saturday to contest another great field for the GII Summer Mile.
Entries close on Friday for the GI Prix Jean Prat in France, a race that showcased the dazzling performance of Ireland’s Two Year Champion, Pinatubo just one year ago. Down under, the main stakes season has come to an end as we gear up for the Melbourne Spring Carnival, as well as many top Group One races in Sydney. However, this weekend at Caulfield features a highly competitive rendition of the GIII Sir John Monash Stakes.
Great Britain
Newmarket – Friday
Race 3 – GII Duchess of Cambridge Stakes – 6 Furlongs, 2 YO Fillies
1 – Desert Stormer – Another start at Newmarket is a major plus, albeit on the July Course this time around. Just missed after splitting horses and making what looked to be the winning move in the Empress Fillies’ Stakes. It took a massive closing effort up the standside rail by System to deny her a first stakes victory. The Queen Mary Stakes was her first start of the season and it was a throwout effort. With course and distance being a benefit, 12/1 on the morning line seems to be very generous.
7 – Sadmah – This will be only her second start, but she is a very promising filly. Expect her to be even more of a factor as she gets older and as distance increases. Her closing effort on debut at Haydock explimified lots of maturity. She will get better in time, however with a little improvement from her maiden score, she’s a serious contender here.
8 – Sandrine – Closed well into a slower pace in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. She produced the first stakes win for american bred Bobby’s Kitten, who despite being raced throughout his career in the US, did ship over for one start in Ireland, winning over this distance in the Cork Sprint in Ireland. A talented filly, however I am not a fan going forward of the form around the Albany Stakes, so I’ll be taking some others on top.
Race 5 – GI Falmouth Stakes – 1 Mile, 3 & Up Fillies & Mares
6 – Alcohol Free – Showed up in a big way last time out at Royal Ascot. Sat between horses, behind a slow pace set by the german guineas winner in Novemba. Had little trouble closing into those slow fractions and did so on ground that she had never contested prior. Seemed to be on the wrong side of the track in the 1000 Guineas over course and distance. Only other effort at Newmarket was in victory over the Rowley Mile Course in one of England’s most prestigious two year old filly races, the Cheveley Park Stakes.
11 – Primo Bacio – Tough to find a horse with better form around them than Primo Bacio. Stepped up to the mile for the first time in listed company at York and it looked to be more than ideal for her. Was well settled throughout and stayed on impressively to win going away. In that start she defeated Creative Flair, a stakes winner over 10 furlongs next time out, as well as Snow Lantern, who impressed in the Coronation Stakes and is one of the favorites in this contest.
9 – Mother Earth – The 1000 Guineas winner has run two very strong races despite not finding the winner’s enclosure. With a lot of the hype surrounding the lightly raced Snow Lantern, Mother Earth just missed in holding her off for 2nd in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She is a top class filly and the ground will have a bit less moisture than her last two starts, which should help.
Newmarket – Saturday
Race 4 – GII Superlative Stakes – 7 Furlongs, 2 Year Olds
7 – Native Trail – The market jumped all over this Godolphin runner on debut and he didn’t disappoint, racing by the leaders in the straight to win going away. He had to be pushed early in the stretch to stay in focus but when jockey William Buick turned him out in the clear, he drew away decisively. This son of Oasis Dream will be stepping up into stakes company 2nd time out but showed that impressive turn of foot you love to see from a young horse looking to take a step forward.
1 – Austrian Theory – Showed a lot of talent on debut despite being very green in the stretch. Sat alongside the pacesetter early and those leaders stayed up front most of the way. He broke the maiden that day but had lots of trouble staying straight close to home. We will see if 2nd time out if he can continue to mature. With that being said, he was forced to fight to win that race and he did just that.
3 – Great Max – Finished strongly to pick up third in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. He stayed on very well and the breeding suggests that not only should that move up in distance be helpful, but longer distances could be in his future as he matures.
Race 6 – GI July Cup – 6 Furlongs, 3 & Up
14 – Dragon Symbol – Following a failed attempt in the courtroom to regain his triumph over Campanelle at Ascot, Dragon Symbol looks to move forward towards another shot at Group One glory. His effort at Royal Ascot was phenomenal and without the bumping in the stretch may have still had a chance to win the race. He will be the horse to beat in this field and possibly the duel favorite with King’s Stand and 2020 July Cup winner, Oxted.
18 – Supremacy – First up effort left a lot to be desired, but I am under the impression that he needed the start. The young progeny of Mehmas are flying at the moment and he was possibly the most talented of them all as a two year old. I don’t think there will be much of a question as to whether he improves second time out, the question will be whether he can improve up to group one company against older. The winner of a strong rendition of the GI Middle Park over course and distance last season, he is well worth the price.
17 – Rohaan – This young gelding just continues to improve and has been great value in every start this season. He did disappoint in his only career start at Newmarket, however the ground was not in his favor. His last few starts were presented with a bit of cut in the ground and it has made a major difference. The value won’t be the same as his last few starts, but it will still be worth the play.
Ascot – Saturday
Race 3 – GII Summer Mile – 1 Mile, 4 & Up
1 – Al Suhail – Back on the track for the first time this season in Europe after a somewhat disappointing run in Meydan. Placed in a talented GI Jebel Hatta behind Lord Glitters and then bottomed out in the GI Dubai Turf, being jammed between horses early and was geared down in the stretch while losing ground on the field. He’s had his hit or miss moments during his career, however getting back to UK soil will be a plus and has dealt with similar ground to what is expected when romping over the July Course last season in listed company.
9 – Tilsit – Love the move of dropping this horse back in distance to contest the mile after a gutsy effort in France. He was narrowly defeated by french star Skalleti in the GI Prix d’Ispahan and was still moving strongly on the line. Last time he raced on British soil, it came in a hotly contested Joel Stakes, falling to 2000 Guineas winner, Kameko, as well as the globe trotting star, Benbatl, who was admittedly not in his top form at the time but still very talented. Does enjoy a firmer surface so that could be a question mark here but the distance change is what really jumps out for this spot.
10 – Top Rank – First time jockey Luke Morris jumps aboard this horse since his debut win at Lingfield back in 2018. He has shown several instances of being competitive at the top level, including a nice 3rd in the GI Lockinge Stakes behind Palace Pier. Ran well in the Midsummer Stakes last time out, just couldn’t get to front running Century Dream.
Australia
Caulfield – Friday
Race 8 – Melbourne Racing Club (Caulfield) – GIII Sir John Monash Stakes – 5 1/4 Furlongs, Weight For Age
1 – Viridine – Has been battling it out in some of the top sprint races down in South Australia during the Adelaide Spring Carnival. Dropped back in distance after contesting group one company in the Goodwood and ran a respectable 3rd in listed company at Randwick. Has shown ability in Melbourne, winning the Regal Roller Stakes at the start of the season over 6 furlongs. Super consistent horse, should have a great chance to get back to his winning ways.
3 – Order Of Command – After a lackluster effort in group one company behind Nature Strip at Randwick, Order of Command went for a spell and came back here towards the end of the Australian racing calendar. This could be a nice prep run heading into the Melbourne Spring Carnival in a few months. Only made three starts in 2021, all in Sydney. However, his effort in the group one running of The Galaxy was amazing and would tower over this field. That was a ways away but on class he is at the top of the market.
10 – Malkovich – Most likely, jockey Jamie Kah will have already picked up her 100th Victorian Metro(City) winner prior to this race, however she has a great chance here with the potential pacesetter in Malkovich. He’s won his last two and steps back into stakes company, something that has not been kind to him in the past. Those jumps up in class have seen a finish no better than 8th, however two of them came in million dollar restricted races and the other came at Gosford over a completely bogged down surface.
Deauville – Sunday
GI Prix Jean Prat – 7 Furlongs, 3 & Up
8 – Battleground – One of the best recipes for the Coolmore team this season has been heading to France. With three classic wins this season, shipping Battleground to France could be perfect to get him back in his winning ways. He has put together several strong efforts behind leading 3 year old, Poetic Flare. Colin Keane stays in France for the ride, usually riding in Ireland but won the GI Grand Prix de Saint Cloud last weekend aboard Broome for the same connections.
4 – Erasmo – Never been out of the money in 7 career starts and produced a tough win in the GIII Prix Paul De Moussac, a usual prep for this feature event. One of three runners for the Godolphin team and is going in the best form of anyone in the field. He continues to take steps forward and has proven to be ready for this company.
1 – Fast Raaj – Could be really nice value here after finishing well back in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot. Gets back with his usual jockey in Gregory Benoist, as well as back to his favorite track of Deauville. An impressive winner of the Prix Djebel over course and distance, he will need to step up from his first group stakes win but has the ability to do so.
