-
All times BST
2-year-olds take centre stage at Newmarket this weekend, with the Group 1 Middle Park and Cheveley Park Stakes, for colts and fillies respectively, sure to shake up the Classic markets.
We’ll come onto the latter later on, but we’ll start with the six furlong Middle Park (15:00) which should see unbeaten colt Inner City Blues go off as favourite. He made a nice winning debut two back and comfortably accounted for two rivals in a Group 2 last time out in early July. He’s not been seen since but retains significant potential. As does Royal Ascot winner Orthodox, who was the subject of a gamble that day before bombing out on soft ground in the Group 1 Prix Morny last time out – he could bounce back on better going here. Irish runner Push The Boat Out has also yet to taste defeat in two starts, while Aidan O’Brien fields Marco Polo, who’s getting to grips with things, and the thus far disappointing Confucius, who wears first-time blinkers in an attempt to unlock his latent ability.
There’s a similar theme in the earlier Royal Lodge Stakes (13:55), which sees another unbeaten Godolphin colt towards the head of the betting. First Law showed a really likeable attitude on bad ground when beating the reopposing Rocket Boy last time out and looks well drawn for his running style here. He faces another rival who is 2/2, with Burning Up looking to emulate owner-mate Bow Echo, who won this mile contest last year prior to winning the 2000 Guineas in May. Aidan O’Brien’s Haffner and First Law’s stablemate Quest For Stars also have claims, as does the promising Quicken Away.
The feature race on the card is the 27-runner Cambridgeshire (15:40), a handicap run over the straight 9 furlongs. This often goes to a future Stakes horse and Gavriel looks to fit the bill, with this improving and well-bred 3-year-old coming here off the back of a nice win that’s been franked. He represents the Gosden team, who are really hitting form now following an underwhelming season, and should run a bold race.
There’s also some excellent juvenile in Ireland on Saturday, with the Beresford Stakes (15:10) taking place at the Curragh. This race has thrown up the likes of Luxembourg, Japan and Hotazhell in recent years and should go the way of the exciting Noble Exhibit, who romped home at Punchestown last time out on his second start.
The same venue also hosts Group racing on Sunday, with the Darley Fillies Stakes (15:45) over seven furlongs for 2-year-olds and the Renaissance Stakes (14:35) over six furlongs for older horses. The latter race looks a match between Power Blue and Soul Love, while one of the unbeaten juveniles looks likely to enhance their reputation in the Fillies Stakes, with Curracloe favoured to get the job done over Value Pending – Curracloe looks a potential Juvenile Fillies type given her American pedigree.
Finally, Goliath looks to have an excellent chance of getting back to winning ways in the Group 1 Preis von Europa (15:07) at Cologne on Sunday. His main rival looks to be Dubai Honour, but that 8-year-old looks like he may have lost a step if his defeat at Listed level last time is any guide.
Race Of The Weekend
The aforementioned Cheveley Park Stakes (14:27, Newmarket, Saturday) takes the honours here having attracted a superb field replete with the best sprinting 2-year-old fillies. The mighty Sun Goddess, who won a Group 1 by 6.5 lengths last time out, heads the market and it testament to the depth of this field that you can get 13/8 about this superstar. She faces another superb filly in Senorita Bonita, who won a Group 1 by 4 lengths herself in a fast time when last seen, beating the boys in the process.
Libertango, who beat Sun Goddess at Royal Ascot before finishing runner up to Senorita Bonita next time out, also comes into the reckoning having won the Lowther impressively last time out, while the improving Alwaysanangel and Moonrise – who already has a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup booked – round out a top class field.
Horse To Watch
Ralph Beckett has had a quiet season by his standards but looks to have a nice filly on his hands in Rose Moon. This German-bred was a winner on debut and looks a potential future Oaks type with lots of improvement to come as she matures and moves up in trip. She’ll get some valuable experience of the idiosyncratic Epsom track here as she takes on colts in a Conditions Stakes (14:12) on Sunday – hopefully she can win here before making a mark in Stakes company.
