Katie Midwinter (12/10/23)
An exciting card featuring the Group One Dewhurst Stakes (2:00pm) is hosted by Newmarket on Saturday. Nijinsky, Mill Reef and The Minstrel are some of many exceptional colts who have reigned victorious in Newmarket’s prestigious juvenile race in their debut seasons, before going on to record Classic glory. This year, the latest crop of two-year-old colts will put their credentials on the line and attempt to prove their superiority over the rest of their generation’s stars.
The Dewhurst is a race won by champions and future champion sires. The incomparable Frankel extended his unbeaten run to ensure an unblemished juvenile campaign and acquire his first of ten Group One honours when victorious in 2010. The likes of Shamardal, Teofilo, New Approach and Churchill, have all been successful in the race during this century and have gone on to produce top level performers.
Aidan O’Brien bids for a record-equalling eighth success in the race. His first victory came in 2001, when Rock Of Gibraltar claimed the plaudits, and many Ballydoyle stars have won since, most recently St Mark’s Basilica in 2020. The Siyouni colt, the best two-year-old of the season in 2020 according to the ratings in the official European classification, went on to win another four Group One contests, including the Prix du Jockey Club, the Eclipse and the Irish Champions Stakes.
CITY OF TROY is the leading hope for the yard this year, and is expected to make it a third successive victory to extend his unbeaten run and retain the aura of invincibility that surrounds him. The softer ground is less than ideal, but he has winning form on good to soft and should be superior to his rivals regardless.
Iberian, a Group Two winner when last seen, excelled in soft ground at Doncaster but was previously beaten by Haatem at Goodwood, suggesting he has to improve plenty to match the level shown by the favourite.
Group Three winner Alyanaabi had previously finished fourth in a Listed contest at Ascot behind Rosallion, Al Musmak and Ancient Wisdom, the form of which has been franked, most notably by the winner who subsequently won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp.
Supplemented Array and the aforementioned Haatem could both represent each-way value at big prices, with the former proven in testing conditions and the latter with form ahead of second favourite, Iberian.
The rest of the card:
1:35pm – Autumn Stakes (Group 3)
Ancient Wisdom – Charlie Appleby, William Buick
Charlie Appleby is attempting a fourth successive victory and record-extending fifth win in the race with Ancient Wisdom, following the successes of some of his former stars such as Ghaiyyath and Coroebus in recent years.
The Dubawi colt, out of Group Three winner Golden Valentina, cost €2,000,000 as a yearling and made an expected successful start to his racing career with back-to-back wins. His third behind Rosallion and Al Musmak, when finishing ahead of subsequent Group Three winner Alyanaabi and Listed winner Dancing Gemini, represents an exceptional formline in this division, and he is the one to beat in this field.
2:40pm – Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
Pied Piper – Gordon Elliott, Ryan Moore
Typewriter – Andrew Balding, Callum Hutchinson (3)
Ocean Wind – Roger Teal, Sean Levey
The Cesarewitch is always a great betting race and is a contest of interest for fans of both codes. Likable hurdler PIED PIPER is an old favourite and may get his redemption following a narrow defeat in the County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Shunter is impossible to ignore for the shrewd Emmet Mullins team, whilst fellow Irish-raider Jesse Evans finished fourth in the Irish equivalent and is a proven stayer.
Andrew Balding’s TYPEWRITER has good form behind last year’s winner Run For Oscar and ahead of Falcon Eight, therefore could be capable of outrunning her odds, whilst OCEAN WIND returned following a long lay-off and may be able to take advantage off a mark of 102 if returning to form.
York hosts a card that features the Listed Rockingham Stakes (1:15pm) in which Andrew Balding’s Purosangue will attempt to fend off the challenges of Starlore and Esquire to claim a long-awaited black-type success following a string of second-place finishes. Later on in the card there is a competitive handicap (Sprint Trophy, 2:25pm), in which Significantly attempts to land back-to-back victories in big field sprints. Up 4lbs for a recent Ayr success, the five-year-old gelding has 3lb claimer Ryan Sexton onboard for an in-form Julie Camacho yard.
Course-and-distance winner Albasheer finished less than a length behind Significantly in the Ayr Gold Cup Handicap and could go close again, whilst Apollo One, narrowly beaten on many occasions this term, may be due his day in the sun, running off a workable mark of 102. Outsider of the field Rousing Encore has struggled to build on a promising juvenile season but may be able to outrun his odds if showing improvement following a wind operation.
Away from the Flat action at Newmarket and York, Chepstow hosts the second day of their Jump Season Opener on Saturday, a card that draws parallels with the Future Champions Festival as it features many young, rising stars in the form of juvenile hurdlers, many of whom are at the beginning of their racing careers.
The opening race (1:55pm) features an exciting prospect for Paul Nicholls in Liari, a well related son of Cracksman, bred and formerly owned by the Aga Khan. The three-year-old makes his hurdling debut, taking on Milton Harris’ Balboa who was recently seen finishing second to promising filly Max Of Stars. Balboa is yet to land a maiden success over hurdles but has the benefit of experience and is the one to beat.
The Native River Handicap Chase (2:30pm) sees the return of many familiar names, including Threeunderthrufive, returning after wind surgery, and top-weight Stolen Silver. Eight-year-old Tea Clipper goes well fresh and is 4lbs lower than when second in the race last year. The softer ground is unlikely to suit, but he may still go well and is one for the shortlist.
Knappers Hill takes on four rivals on chasing debut in the Listed Novices’ Chase (3:10pm), clear on ratings but needing to take to fences in this new challenge. Unexpected Party is his biggest threat having already had six runs over the larger obstacles. Dan Skelton’s charge could take advantage if his new rival struggles at his fences, but he has plenty to find on ratings and is difficult to trust.
There are plenty of Irish-raiders making the trip to Wales, including hat-trick seeking Sign From Above who lines up in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (4:15pm). The Peter Fahey-trained gelding faces tough opposition in the form of Sonigino, up 3lbs for a third-place finish behind Fennor Cross in a Grade Three Handicap at Aintree, and the progressive Uncle Bert, representing an in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies team
.All runners/prices are correct at the time of publication.
Photo by Marylou Fortier on Unsplash
THE CONDITIONAL 