It’s all about the younger horses for us this week as two impressive juveniles look to strut their stuff in the Mill Reef at Newbury and the Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr, while two one-time Derby contenders can also get their careers back on track with Group Three wins either side of the Channel in the 3yo division
We start at Newbury where two good value early bets could get us off to a terrific start on what is a very busy afternoon of racing.
Embed from Getty Images2.20 Newbury (Legacy Cup Stakes – Group 3) – YOUNG RASCAL
Desert Encounter won this last year and was successful last time out at Windsor too, however this is a significantly stronger renewal than 2017 and it’s possible he will find likely favourite Mirage Dancer too strong, though that may not be the end of the matter.
Three-year-old Young Rascal won so well at Chester’s May meeting in the Chester Vase that many had him down as a potential Derby winner for the big race sponsor Bernard Kantor of Investec and while things didn’t work out for him at Epsom in the end, he remains a young colt of terrific potential.
At these weights he has an outstanding chance of scoring another Group 3 win though whether he’s good enough for the Arc, for which this was formerly a recognised trial, remains to be seen. He’s a nice type though and deserves this.
2.55 Newbury (Mill Reef Stakes – Group 2) – KESSAAR
This is a tight Mill Reef on the book and probably not the best renewal ever, though whatever wins it will still have to be decent and the improvement seen lately in Kessaar makes him stand out to me in this field.
After a rather inauspicious start for a horse now running at this level and for a top trainer such as John Gosden, the son of Kodiac has done nothing but get better since his debut and his taking success in Group 3 company on Kempton’s all-weather track last time when slamming Junius Brutus in the Sirenia Stakes is probably the best bit of form on offer here, despite some having run at Group 1 level.
Kessaar still holds an entry in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket next month and while he is not certain to prove up to that, it’s clear his top connections hold him in high regard.
Shine So Bright and Marie’s Diamond are obvious contenders for places but at a bigger price watch out for easy Newcastle scorer Garrus taking a big step forward under Jim Crowley for beleaguered trainer Jeremy Noseda.
3.15 Ayr (Firth of Clyde Stakes – Group 3) – QUEEN OF BERMUDA
A decent race and one in which William Haggas’ admirable filly Queen Of Bermuda may finally grab a Group race success following some fine efforts both at home and abroad over the course of the season.
This juvenile daughter of Exceed And Excel was narrowly beaten in a French Group 3 last time over five furlongs when staying on nicely and may improve again for this step up in trip, something that looks almost certain based on a broad view of her breeding.
She can take care of the likes of Shumookhi whose rating looks a little false, and Glass Slippers who rate as the chief dangers in what is a tight enough race on paper.
3.30 Newbury (World Trophy Stakes – Group 3) – EQUILATERAL
This very promising three-year-old made a stunning debut last season and confirmed that perceived ability when slamming subsequent triple winner and Steward’s Cup sixth Foxtrot Lady by 8 lengths first time out this season at Doncaster.
He has disappointed somewhat in Group outings this year, including at the very top level, but came right back to form over this five furlong trip when dominating a small race at Leicester last time out and it’s pleasing that Charlie Hills brings him out just 11 days later while he is in rare form.
He has such huge natural speed that despite his opening win of the season at Donny and with the benefit of hindsight, he should have always been going over the minimum trip and so it’s exciting to see what he can achieve here.
Aidan O’Brien’s Sioux Nation and the winner of last year’s renewal Take Cover look best of the rest at these weights, though in truth they’ll need our boy to run below form in order to score as they have a few pounds to find if he gets close to his true ability.
3.45 Longchamp (Prix du Prince d’Orange – Group 3) – GHAIYYATH
At the time of writing I have absolutely no idea what sort of price to expect about this one time Derby hope as nothing has filtered through from France, but so long as we aren’t talking long odds-on then the son of Dubawi simply must be backed.
All Dubawi’s improve with age so the speed with which this colt when through the levels as a juvenile last season, culminating in a very fine Group 3 win at Newmarket, is very impressive stuff indeed. He was always thought of as a top class middle-distance three-year-old and one who could have landed the big one at Epsom, though injury curtailed his season until now.
Charlie Appleby won’t care too much about all that now given that he won the Derby with Masar and this race may yet prove to be a 1-2 for the trainer with Stage Magic very capable of chasing his stable mate home, while local challenger Scared Life could prove to be best of the rest.
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