Newmarket’s July Meeting continues alongside some other top domestic and international action. It could be a potentially huge weekend for the Godolphin team, not the last few years haven’t been kind, and they feature highly for us.
Friday 8th July 2022
1.50 Newmarket (Heritage Handicap) - NEW LONDON
This is a hot-looking handicap alright and the boys in blue are out to confuse us a little again.
Their Natural World carries the first colours and was on the Derby trail not long ago, and he has a huge shout here alongside William Haggas’ Yonafis.
Of the Godolphin/Charlie Appleby duo in the race however, William Buick chooses New London and that looks like the right call.
He too was aimed at the Derby at one point, looking like a genuine contender, so off a mark of only 99 back on good ground he can strike.
2.40 York (Summer Stakes - Group 3) - FLOTUS
Last year’s Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Flotus took a little bit of time to get into gear this term for the Crisford team, but she’s there now and remains very classy.
She just ran out of steam when looking like winning the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, she’s a certain Group 1 performer and she should be too good at this level on a flat track.
3.00 Newmarket (Heritage Handicap) - TRAWLERMAN
Before and after his bad run under an inadequate ride at Royal Ascot I’ve been dying to back the talented Trawlerman again.
He remains well treated, has conditions to suit him and the assistance of James Doyle up top. He didn’t take up his last engagement but looks set to run now.
He reopposes Candleford, his Ascot conqueror who in fairness he wouldn’t have beaten that day, but the Haggas horse was simply better handicapped and has now gone up a huge 13lbs in the weights.
4.36 Ascot (Handicap) - FIRST RULER
Charlie Appleby really is sharing the love this weekend with Ascot also getting a visit.
With Buick and Doyle at HQ, the top trainer relies on last year’s Derby winning jockey Adam Kirby aboard First Ruler and that’s fine with me.
The son of Dubawi only made his debut in May and is progressing nicely. A win in a 20-runner novice race at Doncaster came in June before he was narrowly beaten by a stablemate on the July Course, but rather than stay there he comes here for this better opportunity.
Sea The Casper, Big Meeting and Surrey Must are the main dangers.
Saturday 9th July 2022
2.40 Newmarket (Handicap) - BAY OF HONOUR
Laasudood, Spinaround and New Kingdom all have similar chances on the book you’d think, so with William Buick choosing Bay Of Honour who has plenty of scope we can expect a performance significantly better than his handicap mark of 94.
Although favourite for his debut, the son of Shamardal was a little disappointing first up. He was much better when winning at Kempton and had since won narrowly at Thirsk to make it two from three.
Based only on the numbers he’s handicapped about right, however there is a ton of improvement to come as we will hopefully see on Saturday when he tackles this race.
3.15 Newmarket (Superlative Stakes - Group 2) - LION OF WAR
This is a good race as always, but probably not a vintage renewal.
There’s plenty to like about favourite Victory Dance for Appleby and Godolphin and it would be no surprise to see him win, though he just scrambled home on his debut.
The opposite is true of Lion Of War who absolutely cantered home at Newcastle, never breaking sweat to score by some 10 lengths.
How far he’d have won by had he been ridden is anyone’s guess and while he didn’t beat much, he was immediately nominated for this and other top end juvenile races.
If it does become a battle you may expect that a son of Roaring Lion who is trained by Mark & Charlie Johnston to not be giving up which is another bonus.
3.35 Ascot (Summer Mile - Group 2) - MODERN NEWS
After several missed oppprtunities with him it would be rather typical for Mutasaabeq to go and win this, but he’s overlooked this time in favour of the classy Modern News.
Chindit and My Oberon are also capable but are arguably not improving, with our horse the one to tick both the class and progression boxes.
Modern News was second favourite for the Lincoln, won a top handicap, scored in Listed company and was inconvenienced in a small field when narrowly losing out to My Oberon last time.
He has a 3lb pull with that horse now, is getting better, will appreciate the quicker pace and has the class for this under Hollie Doyle.
4.25 Newmarket (July Cup - Group 1) - CREATIVE FORCE
This is a belting sprint, one which brings together at the top of the market Commonwealth Cup and Platinum Jubilee Stakes form.
As for the young’uns, I’d expect Perfect Power to remain the best, though placings may be narrowly reversed among the older horses.
Godolphin pair Naval Crown and Creative Force were 1-2 ahead of Aussie Artorius at Ascot, and while they remain ahead of him as a duo it may this time be Will Buick’s mount who adds to last year’s top-level success having arguably been on the wrong side of the track last time.
9.06 Belmont Park (Belmont Oaks Invitational - Grade 1) - WITH THE MOONLIGHT
The two invitation races on Belmont’s excellent card in New York now have deserved Graded status and thus are a big draw.
With The Moonlight was a genuinely big shout for the Oaks last month and while that wasn’t her bag in the end, this firm mile and a quarter should be and she can score under Frankie Dettori.
10.12 Belmont Park (Belmont Derby Invitational - Grade 1) - NATIONS PRIDE
Frankie’s second ride for Charlie Appleby is aboard Nations Pride and he is also backed.
Much like With The Moonlight, many shrewdies were on this horse in the Derby and he can now show off his undoubted class.
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