News from the North(ern) Hemisphere

[stodge]

Final declarations are through for Saturday at The Curragh where the ground remains Good, Good to Firm in places though showers are forecast.

Eight fillies and mares go in the Pretty Polly over 2000m. It looks a match between two British raiders, BLUESTOCKING and EMILY UPJOHN, both of whom have form at 2400m. BLUESTOCKING was third in last year's Ribblesdale, runner up in the Irish Oaks, fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks and second in the Fillies & Mares on Champions Day so very solid form. She looked even better when winning the Middleton at York by six lengths in mid May and if she can continue her improvement will be a serious player in all the top middle distance filly races.

EMILY UPJOHN is the proven campaigner - she was a close second in the 2022 Oaks and won the 2023 Coronation Cup before a fine second to PADDINGTON in the Eclipse. For the second year running, she flopped in the King George at Ascot but she was well held in this year's Coronation Cup (though trainer John Gosden claimed she would come on a lot for the run) and has it to prove against the proven performer in BLUESTOCKING.

STAY ALERT was a long way behind BLUESTOCKING in the Fillies & Mares last autumn but emphatically defeated RUNNING LION (Royal Ascot winner) at Newmarket. She has a bit to find with the top two but is ahead of the locals who look distinctly second rate.

10 go in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes and the Ascot form gets an early runout as Queen Mary also ran TRULY ENCHANTING (Ryan Moore's pick) lines up alongside the Albany fifth - CALIFORNIA DREAMER and the eighth CRADLE OF LOVE.

[stodge]

Any thoughts on this:

Changes made to Shergar Cup to have even split between male and female jockeys | Racing Post

[stodge]

Final declarations are through for Sunday’s racing. At The Curragh we have the Irish Derby over the classic 2400m for the 3-y-o.

Eight go to post and the Epsom form gets a run out with the second, AMBIENTE FRIENDLY and the third, LOS ANGELES, meeting again. The former travelled well into the English Derby but had no answer to the speed of CITY OF TROY in the final 300m. Time may tell he faced an impossible task.

AMBIENTE FRIENDLY had previously bolted up at Lingfield and the trip on decent ground on a galloping track looks ideal. LOS ANGELES has three lengths to find with AMBIENTE FRIENDLY on Epsom form and I can’t see him closing the gap unless the ground changes. LOS ANGELES beat stable mate EUPHORIC in the Leopardstown Derby Trial and there’s not much between them on that. 

MATSURI is third favourite and for all he won a Leicester maiden by eight lengths, this is a huge step forward in grade. 

Seven have been declared for the Group 2 Railway over 1200m for the juveniles. Ryan Moore rides TUNBRIDGE WELLS who won a maiden our course and distance last time and is clearly highly regarded at Ballydoyle. ARIZONA BLAZE was third in the Norfolk at Ascot and steps up 200m. There are plenty of unknown quantities in the field and it will be a highly informative race with Richard Hannon sending over PRINCIPALITY who ran into a good one on debut and then won easily at Goodwood.

In France seven go in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud over 2400m for the older horses. Not perhaps the strongest renewal of the race. POINT LONSDALE looked very good winning the Ormonde at Chester a couple of months ago but this is the top table and while I could imagine him setting the fractions I think he’ll be vulnerable to something with a bit of tactical speed. I thought FEED THE FIRE might win the Coronation at Epsom but he was fractious in the preliminaries and was a well held third. Back home in France I expect a better effort. 

IRESINE won the Ganay in 2023 and came back after a break to win a Listed at Lyon. If back to her best she has claims. DUBAI HONOUR was third in the Grand Prix de Chantilly at a time when the Haggas horses were running a little below par. They had a quiet Ascot but overall the stable form has improved. The ground is on the easy side which will help. He’s a tentative selection at best.
 

. 

[stodge]

The second day of the Irish Derby Festival at The Curragh took place on a miserable afternoon with persistent rain.

The ground eased from Good to Yielding to Soft by the third race which was very different to the ground reported at the final declarations stage.

The feature was the Pretty Polly for the older fillies and mares over 2000m. The form and betting suggested it would concern two of the British raiders with BLUESTOCKING backed in to 11/10 against EMILY UPJOHN who drifted to 3s.

EMILY UPJOHN did too much too early here and on the wet and loose ground was a sitting duck for BLUESTOCKING who I don’t think was enjoying the ground either but showed plenty of resolution to get to the leader in the final 200m and in the end won a shade comfortably. That said, both fillies had hard enough races and I’d be wary about either backing up quickly.

Kieran Shoemark probably didn’t want to be in the front for all we know she sees out 2400m well but this was too much energy used up too quickly and she paid the penalty in the final 200m. CONTENT ran on well enough to be third but was four lengths and more off the winner. STAY ALERT was disappointing but the change in ground wouldn’t have helped.

The Group 2 Airlie Stud for the juvenile fillies over 1200m saw Queen Mary also-ran TRULY ENCHANTING return to form with a success over Albany fifth CALIFORNIA DREAMER who had been well held by TRULY ENCHANTING’s stable companion FAIRY GODMOTHER. I suspect the former found the quick turf at Ascot too much over the minimum trip and she remains a decent sort albeit in the second rank of the Ballydoyle juveniles at this time. 

I’m not sure the winner did the second any favors as she hung right close home and in America would have lost the race. JANUARY made it a 1-3 for Aidan O’Brien and I thought she shaped well. 

With the rain, AMBIENTE FRIENDLY and LOS ANGELES are joint favourites at 11/8 for tomorrow’s Irish Derby.

At Newcastle, 12/1 shot ONESMOOTHOPERATOR won the Northumberland Plate which I believe is a qualification race for the Melbourne Cup.

 

 

[Ohokaman]

Haggas finally gets one…..

 

 

[stodge]

The ground had dried back to Good in time for the Irish Derby over 2400m at The Curragh. The race looked an intriguing rematch between the second and third from the English Derby with Epsom runner up AMBIENTE FRIENDLY marginally favoured over LOS ANGELES who had finished three lengths behind at the beginning of the month.

A thrilling finish with Ryan Moore almost lifting LOS ANGELES over the line from the fast finishing SUNWAY. A typical Aidan O’Brien race with EUPHORIC and GROVENOR SQUARE setting the fractions and peeling wide off the home turn to let Ryan up the rail on LOS ANGELES but Rab Hamlin is no mug and went through on AMBIENTE FRIENDLY and 400m down was travelling the better but that was the case at Epsom and he didn’t quite get home suggesting 2200m is his optimum trip.

it wasn’t a two horse race by any stretch with SUNWAY and MATSURI coming to get involved in the final 200m. Arguably, MATSURI was unlucky and didn’t look to get the clearest of runs and ended up being beaten a length. SUNWAY was seventh in the Jockey Club but this was a big step forward as indeed the fourth place was MATSURI and both colts are clearly progressive.

LOS ANGELES got the job done and is 3/1 favourite for the English Leger but post race Aidan O’Brien hinted ILLINOIS and HIGHBURY might be the Leger types leaving LOS ANGELES to compete at 2400m so the King George at Ascot might be the next option where he could line up alongside AUGUSTE RODIN and LUXEMBOURG.

They ran the 2400m in 2 minutes 28.15 seconds which is 4.85 seconds BELOW Standard time so a seriously good time underlining this could have been a quality renewal.

While O’Brien has to shuffle his middle distance pack, the juveniles are starting to be the new area of “concern” as HENRI MATISSE took the Group 2 Railway for the colts over 1200m. The winner is by Wootton Bassett out of Immortal Verse making him a half to TENEBRISM. The dam beat the champion Goldikova in the 2011 Marois. He’s unbeaten in two and could be anything. The O’Brien apparent first string and race favourite TUNBRIDGE WELLS didn’t seem to quite see out the trip and faded to fourth close home.

In France we had the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud over 2400m for the older horses. It looked a sub standard renewal and former Ganay winner IRESINE went off joint favourite with ZARIR. 

A brave man’s ride by Tom Marquand and an overdue European Group 1 win for DUBAI HONOUR who saw off FEED THE FLAME and POINT LONSDALE. The ease in the ground (Good to Soft) was a big help and the winner could yet be an Arc runner in the autumn. FEED THE FLAME placed again and while this was better than Epsom he’s not quite at the top table.  ZARIR and IRESINE both finished well but they couldn’t chase down these experienced 2400m types who weren’t going to stop in front.

 

 

 

[stodge]

Looking ahead to the coming weekend up here and the feature race is the Eclipse at Sandown over 2000m which is the first clash of the older horses and the classic generation at this trip.

11 have been entered at the five day stage but WHITE BIRCH was confirmed a non runner this afternoon with the Esher ground Good to Firm and no significant rain forecast. Derby winner CITY OF TROY has been backed in to 2/7 and while I expect DANCING GEMINI to be more effective at this trip I can’t see him turning Epsom form round. Coronation Cup winner and stable companion of the favourite, LUXEMBOURG, looks the best of the older runners but with Aidan O’Brien still having four entries it’s hard to see another prize going anywhere other than Ballydoyle.

The ground is Good to Soft at Haydock for the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks over 2400m for which ten have been entered. Last weekend’s Newcastle winner TIFFANY turns out again over an extra 400m but she could be improving fast. Her main opponent could be course and distance winner QUEEN OF THE PRIDE who impressed in Group 3 company a month ago.

At Deauville on Sunday we have the Jean Prat for the 3-y-o over 1400m. With supplementary entries still possible we’ll know the final field on Friday.

 

 

[stodge]

Eight confirmed at today’s final declarations for Saturday’s Eclipse at Sandown. With Aidan O’Brien taking out CONTENTIOUS and LUXEMBOURG leaving just the pacemaker HANS ANDERSEN, CITY OF TROY is one of five from the classic generation taking on three older horses.

CITY OF TROY is 1/3 and 10 lbs ahead on the numbers. He was well ahead of DANCING GEMINI at Epsom but the latter’s connections are adamant their horse didn’t stay and it will be much closer back at 2000m. Perhaps but it’s a stretch to see him beating CITY OF TROY. GHOSTWRITER was fourth in the English 2000 Guineas but disappointed in the Jockey Club and he’ll need a lot of improvement to get involved. JAYAREBE is interesting - he won the Hampton Court at Ascot last time and I know the second that day is rated very highly by connections.

At 14s JAYAREBE is my each way selection. AL RIFFA is the best of the older runners and if he could reproduce some of his best soft turf form he could get minor money but the older horses have abandoned the race this year.

I expect CITY OF TROY to win and win well and I hope JAYAREBE will chase him home.

At Haydock eight go in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks over 2400m. The sole 3-y-o filly is FOREST FAIRY who was seventh in the English Oaks last time. I’m not sure of the strength of the form given runner up DANCE SEQUENCE flopped in the Diane but the older fillies don’t look world beaters. Course and distance winner QUEEN OF THE PRIDE may be the better of the Gosden runners and could be less exposed than recent Newcastle winner TIFFANY.

KIKKULI, who ran so well at Ascot, has been supplemented for Sunday’s Jean Prat at Deauville where the ground is Soft. I’ll do a final preview with the declarations tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

[Tauhei Notts]

Stodge, your opinion please.

City Of Troy did not look like a wonderful champion to me.  I expected him to romp away, but not so.

[Ohokaman]

I wasn’t impressed with his Derby win ( many strong rivals were not there ) or this one. Maybe the ground contributed.

 

[stodge]

9 hours ago, Tauhei Notts said:

Stodge, your opinion please.

City Of Troy did not look like a wonderful champion to me.  I expected him to romp away, but not so.

I watched the race (without audio) on the ferry back from the Isle of Man to Liverpool and have just watched it again.

CITY OF TROY didn’t give Ryan an easy time - he pulled really hard early and clearly wanted to go a lot faster. Ryan was where he wanted to be but the horse was hanging up the straight (not sure why) and having seen off GHOSTWRITER (fourth in the Jockey Club), the last challenge came from AL RIFFA, on whom I thought young Dylan Browne McMonagle rode an excellent race.

The big factor was the ground - it had gone Soft after 16mm of rain. Sandown is on London clay and when it gets soft it goes tacky and holding. We know AL RIFFA is happy on soft but while CITY OF TROY handled it as a juvenile he didn’t look happy on it at all and I suspect they’ll never run him on ground like that again.

My concern would be how much the race will have taken out of him but we’ll only know when we see him at either York or Leopardstown. 

On that evidence he’s a good horse and may yet be very good but he’s not a champion yet - the likes of ECONOMICS and CALANDAGAN among others suggest there could be other possible champions out there but we know the real target for CITY OF TROY is the Breeders Cup Classic. To be the first horse to win an English Derby and a championship American Dirt race will send his stallion value sky high.
 

[stodge]

Just to add to the above, the Arc is the target for AL RIFFA and I imagine they’ll be hoping for a traditional October mudbath as the horse relishes soft turf. I thought GHOSTWRITER ran another fine race - I just wonder if he’ll be dropped to Group 2 company for a race at Deauville perhaps.

Speaking of that beautiful track in Normandy, we have the Jean Prat this afternoon over the straight 1400m. KIKKULI, who we know as the Jersey runner up and a half to Frankel, is 3/1 joint favourite up here. He ran really well at Ascot against HAATEM who we know is a decent type having placed in both the English and Irish Guineas. KIKKULI has form on soft but rather like his illustrious relative probably wants better ground. 

The other joint favourite is ROMANTIC STYLE who was a close fourth in the Pouliches. The winner didn’t do much for the form at Ascot but we know trip and ground will be ideal for the Godolphin runner. VESPERTILIO was just in front of ROMANTIC STYLE in the Pouliches but disappointed in the Irish 1000 Guineas and has plenty to prove. 

In front of both VESPERTILIO and ROMANTIC STYLE in the Pouliches was the Brian Meehan trained KATHMANDU and she’s my idea of the winner of this.

The locals look to have little chance with the likes of HAVANA CIGAR and SAJIR coming out of Group 3 company against visitors with Group 1 form or strong form with horses proven in Group 1 company.

KATHMANDU for me over KIKKULI and ROMANTIC STYLE.

 

[stodge]

Looking ahead, as we always do in this wonderful sport we all love, the Newmarket July Festival kicks off next Thursday. Recent rain has left the ground on the soft side of good but I expect it will be near perfect by the start of the meeting.

Ten have been entered for the Group 2 July Stakes over 1200m on the opening day. The race is for the juvenile colts and the Ascot form is going to get a good workout with the first four from the Coventry along with the Windsor Castle winner and a useful Godolphin colt among the entries. The other Group 2 on the opening day is the 2400m Princess of Wales Stakes. Coronation Cup runner up HAMISH takes on Yorkshire Cup winner GIAVELOTTO in an intriguing clash.

Friday sees the first of the two Group 1 races at the meeting with the Falmouth for the fillies and mares over the straight 1600m. Three look to dominate the entries - the two younger fillies are the English 1000 Guineas runner up and Coronation Stakes winner PORTA FORTUNA and the Irish 1000 Guineas runner up A LILAC ROLLA and they take on the Duke of Cambridge winner RUNNING LION.

The supporting Group 2 on Ladies’ Day is the Duchess of Cambridge over 1200m for the juvenile fillies. The third and fourth from the Albany and the runner up from the Queen Mary head the entries alongside a host of more unexposed types who literally could be anything.

Next Saturday features the July Cup over 1200m. 

I’ll start the build up to this midsummer highlight with the final declarations from Tuesday onward. Not sure if you’ll have any coverage of the meeting in NZ.
 

 

 

[stodge]

Wrapping up the weekend just gone and New Zealand isn't the only place suffering track management difficulties.

At Haydock on Saturday, three horses slipped going into the home turn in the 2800m handicap which prompted an inspection, a delay and some emergency work with the rotavator and some sand whichg allowed the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks to be run but in that race TIFFANY slipped on the bend and nearly came down and the remainder of the meeting was abandoned.

In the Group 2, QUEEN OF THE PRIDE (a daughter of Roaring Lion out of Oaks winner Simple Verse) showed she is on the improve with a convincing win. TIFFANY ran really well considering the problems she had on the home turn. I thought the rank outsider NOVUS was going to be involved but her stamina gave out with 400m to run. QUEEN OF THE PRIDE is 6s for the Yorkshire Oaks and winning that would propel her broodmare appeal into the stratosphere. FOREST FAIRY just couldn't live with her elders and finished last.

Yesterday, the British and Irish looked to have a strong hand in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville over 1400m. KIKKULI and ROMANTIC STYLE headed the UK betting.

PUCHKINE was an unconsidered 35/1 shot and little surprise. He was ninth in the Poulains and had been well held in a Group 3 last time. I can't explain the improvement but he was always in the front rank and ran on far too strongly for the closers.

HAVANA CIGAR made it a 1-2 for the Jean Claude Ruguet stable and the locals filled the first four places showing the visitors, led home by KATHMANDU, a clean pair of hooves. ROMANTIC STYLE was especially disappointing coming in last.

[stodge]

The final declarations are through for the opening day of the Newmarket July Meeting on Thursday.

As those who have followed Wimbledon will know, the weather has been distinctly lacking in summer sunshine and warmth and more heavy rain this morning has left the Newmarket turf officially Soft. I suspect it will dry between now and Thursday but it won't be the fast going we saw at Ascot just three weeks ago.

The Group 2 July Stakes for the juvenile colts has six runners. WHISTLEJACKET from the Aidan O'Brien stable is 6/4 favourite and that's no surprise as he will relish the soft turf as he showed when winning in Listed company at The Curragh. O'Brien put his fourth place in the Norfolk down to the quick ground and he's going to be hard to beat. AIN'T NOBODY was a good winner of the Windsor Castle but he looks all speed and this is 200m further on slower ground. Coventry runner up ELECTROLYTE looks a much bigger threat - he just lost out in that race and you might think the softer ground might not suit but his sire, Hello Youmzain, went on it and I think he will too.

Godolphin run Nottingham maiden winner AOMORI CITY (Oasis Dream out of an unraced Shamardal mare) and he could be anything but he'll have to improve a lot to take on these proven Group performers.

The other Group 2, the Princess of Wales, over 2400m, also has six runners. HAMISH is an 8-y-o, so approaching veteran status, but is rated 117 and hugely effective on slow or soft turf. He was runner up in the Coronation Cup at Epsom and that's solid Group 1 form. IF the ground remains soft, he has a huge chance. ARREST was second in the Leger last year and you might have thought he'd be a serious player in the middle distance races but he was frankly poor at both Newbury (ten lengths behind HAMISH) and Chester (beaten six lengths by POINT LONSDALE) and he seems a quirky type.

GIAVELLOTTO was third in the 2022 Leger and came back to form with an impressive win in the Yorkshire Cup last time. I'm not sure he would like really soft ground nor am I convinced dropping back to 2400m is ideal. TIME LOCK was miles behind HAMISH at Epsom.

Selections (Day 1):

2.25 July Stakes: ELECTROLYTE

3.35: Princess of Wales's Stakes: HAMISH

[stodge]

Dreadful news began to filter round Lingfield this afternoon.

Three women murdered in crossbow attack are family of BBC commentator John Hunt | Racing Post

John is a well known voice on the commentating roster and indeed was at Lingfield for the synthetic meeting yesterday (Simon Holt was rostered on for the turf meeting this afternoon). It seems John finished his work at Lingfield and drove home to discover this horrific tragedy.

 

[stodge]

With a dry day in Suffolk (and part of Cambridgeshire), the ground at Newmarket has improved to Good to Soft, Soft in places ahead of the July Festival which starts tomorrow.

Final declarations are through for Friday.

The Group 1 Falmouth for the fillies and mares over 1600m and the question is whether the ground will dry enough for PORTA FORTUNA to show her best form. She's rated 117 after running second in the English 1000 Guineas and winning the Coronation Stakes at Ascot but we know from her win in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last autumn she loves really fast ground and I'd be worried about her on this much slower surface. RUNNING LION was very good at Ascot and has found a new lease of life front running at 1600m. I'm not wholly sure about the ground for her either but she did win on Soft in May 2023 so perhaps she will go on it.

We know the Irish raider A LILAC ROLLA will be fine on the ground. Her second in the Irish 1000 Guineas gives us a line through OPERA SINGER, who was third and two lengths behind at The Curragh and then finished a length behind PORTA FORTUNA at Ascot. On that (perhaps) tenuous formline, there's not a lot between PORTA FORTUNA and A LILAC ROLLA but the former is 13/8 and the latter 7/2. I'd need to see how the track was riding but if it's genuinely slow turf, the 7/2 would be tempting.

Eleven go in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge over 1200m for the juvenile fillies. It looks wide open. The second and third in the Queen Mary - MIGHTY ERIU and MOW LAM - meet the third and fourth from the Albany - HEAVENS GATE and MOUNTAIN BREEZE. None of them have a convincing soft ground profile unlike ENCHANTING EMPRESS who failed on fast ground in the Queen Mary at Ascot but had previously won in Listed grade on soft ground at Sandown and at 20s is a sporting each way play.

Selections (Day 2):

2.25: Duchess of Cambridge Stakes - ENCHANTING EMPRESS (each way)

3.35: Falmouth Stakes: - A LILAC ROLLA

Looking ahead to Saturday's Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, KIng Edward VII fourth MONDO MAN and the filly TAMFANA who was fourth in the English 1000 Guineas and third in the Diane have both been supplemented while Aidan O'Brien has left in ILLINOIS and GROSVENOR SQUARE among nine who went through the second forfeit stage this morning.

[Ohokaman]

1 hour ago, stodge said:

Dreadful news began to filter round Lingfield this afternoon.

Three women murdered in crossbow attack are family of BBC commentator John Hunt | Racing Post

John is a well known voice on the commentating roster and indeed was at Lingfield for the synthetic meeting yesterday (Simon Holt was rostered on for the turf meeting this afternoon). It seems John finished his work at Lingfield and drove home to discover this horrific tragedy.

 

Terrible news indeed Stodge.

[scooby3051]

7 hours ago, stodge said:

Dreadful news began to filter round Lingfield this afternoon.

Three women murdered in crossbow attack are family of BBC commentator John Hunt | Racing Post

John is a well known voice on the commentating roster and indeed was at Lingfield for the synthetic meeting yesterday (Simon Holt was rostered on for the turf meeting this afternoon). It seems John finished his work at Lingfield and drove home to discover this horrific tragedy.

 

This is so shocking and imagine coming home to this...tragic does not even begin to explain what has happened...thoughts and prayers to him at this horrible time.

[Ohokaman]

Glad they got the bastard. Sounds like a jilted boyfriend/lover situation.

[stodge]

6 hours ago, Ohokaman said:

Glad they got the bastard. Sounds like a jilted boyfriend/lover situation.

Without wishing to speculate too much, I fear so.

John is widely regarded as one of the best in his field and the fact the BBC use him (an accolade once held by the great Sir Peter O'Sullivan) speaks volumes.

There will be a minute's silence before all of today's cards and the jockeys will wear black armbands which is usually only when it's one of their own who has passed.

The commentators or callers are a family in their own right - they all know each other and work the same courses on their rota so it will affect each of them as well. 

[stodge]

Events outside the sport have clearly overshadowed the opening day at Newmarket.

The show must go on, however.

Saturday's final declarations are through - 12 go for the July Cup over 1200m and favourite is Commonwealth Cup winner INISHERIN who has emerged as the dominant sprinter among the classic generation. He did it well at Ascot and we know ground and trip won't be an issue. He beat VANDEEK four lengths when they were first and third in the Sandy Lane at Haydock and while ground conditions should help VANDEEK and he was a very good juvenile, INISHERIN just seems to have improved. We can excuse his sixth in the 2000 Guineas as he patently didn't see out the 1600m.

The older sprinters are here in force - REGIONAL won the Haydock Sprint Trophy last year and chased home ASFOORA in the King Charles III over 1000m at Ascot. My two doubts are first whether he truly sees out a stiff 1200m and second whether slow ground plays to his strengths.

KINROSS poses a potent threat - he was third in this last year beaten less than a length and he was also second in the Champions Day Sprint. Arguably, his second at Newcastle on seasonal reappearance wasn't top form but that should have brought him on and he's a big danger to INISHERIN.

KHAADEM won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee with MILL STREAM a close third. The latter won twice at Deauville on soft ground last summer but they weren't Group 1 events. RIVER TIBER ran well in the Irish 2000 Guineas but has to bounce back from a poor run in the St James's Palace while Commonwealth Cup third JASOUR is another of interest.

The 3-y-o get 6 lbs from the older sprinters and that tips the balance to INISHERIN who I prefer over KINROSS.

The Group 2 Superlative over 1400m for the juveniles was won by CITY OF TROY last year - Chesham winner ANCIENT TRUTH looked the part at Ascot and should follow up.

NIne go in the Group 2 Summer MIle at Ascot where the ground is also on the slow side following recent rain. SONNY LISTON carried a big weight when runner up in the Hunt Cup at Ascot suggesting he was ready for Group racing. I take him over QUDDWAH who won well over course and distance back in May.

Eight go in the Grand Prix de Paris over 2400m at Longchamp. Aidan O'Brien withdrew GROSVENOR SQUARE this morning and relies on ILLINOIS who looked a real stayer at Ascot and I just wonder if dropping back 400m in trip is a good move. TAMFANA is an intriguing challenger - fourth in the English 1000 Guineas and third in the Diane, 350m further might be the making for her and connections will be hoping this is run as a typical French race so her speed will come to the fore.

Jockey Club third SOSIE represents Andre Fabre and is probably best of the locals.

Selections:

Newmarket: 3.00: Superlative Stakes: ANCIENT TRUTH      4.35: July Cup: INISHERIN

Ascot: 2.20: Summer Mile: SONNY LISTON

Longchamp: 7.17: Grand Prix de Paris: TAMFANA
 

 

[stodge]

The opening day of the Newmarket July Festival took place on ground officially described as Good to Soft but the times suggested was nearer Good. The course had received 29mm of rain on the Tuesday but had taken it very well.

Two Group 2 races on the opening day and in the July Stakes, WHISTLEJACKET returned to form with a clear win. He relished the step up in trip and the easier turf after running fourth in the Norfolk at Ascot. He was too good for BILLBOARD BOY and AOMORI CITY though the latter ran with credit on his second outing and is one for the notebook. ELECTROLYTE walked from 7/2 to 8s and ran moderately suggesting the Coventry form this year may not be as strong and Windsor Castle winner AIN'T NOBODY was well held in last also suggesting the Ascot juvenile form may not be reliable on slower surfaces.

WHISTLEJACKET is a full to LITTLE BIG BEAR who didn't stay much beyond 1200m but the way the former went through the line I think he could be a 1400m horse but quotes of 10s for the 2000 Guineas in May 2025 look a little premature. He's in the Phoenix and the National and is probably the best of the Ballydoyle colts at this time.

The Princess of Wales saw HAMISH sent off favourite after his second in the Coronation Cup but it all went wrong for Tom Marquand - the ground had probably dried too much but the field of six split into two groups of three and Marquand found himself with the two outsiders and outpaced as ARREST and TIME LOCK went for home up the middle of the course. Unfortunately for them, GIAVELLOTTO was cantering just in behind and readily went on 300m out drawing away to win by three and a quarter lengths with the two Juddmonte horses second and third and HAMISH beaten the thisk end of 15 lengths in fourth. 

GIAVELLOTTO had won the Yorkshire Cup and 2400-2800m looks to be his optimum trip and it's no surprise a tilt at the Irish Leger is being considered.

Elsewhere, ANCIENT TRUTH became the third horse out of the English Derby to follow up with a nice win in the 2600m Listed. He's heading for the Leger but has to haver soft or slow ground given his pronounced knee action. I'd love Godolphin to consider the Arc - a Paris bog would be ideal. The Aussie filly KITTY ROSE followed up her Sandringham fidth with a second place in the 1600m Listed. She was outpointed by last year's Royal Lodge second, AL MUSMAK, who had disappointed in both the Dante and the Hampton Court.

The juvenile races at the meeting are often pointers for the rest of theseason and the 1200m race for the fillies saw a very promising debut run from ADOON VALLEY in second. She's by Too Darn Hot out of a Cape Cross mare who raced up to 2400m and she's definitely in the Stodge notebook.

[stodge]

More reviews from the past weekend coming soon but a brief look ahead to the coming weekend.

Not much happening in the UK but in Ireland we have the Irish Oaks at The Curragh on Saturday and it's a decent two day card with some fair supporting races including the Group 2 Sapphire and the Group 2 Curragh Cup on the Saturday.

Ribblesdale winner PORT FAIRY is the early 11/4 favourite with the news last week English Oaks winner EZELIYA had been retired after suffering a training setback. She will hopefully become yet another successful broodmare for the Aga Khan.

 

[stodge]

The second day of the Newmarket July Festival featured the Falmouth , a Group 1 for fillies and mares over the straight 1600m. Only a small field and dominated by the English 1000 Guineas second and Coronation Stakes PORTA FORTUNA for whom Donnacha O'Brien had booked Ryan Moore (Donnacha's father not having a runner). With the ground drying to Good, PORTA FORTUNA was backed in to tips on (10/11) against the Duke of Cambridge winner RUNNING LION and the Irish 1000 Guineas runner up A LILAC ROLLA.

An impressive performance by PORTA FORTUNA who established herself as the top 3-y-o filly miler and arguably the overall top filly miler. She won by nearly four lengths and the times was only a fraction off Standard suggesting the ground had dried markedly and much to the winner's favour.

Two of her American owners were present and this hugely consistent filly has now won her third Group 1 in ten starts. She's by Caravaggio out of a Holy Roman Emperor mare who stayed up to 3200m so you can see why Coolmore would be interested in her as a broodmare down the line.

For now, I gather the plan is the Matron and then another tilt at the Breeders Cup and I'd love to see her in the Mile against the colts and geldings - a clash between her and ROSALLION would be well worth the wait.

JABAARA outran her odds in second but second to fifth were split by half a length. A LILAC ROLLA looked as though 2000m would be a good idea but basically you had Group 2 horses in the wake of a proven Group 1 performer. RUNNING LION stopped very quickly once headed - similar happened at Epsom and I just wonder if there's a problem somewhere.

The Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge for the juvenile fillies saw a fair field headed by the Albany third HEAVENS GATE who was well supported into 15/8 against the fourth in that race, MOUNTAIN BREEZE, who eased to 7/2 but the form was comprehensively reversed with MOUNTAIN BREEZE turning a near three length deficit into a three quarter length advantage but that wasn't good enough as ARABIAN DUSK sprang a minor upset for Team Crisford (part of an opening race double) winning at 12s. In a field of winners, she was one of the few maidens having run third in a Listed over the course and distance but after a lean spell in late May and June the Crisford yard (run by Simon and his son, Ed) is firing in winners left, right and centre.

I'm not sure what to make of the form and it's early days among the juvenile fillies - the O'Brien paid BEDTIME STORY and FAIRY GODMOTHER look the top two but ARABIAN DUSK, and no doubt some others from this race, will head for the Lowther at York next month.

I don't often mention 2-y-o maidens but the 1400m colts and geldings juvenile maiden at this meeting often throws up a good one and John Gosden was strong in his praise of FIELD OF GOLD who won well. He's by Kingman out of a Shamardal mare and is a half to the useful Zambaq who raced for Roger Varian in 2021 and 2022. Gosden doesn't over race his juveniles but this one looked very good winning by three and a half lengths.

A couple of improving types in the handicaps were INVOLVEMENT who won the 2000m Class 2 and will probably go into Listed class and FAIRBANKS, who, despite pulling Oisin Murphy's arms out for 2400m, wasn't hard pressed to land the 2800m handicap and earn himself a tilt at the Ebor. He's got an ante post of 10s for that warm handicap for which they currently go 8s four times including two from the Willie Mullins yard and the Dermot Weld trained HARBOUR WIND who was runner up in the Chaudenay at the Arc meeting last year - Group 2 form in a handicap? Something to take seriously.