Tag Archive for: Mill Reef Stakes

Mill Reef field depleted following overnight rain

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Richard Fahey’s Powerful Glory will aim to build on his big reputation when he lines up in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

Due to heavy overnight rain the Newbury card has been decimated by non-runners, including in the afternoon’s feature race.

Adrian Keatley’s Symbol Of Strength, Hamad Al Jehani’s Defence Minister, Charlie Appleby’s Shadow Of Light and the Karl Burke-trained Andesite are all non-runners.

Powerful Glory made a deep impression when justifying odds-on favouritism on his debut at Pontefract last month.

Bruce Raymond is racing manager for Powerful Glory’s owner Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum and also looks after the racing interests of Jaber Abdullah, whose colours will be carried by another winning debutant in Jack Channon’s Sarab Star.

Raymond said: “Richard Fahey’s horse I thought had a very good winning chance, certainly a good each-way chance.

“His form hasn’t worked out much, but he’s a lovely horse and I think he could go pretty close.

“They were confident before Pontefract and he won well, so I think he’s got a good chance, hopefully, but it’s a good race of course.

“Jack’s horse is going to be one of the outsiders, but he was pretty confident going to Salisbury and I think he can improve a bit and has got a nice outside chance.”

Bargain-buy Brian has enjoyed a fine campaign for trainer Sylvester Kirk, breaking his duck over this course and distance and landing a valuable sales race at Newmarket.

The son of Shaman has also finished third in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and third in the Sirenia on his most recent outing, prompting connections to stump up the required £5,000 to supplement him for the Mill Reef earlier this week.

“We’re looking forward to it, just being in the race and having a little squeak is great,” said Kirk.

“There’s a bit of rain forecast, which I think I will help him. It’s the owners’ local racetrack and they thought ‘why not’ (supplement), so that’s why we’ve done it.

“It’s a proper race, one of the best races to win as a two-year-old, and he’s certainly had enough experience, hasn’t he?

“He didn’t cost a lot, the owners have had great fun with him, he’s in great form and he’ll go and take his chance.”

Mister Sketch backed to cope with tough conditions

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Eve Johnson Houghton’s Mister Sketch will tackle testing conditions in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The colt made a taking debut when just missing out by a neck in a July maiden at the same track, after which he headed to Salisbury for a six-furlong novice where he was a runaway nine-and-a-half-length winner.

Those outings were on good to soft and good ground respectively, conditions the now Wathnan Racing-owned youngster will not find this time, as wet weather has left the ground soft.

Johnson Houghton is hopeful he can still produce a good effort, however, and is mindful that her runner is not the only one for whom the ground is less than ideal.

She said: “He’s in great form and really well. It’s not ideal ground for him, but it’s the same for everyone and I think he’ll run a big race.

Mister Sketch (yellow) has run at Newbury before
Mister Sketch (yellow) has run at Newbury before (Adam Davy/PA)

“He’s a lovely, strong horse, so I hope he’ll be able to handle the ground.

“He was obviously impressive last time. This is a big step up, but where else do you go?”

Andrew Balding is represented by Array, a Juddmonte-owned and bred son of No Nay Never.

The colt won for the first time in a Newmarket novice after two encouraging runs beforehand, with his most recent effort being a narrowly-beaten third place in the Group Three Sirenia Stakes at Kempton.

Barry Mahon of Juddmonte is not concerned about the going, especially considering he encountered similar conditions at Goodwood when finishing second in a maiden earlier in the term.

Array at Goodwood
Array at Goodwood (left)

He told Sky Sports Racing: “I think the ground won’t be an issue for him, Andrew always felt he’d go with a bit of ease in the ground and obviously he ran well at Goodwood on desperate ground.

“He’s a nice horse who probably hasn’t been the luckiest, but he looked good winning his maiden and he’s shown a good level of form to partake in such a race.”

Michael Bell saddles the Middleham Park Racing-owned Red Zone Hero, an impressive nursery handicap winner at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting.

Prior to that, the Starspangledbanner colt finished a length behind George Scott’s Seven Questions in a Yarmouth maiden and was the decisive winner of a five-and-a-half-furlong contest at Ayr next time out.

“He won well at Doncaster on easy ground, it’s a big step forward and we’ll see how he gets on,” Bell said.

“That was big step forward from him at Doncaster and I’m sure he’s got more to offer going forward.”

Seven Questions also heads to the Group Two after his runner-up effort in the Sirenia Stakes, with Richard Hannon’s Vintage Stakes winner Haatem another due to take his chance.

Balding has another string to his bow with Spanish Phoenix, while Ralph Beckett’s Matters Most and John Ryan’s Roman Emperor complete the field of eight.