Tag Archive for: Newmarket

Eydon back on familiar ground at Newmarket this weekend

One-time Derby hope Eydon will return to the scene of his finest hour on Saturday attempting to build on his encouraging Ayr return in the German Group One Racecourses James Seymour Stakes.

The son of Olden Times thrived at Newmarket in the early stages of his career, winning the Feilden Stakes in 2022 and finishing fourth in the following month’s 2000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile when in the care of Roger Varian.

His career has been plagued by setbacks since, and now trained by Andrew Balding, he has made the track just twice since disputing Classic honours behind Coroebus.

Although finishing well held in the Winter Derby earlier in the year, there were much more positive signs at Ayr when beaten just half a length in the Doonside Cup in September.

He will now do battle once again at Listed level at Newmarket, where connections are hopeful he can make a long-awaited return to the winner’s enclosure as the joint-highest rated of the five engaged.

“Hector Crouch is going to ride and we’re hopeful. The owner has been really patient and we would love to see him continue for a bit and maybe bag something big,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser to Eydon’s Prince Faisal.

“It’s baby steps first and it would be nice to get another Listed race won and after that I think we would then wait until next year if everything went well.

“It will be slightly different ground than the Feilden but hopefully he might enjoy it, he’s the highest rated and we’re hoping for the best.”



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I Am I Said earns Derby quotes with taking Newmarket victory

I Am I Said could prove to be a real diamond for Ralph Beckett having shone brightly on Newmarket’s Two-Year-Old Day card.

The Kimpton Down handler, who scooped the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Bluestocking earlier this month, is enjoying a phenomenal end to the season and is amassing a strong team for next season.

He could now have another smart prospect to look forward to next year after the son of Almanzor scooted to a four-and-a-half-length success at odds of 20-1 in the hands of Richard Kingscote, attracting quotes of 40-1 for next year’s Derby from Paddy Power.

“He is just a nice backward horse that has been coming along slowly but surely,” said assistant trainer Joseph Tuite.

“He was ready to come racing and it’s a bit of a surprise he’s won as easily as that, but we’ve always liked him at home.

“He’s been very green in his work at home and it’s only been lately he has shown he has been ready to go racing. Ralph is never too hard on them at home and you wouldn’t be gauging them on work at home. When one wins first time out you think they are nice because they are never gunned at home.

“It looked a competitive race on paper before the race and Richard said he would get further and he would be a nice horse on better ground.”

There was a double on the card for young apprentice Jack Doughty who found the scoresheet in the British Stallion Studs EBF Future Stayers Nursery Handicap aboard Jim Boyle’s 14-1 chance Many Men and then added to his tally with Paul and Oliver Cole’s Jakarta (12-1) in the TrustATrader Nursery Handicap.

Ziggy's Phoenix was a winner at Newmarket
Ziggy’s Phoenix was a winner at Newmarket (Adam Morgan/PA)

Meanwhile Richard Hannon’s Ziggy’s Phoenix may have earnt a reprieve having landed the My Pension Expert Fillies’ Handicap at 14-1.

Owned by Middleham Park Racing, the filly was due to head to the sales, but a rethink could be in order having showed a willing attitude in the one-mile event.

“We might be having to take a little re-vote, off the back of a win it might enhance the value a little or the owners might just have a change of heart,” said Middleham Park’s Tom Palin.

“She seems to love it here and there is a bit of correlation as the last time she won here during the Sunday Series there was only one owner in attendance and the same thing has happened again!

“She’s a very gutsy filly and this track suits her quite well and she’s a credit to herself and the yard. The question today was could she handle it up in grade slightly and she’s answered the question emphatically.”



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Treble Tee hits the target for Crisfords at Newmarket

Treble Tee could have a bright future having started his career in exemplary fashion at Newmarket on Wednesday.

Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, the son of Persian King was well found in the market at 100-30 prior to his debut in the Aston Martin Novice Stakes.

Always prominent in the hands of James Doyle, the youngster bounded clear of the John and Thady Gosden-trained Mudbir in the closing stages to earn quotes of 33-1 with Paddy Power for next May’s 2000 Guineas.

“It looked like a hot race beforehand and he did it well,” said Ed Crisford. “He travelled well, picked up nicely and did everything you want to see first time out.

“First-time out I hate being drawn on the wing because you have always got that disadvantage and they don’t race amongst horses. The way he was travelling I was always quite pleased.

“He quickened away nicely and put the race to bed and he’s one for the future. He will be put away and see how he winters and take it from there really. Winning like that he has lots of options and I think he will get further in time.

“You win these maidens and it is all what it is all about, to look forward to the future.”

There was a double for Doyle when he steered Tremorgio to victory for old boss Charlie Appleby in the Boodles Maiden Stakes.

Tremogio made a winning start in a race Charlie Appleby does well in
Tremogio made a winning start in a race Charlie Appleby does well in (Adam Morgan/PA)

The Wathnan Racing number one was back in the royal blue of Godolphin as the 9-1 shot enhanced the Moulton Paddock handler’s fine record in a race, with better-fancied stablemate and 15-8 favourite Arabian Poet only fourth.

Appleby said: “He is very raw. It is unusual for us to start one off over 10 furlongs, but it’s just going on what he has showed us at home.

“Had we started him off a mile he might have founding it all happening too soon, but to be fair to James, he said once he hit the rising ground he wasn’t coming back underneath him and kept galloping out.

“He is what he’s going to be – a mile-and-a-half or mile-and-six progressive handicapper.

“He’s gelded and got cheekpieces and without stating the obvious it does tell you what we’ve seen at home, but we have seen enough to come up here and run in a Newmarket maiden so you take nothing away from him, he’s done what he’s been asked to.”



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Williams has high hopes for Aqwaam next year

Ian Williams will target major staying handicaps next season with Aqwaam following his narrow defeat in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Having been off the track since finishing sixth in the Chester Cup in May, the six-year-old belied his odds of 33-1 with an excellent run in defeat, beaten just half a length.

Aqwaam passed the post in third, but was later promoted to the runner-up spot after on-the-day winner Alphonse Le Grande was disqualified due to his rider Jamie Powell breaking the whip rules.

With opportunities to run again this term thin on the ground, Williams will now put his charge away for the winter before bringing him back for a 2025 campaign.

“I thought it was a very creditable performance off the back of his good run in the Chester Cup earlier in the year. The horse is progressing in staying races and we look forward to seeing him next season,” said the trainer.

“There’s not a lot left for him now, so we’ll probably pop him away and aim for next year’s Chester Cup.

“He had a small issue after Chester this year, which made it nip and tuck for us in terms of getting to the Cesarewitch. We managed it and he ran exceptionally creditably.

“We knew he was capable, but after suffering a small injury after Chester it was very difficult to know what to expect. He ran very well and there’s a couple of decent pots for him next season.”



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Alphonse Le Grande camp appeal against Cesarewitch sanctions

Connections of Alphonse Le Grande have submitted appeals against the horse’s disqualification from the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Trained by Cathy O’Leary and ridden by apprentice Jamie Powell, the gelding was first past the post in the handicap highlight, repelling the challenge of Manxman by a nose.

It soon became evident Powell may have breached the whip regulations though, with the rider referred to Tuesday’s meeting of the Whip Review Committee.

The WRC concluded Powell had hit his horse 10 times, four strikes above the permitted level and the trigger for automatic disqualification from the race, with Powell also banned for 28 days.

O’Leary, Powell and owners the Bet Small Win Big Syndicate will all contest those penalties at a hearing on a date yet to be decided.

A statement from the British Horseracing Authority said: “Connections and jockey of Alphonse Le Grande have submitted appeals against the Whip Review Committee’s decision to disqualify the horse from the Cesarewitch and suspend jockey, Jamie Powell, for 28 days.

“We are liaising with parties involved to determine a date for the appeal.”



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Bowen reflects on delayed Cesarewitch victory

Sean D Bowen is in the record books as a Cesarewitch-winning rider but rather than getting to celebrate on-track, he had to settle for hearing the news driving to Leicester on Tuesday.

Irish raider Alphonse Le Grande prevailed by a nose on the day at Newmarket, with Bowen’s mount, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Manxman, the vanquished runner-up.

However, it soon became apparent Alphonse Le Grande’s rider Jamie Powell had breached the whip rules, prompting a referral to the Whip Review Committee on Tuesday.

The WRC duly confirmed Powell had struck his mount 10 times, crossing the threshold for disqualification and promoting Manxman to first, with Bowen soaking up the result en-route to racing in the East Midlands.

Jockey Sean D Bowen his in contention for the apprentice crown
Jockey Sean D Bowen is in contention for the apprentice crown (Mike Egerton/PA)

He said: “They were saying it could get overturned straight after but we would have to wait until Tuesday.

“There was great excitement on Tuesday when I was driving to Leicester, I got a phone call to say the result did get overturned.

“I’ve probably never been as happy as I was going racing after hearing that news! It’s probably one of the biggest handicaps in England that everyone wants to win.”

For Bowen, it was a bittersweet feeling to be announced winner of one of the year’s most prestigious handicaps but miss out on his moment in the spotlight following the race.

And the 19-year-old – who is in a tussle with Joe Leavy for the apprentice title and hopes to lift the trophy at Catterick on Saturday – admits it would have been a great way to end a successful season if the result had been overturned on the day.

Bowen continued: “Everyone had the same idea that the result should have been changed on the day and it is definitely something they will have to look at, especially a race that big with the prize-money on offer.

“I never saw the horse on the outside and I just thought it was myself and Mr Whelan (Trevor, on Ian Williams’ Aqwaam) that it was between. As we pulled up, Mr Powell asked me did I win and I wasn’t sure, as there was a fair distance across the track between the both of us.

“It would have been a big moment for my career, but I didn’t realise he was four over until I was leaving, so I never really thought too much about it.

“I just had to wait until Tuesday to see what decision they made and luckily it came out in favour for us.”



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Monday Musings: A Mishap for Martin

It wasn’t Mullins, Willie or nephew Emmet; nor Gordon Elliott; neither O’Brien, Aidan or Joseph; nor even tricky old Charles Byrnes that was slipping away silently to collect the proceeds from a 33/1 winner of the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Saturday, writes Tony Stafford. No, it was that man Martin again.

Tony of that ilk is a mastermind at, in racecourse parlance, having it off. He did under his own name in the Chester Plate (Cup consolation) in May; lost his licence but still had the brass neck to stand grinning alongside his sister Cathy O’Leary – the trainer in name – after the same horse, Alphonse Le Grande, also picked up the Northumberland Plate consolation at Newcastle in June. Martin must have had more than a little influence in Saturday’s even more spectacular coup de grace on Dewhurst Stakes Day.

I would imagine those closest to the horse won a few bob – it’s difficult not to when the SP is 33/1 and presumably in a race that was at least ten short of the optimum figure - and no better for it - they must have got longer than that in the build-up.

It was almost with glee then that on the TV coverage after the photo-finish verdict was announced, Lydia Hislop and Nick Luck counted the whip strikes administered by apprentice rider Jamie Powell and came up with ten, the magic number which would normally be construed as the borderline for disqualification.

Nothing will be finalised until tomorrow when the whip offences committee reviews a case that seemed to satisfy the local stewards and young Powell himself, namely that he did indeed hit Alphonse Le Grande ten times.

The £99k first prize will be a significant loss to the owners, the appropriately named Bet Small Win Big syndicate, but their respective sibling trainers have done them proud collecting three very tough handicaps in the UK this year. Pretty rough justice for the rider, too!

The hapless jockey is no novice. Before this year he had amassed 59 wins in three seasons at home. In that context, only seven more from 171 rides in 2024 when an acceleration might have been expected along with experience, is quite an anomaly.

But nothing like the anomaly where riding for Saturday’s trainer, or indeed her brother when he still held the licence, is concerned. Cathy O’Leary has had an almost equal number of domestic runners on the flat and over jumps in the past period. Until September 5 when En Or won a two-mile handicap at Clonmel, she had not trained a single domestic winner and, until now, it’s En Or from 37 runs. Over jumps, it’s nought from 30, so one from 67 in all.

As to the possibility of a rider/trainer(s) connection, forget it. Young Powell, as I mentioned earlier, has had 171 rides in Ireland this year, yet none from either Mrs O’Leary or her brother. I wonder if the disqualification is confirmed tomorrow whether he’ll be asked to get up on another of their plots.

Plots they surely are. One report suggested Alphonse Le Grande had been down the field in his previous race in Ireland as though it was a rubbish run. His eighth of 30 in the Irish Cesarewitch, worth almost 500k to the winner, represented a very good performance. I just watched the replay, and he was almost the only runner staying on in a race won by Aidan O’Brien’s The Euphrates

In the last furlong and a half, he passed at least half a dozen high-class handicap stayers, many like him laid out to try to win the massive prize. Had there been another 100 yards to run, he would have been fifth.

Anyway, one win in 67 at home: yet two in five for Cathy in the UK. Her Zanndabad came over for the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot, started 9/2 favourite and finished sixth under William Buick. Belgroprince accompanied Alphonse Le Grande to Newcastle and finished seventh behind him.

Her final UK runner in that time is probably one to write down in your notebooks or trackers. The 47-rated Jackie Brown came to Hamilton in August and was unplaced in a low-grade handicap.

Since returning home, the filly has had three runs and started 25/1 each time. First it was 14th of 17; next 5th of 12; then last week at Navan she was beaten only half a length in an 18-runner handicap. Remember the name and watch out UK, Cathy might well be coming!

If the result is amended tomorrow, it will mean that never mind the 12-horse Irish assault, the UK will have ended two years of their domination in the race with a 1-2. The Crisfords’ Manxman won the race on the far side by half a length from Ian Williams’ Aqwaam, who looked all over the winner a furlong out. Strong-finishing Alphonse Le Grande nosed ahead on the near side of a race shaped into two halves by Ryan Moore’s guiding Queenstown across as they entered the ten-furlong straight.

Ryan and Aidan had earlier had the disappointment of the withdrawal of overnight odds-on shot The Lion In Winter from the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

In his absence, once raced, and that only a week earlier, Expanded made a brave battle of it with Godolphin’s Ancient Truth up the stands rail while Shadow Of Light, the other Charlie Appleby runner, switched over from the far side group to get up late in a battle of heads.

All three colts will probably be aimed at a Guineas, though whether it will be in Newmarket, Longchamp or at the Curragh is anyone’s guess at this stage. It didn’t appear there was another City Of Troy in there this year, but you never know and it was a great effort for Shadow Of Light to come back so soon after his emphatic Middle Park Stakes win over Whistlejacket two weeks earlier.

Saturday’s racing for the big teams was almost a half-term break after the excesses of three days of Tattersalls October Yearling sale Book 1.

The board behind the auctioneers shows several currencies in addition to the UK guineas bidding, with Euro, US dollar and Yen to the fore. I am grateful to the Blood Horse for revealing that Newsells Park Stud, owned by Graham Smith-Bernal, grossed almost three times as much as any other vendor, his lots accruing more than $23 million. That’s 17.6 million guineas!

The median figure (the middle when all 400 are laid out from top to bottom was an astonishing 250,000 guineas and the average 340,000 guineas, both records, as was the total turnover of 128 million guineas. That figure beat the 2022 record when 120 more yearlings were catalogued.

Sixteen lots exceeded one million guineas, and two buyers dominated throughout. Amo Racing, in a concerted effort to break into the territory that Kia Joorabchian described as “the province of the home-breeders like Coolmore, Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell”, paid a total of 20 million for 17 yearlings.

Godolphin might be prolific breeders these days, but Sheikh Mohammed and team were also very active, even exceeding Amo Racing’s tallies with 18 yearlings at just over 22 million guineas.

Smith-Bernal, happy for the international break so he could concentrate on his lovely yearlings rather than Tottenham Hotspur FC, sold the most expensive of the lot at 4.4 million for a filly by stallion of the week Frankel, naturally to Amo.

Lots of love, as the ancient Romans and Latin scholars might have said, going around at Tattersalls. And plenty of Amo too!

- TS



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Appleby all smiles after profitable Future Champions Festival

Sometimes it is OK to change your mind, and a change of heart from Charlie Appleby has been rewarded with a 2000 Guineas prospect destined to end the season as the champion two-year-old colt.

Two weeks ago, Shadow Of Light was an impressive Middle Park winner supposedly being put away to dominate the sprint division next season.

Now, he has played himself into the Classic considerations by adding the Darley Dewhurst Stakes to his CV in a battling display at Newmarket.

The son of Lope De Vega was all speed as he sluiced his way to Middle Park glory last month, but he showed an extra dimension as he became the first horse since US Navy Flag in 2017 to do the Newmarket Group One double.

For Appleby, the decision to supplement the colt into the race on Monday at a cost of £35,000 was vindicated in style and he explained he felt his star youngster was in a no-lose situation when making an extra outing for the year on the Rowley Mile.

“It’s important when they are fit and well to run them, and this horse came out of the Middle Park well and we made a collective decision that he had nothing to lose and everything to gain,” explained Appleby.

“Those people who don’t change their minds are often those ones who get stuck in a rut and you have to be open-minded in this game, because at the end of the day, they are living and breathing animals.

“We don’t know what we’re going to wake up to the next morning and you can come here with a horse you think is thriving and you wake up the next day and you don’t know what he might have done – and he could be coughing, have a temperature, anything.”

The winning connections of Shadow Of Light
The winning connections of Shadow Of Light (Mike Egerton for The Jockey Club/PA)

It was an extra race that not only provided Appleby with another Group One triumph on his local patch, but also leaves the Moulton Paddocks handler with a question to ponder over the winter.

The winner was trimmed to 10-1 by Paddy Power for next May’s opening Classic of the season and Shadow Of Light could now bid to thrive again in Newmarket early next season.

“William (Buick) said I have to train him towards a Guineas,” said Appleby. “On Guineas day, if he doesn’t stay, he can then drop back and go for the Commonwealth Cup – and that is the great thing about our programme, the way it is.

“William said he did it the right way round today, was finding all the way up the hill, and when they came to him, he really found again.”

Shadow Of Light thrived once again at Newmarket
Shadow Of Light thrived once again at Newmarket (Mike Egerton/PA)

It proved a profitable Future Champions weekend for Appleby, who made the short drive home with plenty of Classic aspirations, having also watched Desert Flower dazzle in the Fillies’ Mile on Friday.

It is safe to say there will now be no more U-turns by Appleby and both will have done enough for the year, with the 49-year-old able to head into the colder months with some hot prospects to warm up the fire, as he aims to dine out at the top table regularly during 2025.

“When you finish the season with what is looking like the champion filly and champion colt, you head into winter with a lot of nice dreams,” added Appleby.

“Most importantly from the team’s point of view, we had a few years where it was fantastic and we were on a wave that you just don’t want to die.

“Unfortunately, it did and we’ve had to regroup and rebuild – and to do that, it doesn’t happen overnight.

“We’ve made a conscious effort with the two-year-olds and some have asked why we have campaigned some of the older horses who have gone to America the way we have.

“Those horses going to America have done what they were asked to do and have served a purpose and have protected some of those horses back here.

“Horses like Arabian Crown, admittedly he hit a setback, Ancient Wisdom, Notable Speech, we’re going to need those horses next year. You need those older horses in your camp if you are hoping to campaign at the top table.”



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Alphonse Le Grande Cesarewitch joy may turn to tears

After a marathon two and a quarter miles, just a nose separated the front two as Alphonse Le Grande held off Manxman to win the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket – but there looks set to be a sting in the tail for connections.

The five-year-old was completing a pretty unique treble, as having won the consolation races for the Chester Cup and the Northumberland Plate earlier in the season, this time he was taking the main event.

Since June, he has been in the care of Tony Martin’s sister, Cathy O’Leary, as Martin serves a suspension for breaking anti-doping rules – extended as he was present for the Newcastle win.

However, this success also looks set to have the gloss knocked off it, as unfortunately for winning apprentice jockey Jamie Powell, it appeared that he used his whip 10 times, four above the permitted level.

The matter has been referred to the British Horseracing Authority Whip Review Committee, which will meet on Tuesday and will result in the likely disqualification of the winner.

Despite a full field not lining up for the second leg of the autumn double, there was still plenty of drama.

At one point, they were in two distinct groups in the home straight before fanning out right across the track – and with two furlongs to run, Aqwaam appeared to hold all the aces.

He was on the far side of the track but then 33-1 shot Alphonse Le Grande broke through on the opposite side under Powell.

There was little between them close home and finally Manxman (7-1) appeared from in behind with a powerful run and he joined the Irish raider on the line, only to fail by the narrowest of margins.

“It was down to our jockey, it was a great ride from him and great of him to bring him over for a bit of better ground,” said O’Leary, speaking before it became apparent Powell had broken the whip rules.

Alphonse Le Grande (yellow cap) just prevailed
Alphonse Le Grande (yellow cap) just prevailed (Nigel French/PA)

“It’s a big buzz and he’s a little horse with a big heart, he’s class and he got a great ride.

“I think he might be going for a holiday after winning three big races, he deserves it. I’m sure he could keep climbing higher in the staying ranks.”

When asked about Martin’s impending return, O’Leary added: “Hopefully Tony gets his licence back next week. I haven’t heard from Tony (since the race).”

Powell was unaware of his breach and initially said: “I thought I was beat and I asked Sean (D Bowen on Manxman) pulling up and he thought he had won. It’s never great when you don’t know but when I saw my name on the screen, it was great.

“I’m delighted to win for Cathy and all the team at home and it was great it all worked out well.

“I have ridden over here last year over that sort of trip and track and it was unusual to see them split. I could see plenty of fancied horses in front of me and when I could see James Doyle (on The Shunter) and Ryan Moore (on Queenstown) near me, I was delighted.

“The horse took me everywhere, I was a passenger there today but he was tough at the finish and got his head in front.”

He added: “It’s a big deal to come over here and ride winners, especially big ones, and it’s been a bit of a quiet year. It’s nice to get one before the season ends and it will be a year to remember, anyway.

“It’s my first winner over here from six or seven rides and I did the Racing League this year as well. It was nice to get my first winner.

“I was late into it, my father Anthony Powell was a jump jockey and won the Irish National and my grandfather is a Classic-winning jockey in Ireland on the Flat, so I do have a racing background.

“But myself personally, I never rode racehorses till I was 16. It’s worked out since I’ve started and it seems to be going well anyway.”

Simon Crisford said of Manxman: “He was given a fantastic ride and it was a really brave and honest effort.

“I thought he had won and I was screaming and hadn’t really seen the horse down the stands’ side.

“He put all his heart into it and was 4lb well in and that gave us effectively four lengths. We all really fancied him today and he’s run like a really nice progressive stayer for next year.”

Explaining the process, chief steward Tony McGlone said: “From a stewarding point of view, we identify a possible breach of the rules, which in this case is four over as a possible breach.

“We then ask the jockey to make a comment after watching the film and then we send the film and comments off to the Whip Review Committee and they will make a decision on Tuesday.

“It’s not a decision the stewards make, we just identify a possible breach and we then send it on to the Committee to make their decision.

“That’s the process that will be followed in this case, and there was another jockey in the race who hit his horse eight times and same situation, we looked at it, asked is he over the six? The answer is yes, by two, and then we listen to his evidence and record it and send it off to the committee, who will look at it on Tuesday and make a decision.

“We identify, collect the information, then send it on to the Whip Review Committee to make the decision.”

A British Horseracing Authority spokesperson added: “We can confirm that the ride by Jamie Powell on Alphonse Le Grande has been referred to the Whip Review Committee.

“No breach of the rules has yet been found and the horse will not be disqualified unless the Whip Review Committee, which will meet on Tuesday, determines that the whip has been used four times or more above the permitted level, and, for example, that all uses of the whip made contact with the horse, and that none of the uses were clearly and unequivocally for safety purposes only.

“There have been several cases already since the new rules were implemented whereby a ride was referred and carried a potential disqualification but the Whip Review Committee did not reach this outcome.”



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Shadow Of Light storms home to shade tight Dewhurst tussle

Shadow Of Light justified the faith connections placed in him earlier in the week having been supplemented for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes by getting up late in determined style.

Winner of the Middle Park over six furlongs just two weeks ago, trainer Charlie Appleby intimated afterwards that his colt would likely be put away for the season and aimed at the Commonwealth Cup next term.

Therefore, it was a surprise on Monday morning when Shadow Of Light’s name was added to the Group One, which traditionally decides the leading juvenile of the season.

Not many colts win the Middle Park and the Dewhurst, and for some years they were on the same day, which rendered it impossible, but US Navy Flag did manage the double in 2017.

Appleby already had one leading contender for the Dewhurst in unbeaten youngster Ancient Truth, but William Buick kept faith with Shadow Of Light, despite having an extra furlong to travel.

However, with each drop of rain turning the ground softer by the minute, confidence began to waver in the eventual even money favourite, despite the absence of The Lion In Winter due to a foot problem.

Only five went to post yet they still split across Newmarket’s great expanse, with Seagulls Eleven leading Shadow Of Light and Rock Of Cashel, while Expanded gave Ancient Truth a lead until two furlongs out.

Having initially been behind, the smaller ground held sway heading into the dip and James Doyle went for home on Ancient Truth, but he could not shake off Aidan O’Brien’s once-raced Expanded.

As the two groups began to get closer, Shadow Of Light once again displayed his smart turn of foot and for the first time showed off his stamina, as he stayed on strongly to get home by a neck from Expanded, with Ancient Truth another neck back in third.

Appleby said: “He’s some horse to do what he has done the last few weeks and full credit to the team. He’s another homebred who is a half-brother to Earthlight.

“Going forward into the spring, we can look at both divisions, I suppose. What Will was most encouraged by was the way he raced – and when he hit the rising ground, he just kept finding and found again when they came close to one another.

Dubai Future Champions Festival – Newmarket Racecourse – Saturday 12th October
Jockey William Buick with the trophy after winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Shadow Of Light (Nigel French/PA).

“Will said he can’t tell me not to look towards a Guineas in the spring. If we go there and don’t stay the mile on the day, he wouldn’t be the first horse to drop back into the Commonwealth Cup. We’ve seen it done before and I imagine that would be our programme in the spring now.”

He added: “I was delighted with Ancient Truth’s run, he was a bit fresh off his lay-off there and James (Doyle) was just having to manage him a little bit for the first two furlongs and got him into a rhythm.

“I actually thought he was going to be the one who was going to hit the rising ground and see it out the best, because at that stage William was under the pump a little bit.

“But as William said, ‘he kept finding for me’, and when the others came closer, he found again.”

Buick said: “He’s a good Middle Park and Dewhurst winner now and he’s obviously an exceptional horse. The race didn’t really play to him at all. A five-runner field, you just think we will race up the middle and everyone will have their chance.

“I needed cover and he was a six-furlong winner stepping up to seven in soft ground, so I had to conserve where I could.

“I knew if I showed him daylight too early, he would probably burn out, so I had to follow Oisin (Murphy on Seagulls Eleven) wherever he went, and Ryan (Moore on Expanded) and James went on the stands’ rail and we were far-to-middle.

“Oisin was cooked approaching the three and I had to make my way home from there and luckily, I’ve managed to make touch with Ryan and James and I just managed to get over a little bit to them – once I did, my fellow got really competitive.

“He hit the rising ground and was well on top in the end. He is really tough and responded to everything I asked him – and what really pleased me the most is, for such a quick Middle Park winner, how he showed that stamina over seven furlongs on this soft ground here.

“I can’t remember many horses I have ridden, especially two-year-olds, who would be able to do that.

“He was running on his own doing fine but once he got a sniff of the opposition, he found another gear. It was a big performance and through that you can definitely mark it up.

“You have to give credit to Charlie and the team for having a crack – he was a four-length Middle Park winner and now two weeks later he’s a Dewhurst winner.”



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The Lion In Winter unlikely to run again this season

The Lion In Winter is unlikely to run again this year having been ruled out of Newmarket’s Darley Dewhurst Stakes with a foot infection.

Aidan O’Brien’s son of Sea The Stars is unbeaten in two starts and was preparing to step up to Group One company after creating a taking impression in the Acomb Stakes at York.

Already favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Derby, he was also the overnight market leader for the Rowley Mile’s seven-furlong event before being withdrawn on Saturday morning.

The master of Ballydoyle confirmed it was a foot infection that was responsible for his big-race absence but is content to pull stumps on his two-year-old campaign at this stage, having satisfied connections with his on-track displays so far.

“It’s a foot infection and they can take a while and can come very quick overnight – it’s just an abscess that could release and be gone in a couple of days, but could take 10 days,” said O’Brien.

“I don’t think we will be pushed to run again and he has had his two runs, which is great. He’s learned plenty now and I think talking to the lads, we won’t be rushing to run again.

“You race them at two to teach them for next year and I suppose we saw plenty from him the last day. It would be tough ground too and that might not have been ideal to bottom him in that either.”



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Lead Artist brushes aside Liberty Lane for Newmarket win

Lead Artist continued his progression with a smooth victory in the Space Blues Darley Stakes at Newmarket.

The only three-year-old in the field, following the morning withdrawal of fellow Juddmonte-owned Skellet, he held off the Cambridgeshire winner Liberty Lane inside the final furlong.

A winner from King’s Gambit at Goodwood in the summer, his last performance was meritorious enough when second to multiple Group One winner Kinross at Doncaster.

Kieran Shoemark was content to sit off the pace as Al Mubhir and Liberty Lane set the fractions and when Al Mubhir dropped away to leave Liberty Lane in front, Lead Artist moved menacingly up to challenge.

He went a length up but briefly looked like he may have to really battle as Liberty Lane threatened to make a fight of it.

However, on meeting the rising ground, the 3-1 chance pulled a length and a half clear to give John and Thady Gosden something to look forward to next year.

Peace Man, a stablemate of the winner and having his first run for over a year, was back in third.

John Gosden said: “He’s done everything right and he came second to a very good horse who is a multiple Group One winner (Kinross) at Doncaster last time.

“He’s done it well and beaten the Cambridgeshire winner, it was a solid race and the ground was slightly on the testing side, but it was good and for this time of year we’re lucky to have it.

“I’m delighted for the winner – and the other horse of ours, Peace Man, has been off for a year and has come back and finished third, so that was good.

“I think the door is open now to probably go a mile and a quarter with him next year. He has been slow to come to himself but he has improved dramatically both physically and mentally and I think next year will be an exciting time for him.

“He’s in the Bahrain Trophy and that could be a place we run before coming back next year.”

Dubai Future Champions Festival – Newmarket Racecourse – Saturday 12th October
Lead Artist (right) on route to victory (Mike Egerton for The Jockey Club).

Barry Mahon, racing manager for the owners, added: “He’s always been a nice colt that we felt could be high class.

“We bumped into Kinross last time, which was no mean feat, and he proved he is still a good horse when he was second at Longchamp in the Foret.

“I think he will continue to progress, a mile and a quarter will be within his compass and some better ground will be a bit more favourable. It gives us plenty of options.”



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Desert Flower demolishes Fillies’ Mile rivals to stay unbeaten

Desert Flower stamped her class on the bet365 Fillies’ Mile with a stunning success at Newmarket.

Unbeaten in her previous three races, Charlie Appleby’s Night Of Thunder filly took her form to another level in the Group One feature.

Perhaps not to the liking of everyone when taking the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, Aidan O’Brien fielded three very highly-regarded fillies against her, with Ryan Moore choosing January, a length and a half behind the winner on Town Moor.

Heading into the dip as Dreamy, another O’Brien inmate, dropped away, there were still three in contention, the Ballydoyle pair of Ballet Slippers and January and the eventual winner, who at the time just looked a bit unbalanced.

When they met the rising ground, though, the race was over, and as William Buick straightened her out she powered away, with the 10-11 favourite running out an impressive five-and-a-half-length winner from January.

Desert Flower and jockey William Buick after winning the bet365 Fillies’ Mile
Desert Flower and jockey William Buick after winning the bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Mike Egerton/PA)

Coral cut the winner to 4-1 from 10s for next year’s 1000 Guineas behind 3-1 favourite Lake Victoria.

Appleby said: “You couldn’t be any more impressed and of course at Doncaster when you have an unbeaten filly going into a May Hill everyone was expecting a bit of a ‘wow’.

“She was harder to manage – going down to post she took William on, I wasn’t there that day and Alex Meriam (assistant) and the team did a great job, but she took some managing.

“William wasn’t sure what sort of filly he was going to have that day but once she jumped off in the race and he popped her in behind one, ultimately she switched off and did it the right way round.”

He went on: “Today I thought she paraded very well and everything was nice and calm and collected. It is always nice at this level to control all that energy. She will be a more mature filly for this in the spring.

“She is a filly who has pleased us, we were confident in her maiden and she has just kept pleasing us throughout. She’s not an exciting filly in the morning, but the way she does stuff and pulls up at the end of a gallop, it is as if she hasn’t been through a gallop.

“She won’t go five-lengths clear in a gallop but she will go a length ahead of a nice lead horse, pull up and walk home and that gives you encouragement. The team were very positive coming into today that if she was good enough she had done everything right at home.

“I think we’ve all seen her going round the paddock and she is a big, scopey filly, if she puts another 20 kilos on over the winter I will be delighted to see her in the spring. She hasn’t got to and she’s running well enough in the condition she is in, but naturally you would love to see her put a bit of condition on over the winter.

“That is definitely her done for the year. I don’t see much point going away from where we are at the moment (a mile) next season. Could she stretch out to 10 furlongs? Possibly. She’s a nice horse to go into winter with and we will be back in the spring.”

O’Brien said of his three runners, with Ballet Slippers behind January in third and Dreamy fourth: “I’m delighted and they all ran great races really. They ran as we thought they might and ran nice races.

“They are three to look forward to next year and they are all Classic-type fillies.”



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Topgear motors clear for impressive Challenge strike

Topgear made the journey from France to Newmarket thoroughly worthwhile in running out a wide-margin winner of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes.

Now trained by Christopher Head having spent his formative years with Fabrice Chappet, he is developing a reputation as a real seven-furlong specialist.

Head was one of only a few French trainers to hold their own at ParisLongchamp last weekend and no doubt if he did not have the eventual winner of the Prix de la Foret in the impressive Ramatuelle, Topgear would have run in that race instead.

Heavily backed close to the off to make him go off the 3-1 favourite, Stephane Pasquier could be spotted some way out going best of all.

Royal Scotsman ploughed a lone furrow on the rail for Jamie Spencer, running a thoroughly admirable race, getting closest to the superb winner, but was still beaten by five and a half lengths.

Stuart Williams’ prolific winner Quinault ran another big race, leading the field into the dip, but he had no answer to Topgear and finished third.

“I really love this horse, what a season for the stable and what a season for Wootton Bassett,” said Head.

“Stephane said he is not blowing a candle and he is a very nice horse. I am pleased to see his progress.

“It is incredible to train for the owner Mr Saito, he has been in the stable since the beginning of this year and I am so happy to win today for him. I hope there will be many, many other wins across Europe.

“He has always been full of speed and we overtried him over the mile. We are now sure he is better at this distance, so we will keep him at that and we will now have a strong discussion about next season’s programme.

“This horse could go anywhere and it is going to be very interesting.”



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Palmer looking for Wolf Of Badenoch to show true worth

Hugo Palmer feels Wolf Of Badenoch has a genuine excuse for his disappointing run last time out and expects him to be right in the mix in the Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

A winner on his debut at Doncaster, he then chased home Aomori City in the Vintage Stakes.

Strongly fancied for the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Palmer felt he was inconvenienced by Chancellor, who kicked out in the stalls and was withdrawn. Wolf Of Badenoch ran but finished down the field.

“He was disappointing at Doncaster, but he’s in good order,” Palmer said. “He banged his head when the Gosden horse (Chancellor) hit the gates – we hit the gates as well.

“We thought we were going and he banged his head. Whether he ran a little bit dazed or not, I don’t know.

“We’ve been very happy with him since, but obviously he needs to step back in the right direction.

“The ground might have been a little bit lively for him as well at Doncaster, I know he’s run well on fast ground at Goodwood but a bit of ease in the ground at Newmarket on Saturday would suit.

“If he comes back to his Goodwood form, then he’s probably the one to beat.”

Charlie Appleby’s Silver Peak will bid to give the stable a fifth consecutive winner in the race.

Charlie Appleby is aiming for a fifth straight win in the Autumn Stakes
Charlie Appleby is aiming for a fifth straight win in the Autumn Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

One Ruler, Coroebus, Silver Knott and Ancient Wisdom have seen Appleby dominate in recent years.

Appleby told Godolphin on X: “Silver Peak is a Dubawi who broke his maiden at Haydock and the form has worked out very well.

“He’s done very well physically at this time of year, as they always do, the Dubawis, so we’re testing ourselves at Pattern level to see what sort of a career he’s going to have in the early part of his three-year-old season.”

Ryan Moore is on Delacroix, rather than his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Genealogy, and appears hopeful.

The jockey told Betfair: “He stepped back up to the mile at Leopardstown after landing his maiden over seven furlongs at the Curragh and stayed on really well after becoming a little outpaced early in the straight there. He sets a decent standard here.”

Delacroix is building up a nice profile for Aidan O'Brien
Delacroix is building up a nice profile for Aidan O’Brien (Brian Lawless/PA)

Appleby has also won the last three renewals of the Palace Pier Zetland Stakes but he is not represented this time around.

James Doyle fancies his chances on the Wathnan Racing-owned Dunamase, trained by John and Thady Gosden

“He ran well on debut at Sandown and then was a novice winner at Kempton, so obviously this is a jump into deeper waters and we will find out what level he is at,” said Doyle.

“We’re kind of unknown at the minute where we are with him, so we’re dipping our toes in a bit to find out.”

Again, O’Brien runs two, with Moore on Shackleton and Wayne Lordan on County Mayo.

Shackleton looks a promising type
Shackleton looks a promising type (Niall Carson/PA)

“Shackleton got off the mark at the Curragh the last day when he was a decisive winner of a nine-furlong maiden after making all the running,” said Moore.

“A lovely Camelot colt who is a smart prospect for next year, he answered every call at the Curragh and was strong at the line.

“He probably sets the standard here. Our other runner, County Mayo, is out of a half-sister to Danedream and comes from a family with plenty of stamina in the pedigree.

“He took a nice step forward from his Tipperary debut to win in good fashion at Gowran Park last month and should run well.”

Ralph Beckett’s Starzintheireyes is another likely player.



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