Tag Archive for: Newmarket

Cinderella’s Dream takes top spot in Falmouth Stakes

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Cinderella’s Dream emerged best of a three-way battle for Group One honours in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Cinderella’s Dream needed to reverse Royal Ascot form with her Duke of Cambridge Stakes conqueror Crimson Advocate, while Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old January provided a fresh test for the Godolphin runner.

Cinderella’s Dream (5-2) looked the have the measure of Crimson Advocate only for January (6-4 favourite) to deliver her challenge, with Buick’s mount battling all the way to the line to prevail by half a length, with a length and three-quarters back to Crimson Advocate in third.

“I did think when she hit the rising ground it would take a tough one to get past her,” said Appleby, who was winning the Falmouth for the first time.

“I’ll be honest, I don’t know if she was firing on all cylinders at Ascot. We always look for excuses when we’re beaten so we used the bend and the 3lb penalty, but she’s been round Del Mar and you ain’t going to get many tighter turns than that, so I don’t think we can say going round Ascot was going to be too much of a challenge for her.

“Will was just happy over a mile on a straight track as maybe a mile round a bend is sharp enough.

“She won her maiden at Lingfield and then we went up to Thirsk to win her novice. She’s knee high to a grasshopper but she’s as tough as teak and I’m delighted for her as she’s been so consistent and for her to win a Group One here in Europe is richly deserved.

“We’re very much going to work back from the Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf. It annoyed me when that got away for us last year, so we’ll go back for a crack at that, how we get there we’ll work that out.”

Buick said: “She’s all class. She’s been unlucky a couple of times, but today she’s put it all together.

“What a game filly she is, it was a ding-dong between two good fillies, it was a good race and she had give the second filly 9lb, it’s never easy.

“I’m just so pleased for her, she’s been a wonderful filly all through and I’m just delighted she’s got a domestic Group One next to her name.”

Venetian Sun stays unbeaten in Duchess of Cambridge Stakes

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Venetian Sun narrowly held off the late charge of Royal Fixation to win the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket and in the process take her unbeaten record to three.

Sent off the 2-5 favourite after a convincing Albany Stakes success at Royal Ascot, Venetian Sun travelled supremely well throughout the six-furlong Group Two and when Clifford Lee asked her to quicken, it looked a matter of how far.

Royal Fixation and William Buick had other ideas though, launching their challenge away from the market leader in the final furlong, with Venetian Sun’s margin only a neck in the end, although there was still a slightly cosy feel to it.

The Karl Burke-trained winner was left an unchanged 14-1 shot for next year’s 1000 Guineas by Paddy Power.

Burke said: “This race wasn’t part of the plan originally, we just made a decision last week to enter and have a look at the race and if we were happy with the filly and happy with the race then we might take our chance.

“There’s been no issues with the filly, but we haven’t trained her for this race – we’ve been fairly easy on her since Ascot, as you would expect, with the thought that we’d go for the Lowther at York or maybe the Prix Morny.

“Now she’s won a Group Two that brings the Morny into it more than the Lowther. We won’t say we’re definitely going to the Morny, but if the ground is a bit easier and it’s a race we think we can be very competitive in we could go there and still have time to get her ready for the Moyglare.

“If we’re not happy with her for the Morny, we’ll go straight to the Moyglare.”

Venetian Sun and jockey Clifford Lee after winning the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket
Venetian Sun and jockey Clifford Lee after winning the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

Burke completed the Albany/Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes double with Dandalla five years ago, while Laurens and Fallen Angel were both Classic-winning fillies for the Spigot Lodge handler, who has made no secret of the regard in which he holds his latest potential star.

“I would say she’s another league above Dandalla, who was a very good racehorse but this filly is a little bit special,” he added.

“She’d be quicker than Laurens and Fallen Angel. They were high-class, Group One-winning fillies and this filly hasn’t done that yet, but she’d be a lot quicker and she’s a very straightforward filly with a fantastic mind.”

Ed Walker was delighted with the performance of runner-up Royal Fixation.

He said: “I’m very proud of her. You come in here off the back of a Thirsk maiden and you don’t really know how good you are, but she’s very good.

“It would have been disappointing if she had run badly as we rate her very highly among our two-year-olds, but to run that filly (Venetian Sun) as close as we did is pretty exciting because I think she’s a very special filly.

“Briefly I thought we might get there. I could just sense from Will’s body language that he thought he had a chance.

“I think she was a bit green. She never came off the bridle at Thirsk so today is the first time she’s had a proper race. There’s lots more to come, I’d say.

“I don’t know where we’ll go next – I’ll have a cold beer and worry about that later. The Lowther has got to be a potential target.”

King’s Charter rules for Buick and Appleby

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Charlie Appleby and William Buick picked up where they left off on day two of the July Festival at Newmarket, with King’s Charter swooping late to land the £100,000 Bet365 Handicap.

Following a Thursday treble for the Moulton Paddocks team that featured Buick’s 2,000th winner in Britain, King’s Charter was the 9-4 favourite for Friday’s curtain-raiser, having opened his account at the third attempt on his first start as a three-year-old at Doncaster last month.

Charlie Johnston’s Marhaba Ghaiyyath kicked for home a long way out and proved a tough adversary, but Buick timed his challenge to perfection aboard King’s Charter, who just proved speedier in the finish and passed the post with three-quarters of a length in hand.

Appleby said: “We felt the step up to 10 furlongs would hopefully see a bit of improvement, which was going to be needed at a meeting like this, and he’s duly obliged with that.

“I’d probably say he’s still a handicapping type at the moment. We’ll see what the handicapper does and see where he lines up with (going to) Meydan.

“It’s that time of year – from July onwards we start to put our team together for Meydan. Whether he’s a horse that fits that bill, we’ll see.

“Is he a Group horse? Probably not really, but he’s a nice handicapper.”

Appleby and Buick were denied a double in the other £100,000 handicap on the card after Endless Victory was reeled in by Oneforthegutter (12-1) in the bet365 Trophy.

The winner would have been an unlucky loser with Silvestre de Sousa all locked up with nowhere to go at one stage – but when he brought Ian Williams’ charge, who had been second in the race last year, down the centre of the track he quickened up to win by half a length.

Williams also saddled the third home Real Dream, while his 11-4 favourite Dancing In Paris weakened into eighth place after making much of the running.

The trainer said: “Unfortunately Dancing In Paris got very keen with Marco (Ghiani) and I was actually tearing my hair out and not really noticing the other two were creeping into the race.

“Oneforthegutter is an amazing little horse. We bought him as a breeze-up, he won his first start as a two-year-old and he’s still going in one-mile-six-furlong races now at six.

“He was a fantastic third in the Ebor last year, the problem is the handicapper is probably going to put up a few pounds now and I didn’t think he was particularly well handicapped coming into today.

“Things will only get tougher for him, but there’s plenty of opportunities for these horses and we’ll make the most of them.”

David O’Meara and Rossa Ryan combined to land the Dubai Racing Club Handicap with Leadman (12-1), with the concluding debenhams.com Handicap going to 17-2 chance Emperor Spirit, trained by Michael Keady and ridden by Marco Ghiani.

Notable Speech aiming to join July Cup giants

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It might be stretching it to say Notable Speech attempts to do an Ajdal in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup, but his presence has certainly added lots of spice to the Newmarket showpiece.

Dewhurst winner Ajdal was miraculously brought back from defeats in the 2000 Guineas and Derby by Sir Michael Stoute to win the sprint championship in 1987, while the following year crack miler Soviet Star shone for Andre Fabre and France.

Royal Academy was another brilliant miler to win the July Cup, and now it is last year’s Guineas hero Notable Speech who gets his chance for Charlie Appleby and William Buick, having so far this year been fourth in both the Lockinge Stakes and Queen Anne.

Buick – on a high this week after recording his 2,000th career success in Britain – said: “I’ll tell you after the race whether it was the correct decision or not!

William Buick is fresh from riding his 2,000th winner
William Buick is fresh from riding his 2,000th winner (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club)

“He’s only ever raced over a mile and he is a very speedy miler, which the good milers usually are. I’ve always felt he could drop back in trip, certainly to seven furlongs, and I know Charlie has earmarked the City of York as one of his possible targets.

“Obviously we won’t know fully about six furlongs until we try it, but it’s worth a try. He’s a horse with loads of speed and if he can adapt to that early pace and be within himself, I think he’ll be there with a very good shot.”

Reflecting on his Ascot performance, Buick said: “He was unlucky and it was such a nightmare of a race. They went so slow and we were in a pocket and it was just one of those races you couldn’t take too much out of. Sadly, we just had to put a line through it and move on.

“Once the dust settled, Charlie and the team thought long and hard about this race for him and we’ll give it a go.

“It’s a different thing to what he has done. If you go back to the Guineas he won, that was a strongly-run Guineas run at a fast pace throughout and he’s a horse with a high cruising speed, so I hope that he will give himself every chance to travel within himself early in the race, wherever he’s happy.”

Appleby also runs Symbol Of Honour, who had been among the ante-post favourites until his stablemate was supplemented.

The trainer said: “On their home work they’re chalk and cheese, but Symbol Of Honour has always been like that and when he gets on the racecourse he’s just tough – he gets out on the pace and grinds it out.

“Notable Speech, without stating the obvious, is the class horse going into the race.

“When Will got off him at Kempton last year he said the English Guineas might be a bit stiff for him, but obviously he went and won the English Guineas and from there on he’s only ever run over a mile.

“But from what I saw in the Lockinge and although it was hard to assess Ascot because they went steady, he is a supreme traveller and I felt he’s got plenty to gain by running here on Saturday and nothing to lose.”

The ever-growing Wathnan Racing run three, but it was not a hard choice for retained rider James Doyle to pick Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda following her sterling effort when third at Royal Ascot.

“I haven’t actually had a chance to sit on her recently but I did her ride her before, albeit as a two-year-old,” said Doyle.

“I’m sure she’ll be a little bit different to the last time I sat on her, but I had a good chat with Andrew about whether it was a good idea to come down and he felt she’s very straightforward. He said there are no issues there, he didn’t think.

“Her two wins did come with ease in the ground and I’m sure one day that that might help her, but her best form  – her last run and some other bits of form –  came on very quick ground.

“When she ran behind Kind Of Blue there was plenty of ease in the ground but she’s shown to be very versatile.

“I don’t think it’s too much of a worry and she’s not a big, heavy filly, she’s quite light on her feet.”

Wathnan are also represented by Karl Burke’s Night Raider and the Tom Clover-trained Rogue Lightning.

Whistlejacket has winning form on the July course
Whistlejacket has winning form on the July course (Joe Giddens/PA)

Aidan O’Brien last won the race in 2019 with Ten Sovereigns and 12 months prior to that with another three-year-old, US Navy Flag. He runs Whistlejacket from the Classic generation this year.

Paul Smith of owners Coolmore said: “He’s working very well at home, but I see the money is coming for him and I don’t know where that money is coming from.

“He’s in good form, he’s a quality horse and was a good two-year-old, so we’re looking forward to seeing him run on Saturday.”

Opera Ballo ‘very exciting’ – but Appleby determined to take it slowly

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Charlie Appleby will continue to take “baby steps” with Opera Ballo after the exciting colt claimed his fourth victory from five starts in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Ghaiyyath made a huge impression winning his first two starts on the all-weather at Kempton and while he disappointed behind the brilliant Field Of Gold when well fancied for the Craven Stakes in April, he bounced back with a comprehensive Listed success at Sandown the following month.

Having since sidestepped Royal Ascot, Opera Ballo was the 11-8 favourite to continue his progression on the July course – and while he was giving 3lb to some smart rivals under William Buick, the result never really looked in doubt as he cruised two and three-quarter lengths clear of Seagulls Eleven.

Appleby said: “It’s easy to say after the event, but I’d have been disappointed if he’d got beat to be honest. He’s a very exciting horse we thought a lot of in the spring and even in the winter to be fair.

“He shows signs of his father as he’s a strong-minded horse, but he’s a great galloper and has got a big engine.

“People asked why we didn’t run him over seven furlongs in the Jersey (at Royal Ascot), but if you come back in trip and try to put speed in these sort of horses you can lose them and that’s the last thing I want to do, because I think he’s actually going to end up being a 10-furlong horse.”

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “He’s a horse we’ll keep taking baby steps with.

“At home you can put him in front or put him in behind and he just does as he’s asked, but when he turns up here (on a racecourse) he’s a different beast.

“He’s got to learn to do it the right way, I think he’ll have learnt a lot today and we might take him to Deauville for a Group Three.

“I know it sounds boring and people have asked why we haven’t been a bit punchier, but I’m very much working back from next year with him and I want to nurse him along so next year we have a horse that we can go to war with.

“This horse can gallop, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s got to learn to do it the right way on the racetrack.”

Opera Ballo rounded off an excellent day’s work for Appleby and Buick, with the pair enjoying a treble on the card and Buick riding his 2,000th winner in Britain aboard El Cordobes in the feature Princess of Wales’s Stakes.

The middle leg of the hat-trick was provided by Crimson Rose (7-2), who confirmed debut promise with a four-length verdict in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

“The highlight of the day has been William riding his 2,000th winner in Britain and from our point of view it’s been a great day for the team,” said Appleby.

“Crimson Rose is a filly who has obviously stepped up from Chelmsford with experience. We came here hopeful more than confident, she’s a neat little filly who shows a bit of natural pace at home and the experience under her belt from Chelmsford has probably stood her in good stead,” said Appleby.

“I wouldn’t be bold enough to say she’s a stakes filly, so we’ll see how we go.”

Marco Botti’s Prince Of India (7-1) was a decisive winner of the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap and the Newmarket-based Italian feels there could be more to come from his charge in the autumn.

Botti said: “For a while I thought this would be the race for him, but beforehand I had my doubts with the ground. We had a little bit of rain on Monday, but since then it’s been so hot and I hoped it wouldn’t be too quick for him.

“I think with the stiff finish up the hill he got away with it, but when he gets a little bit more give in the ground I think he has a little bit more to offer and there’ll be a bit more to come from him.

“Six furlongs is probably about right – he’s definitely got plenty of toe.”

The concluding Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Handicap went to Charlie Johnston’s 14-1 shot Dutch Decoy, with Jack Mitchell the winning rider.

Ghostwriter taken for observation after ‘freak’ pre-race accident

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Ghostwriter was taken to Newmarket Equine Hospital for further observation after rearing up in the pre-parade ring prior to his planned appearance in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes.

Bought by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation for £2million on the eve of Royal Ascot, Clive Cox’s stable star made a promising start for his new connections when third in the Hardwicke Stakes.

The four-year-old was set to go off the hot favourite for the Group Two feature on day one of the July meeting, but had to be withdrawn after a ‘freak’ pre-race spill.

Cox said: “It was a freak accident, we hadn’t even done the girths up, we’d just put the pads on him and I’m not even sure what startled him really.

“He reared up and lost his footing and sat right on his rump behind. He was definitely lame as a consequence, so he was taken back to the stable yard and immediately shipped to the NEH (Newmarket Equine Hospital) for further observation.

“Hopefully it’s nothing more than bruising, that would be the first opinion of the vets, but we’re going to keep him at the vets overnight just to be absolutely sure. He’s got the right people around him just in case.

“You couldn’t make it up and it was nobody’s fault – it was just freaky. I think he just lost his balance.”

Buick swoops for 2,000th British winner aboard El Cordobes

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El Cordobes came to the fore to give William Buick his 2,000th British winner in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket.

The four-year-old was one of two Charlie Appleby-trained, Godolphin-owned horses in the race alongside Arabian Crown, and started at 7-2 with John and Thady Gosden’s Palladium the 13-8 favourite after the late withdrawal of Ghostwriter.

Buick took his time in the Group Two before knuckling down in the final three furlongs, when he switched out to find some room and kicked clear for a two-length win over Wimbledon Hawkeye for a famous success.

El Cordobes comes home under William Buick
El Cordobes comes home under William Buick (Joe Giddens/PA)

Buick said: “It means a lot and I suppose it tells me and everyone else that I’ve been doing this for quite a long time!

“It’s something I wasn’t really aware of until pretty recently and you never quite know when it’s going to happen.

“There are some places to do it that aren’t as glamorous as Newmarket’s July meeting, no offence, so to do it here at my home track, for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, makes it all the more special.

“It wasn’t by design, you can’t design these things, but I’m very happy it happened the way it did.

William Buick after his 2000th British winner
William Buick after his 2000th British winner (Joe Giddens/PA)

“I’m lucky to have been champion jockey and I’ve ridden some fantastic horses for some fantastic people. I had a great time with John Gosden and now with Charlie and Godolphin, I’ve always been in a very privileged position and I’m grateful for all the support I’ve had over the years.

“It goes without saying that my family are my biggest supporters, so thank you to them and all the owners and trainers and stable staff and the great horses along the way.

“Hopefully it can continue.”

On future ambitions, he added: “You’re always looking forward and always looking for the next one.

“There’s still loads I haven’t done and races I haven’t won, the Oaks being one.”

Buick, 36, has been Appleby’s principal rider since 2015 and has claimed four of the five British Classics, with the Oaks the only one missing.

William Buick at Newmarket's July course
William Buick at Newmarket’s July course (Steven Paston/PA)

He has won the last two renewals of the 2000 Guineas with Notable Speech and Ruling Court, doubling up in the 1000 this year on Desert Flower. He has claimed the St Leger three times and the 2018 Derby on Masar.

The only other jockeys still active to have ridden over 2,000 British winners are Joe Fanning, Jamie Spencer, Ryan Moore, Luke Morris and Jim Crowley, as well as Frankie Dettori, who is currently riding in America.

Buick said: “The one race that stands out is the Derby as we all know the Derby is special and it’s the one race everyone wants to win.”

Asked to pick out one ride from Buick that he had given to one of his horses that was the most memorable, Appleby not surprisingly said: “Masar in the Derby. Just because of the whole occasion and what it meant.

“If you’re asking when I felt he’s made the difference between winning and losing I’d have to say some of the Breeders’ Cup meetings, he’s been deadly round there.

“We’re very lucky to have him as part of our team and congratulations to him and all his family, it’s a huge achievement, long may it continue.”

Buick wasted little time in making it winner number 2,001 when steering Crimson Rose to victory in the following British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

The Appleby-trained chestnut, who is by Invincible Spirit and out of the Group-winning mare Ideal Beauty, was a 7-2 chance and prevailed by a comfortable four lengths on the line.

And it was three on the day for the Buick-Appleby combination with the impressive Opera Ballo (11-8 favourite) taking the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.

Zavateri strikes the right note in July Stakes success

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Eve Johnson Houghton was brimming with delight after Zavateri maintained his unbeaten record in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes at Newmarket.

Sent off the 18-1 outsider of six, Charlie Bishop was content to sit off the red-hot early gallop set by Comical Point before Ryan Moore joined in on Brussels.

Maximized (6-4 favourite) threatened to get involved only to drop back tamely, and as Zavateri began to pull away it was Coventry Stakes runner-up Do Or Do Not who stayed on strongly to claim second, a length away as he awaits his first win.

Johnson Houghton said: “I knew he was a good horse, I wasn’t sure if he was good enough to win after only one run because he’s obviously very inexperienced.

“In the paddock he was like, ‘oh, it’s party time!’. But in the race he’s so professional. I thought, ‘Oh god he’s going to win this’, and I never had a moment’s doubt really.”

Zavateri faced a significant rise in class after winning on his Salisbury debut, but his trainer was more than hopeful he would hold his own in the Group Two affair.

“The form of his first race hasn’t worked out at all, but he could only beat what he beat and he’s done it again,” she added.

“I wondered whether I was being a bit ballsy, but quite frankly you either come here and take on Group horses or you go to a novice where you might have to give weight to a Group horse and I thought we might as well come here and see what we’ve got.

“I love this horse – he’s got a great attitude and just wants to please. He’s a dream to train and I think he’s pretty nice to ride as well.”

Zavateri is a 33-1 shot for next year’s 2000 Guineas with Paddy Power. When asked whether he could stay the mile of next season’s first Classic, Johnson Houghton said: “He’s bred to, but as I always tell all my owners, you’ve never heard of Usain Bolt’s brother! What they’re bred to do and what they do aren’t always the same thing, but I think he definitely wants seven furlongs.

“We’ll probably run him once or twice more this year, maybe he’ll go to Goodwood at the Vintage and then we can look at the Dewhurst.”

Zavateri was a second major two-year-old winner of the year for Johnson Houghton after Havana Hurricane’s success in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Comparing the two, she added: “Havana Hurricane is a sprinter and this horse wants further, so they don’t work together – and I haven’t got enough horses to be breaking them against each other!”

Scandinavia in a different league to Bahrain Trophy rivals

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Scandinavia was an emphatic winner when coming home unchallenged in the the Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket.

Aidan O’Brien’s Justify colt was the 11-8 favourite under Ryan Moore in a small field of five, and horse and rider were happy to travel along in the slipstream of early leader Furthur.

As the race progressed he loomed up beside the front runner to take the lead three furlongs from home and from there on it was plain sailing as he prevailed by an easy eight and a half lengths.

Paddy Power were very impressed and cut the winner to 6-1 from 20s for the Betfred St Leger.

Paul Smith, son of co-owner Derrick Smith, said: “He seems to have progressed nicely from Ascot and Ryan was very happy with him – he said he’s uncomplicated, he got into a lovely rhythm and we could have some fun with him over those longer distances now.

“He was out wide for a long way at Ascot but he bounced out of the race very well and really enjoyed the ground today.

“The Irish Leger and the English Leger, all those sort of races are open to him and he could be a Cup horse next year, perhaps. We can plot our way towards all those nice staying races at the end of the year now.”

The current ante-post favourite for the St Leger is stablemate and dual Derby winner Lambourn and Smith added: “There’s lots of options open and I think we’ll see how these horses get on over the festivals as after here we’ve got Goodwood and York coming up.

“He’s in the mix for all those top races.”

Doyle looking forward to Crimson tide rolling into Newmarket

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James Doyle will get his first ride on Crimson Advocate in a race in Friday’s Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes having overlooked the filly at Royal Ascot.

John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old showed a blistering turn of foot to win for the second time at the showpiece meeting, but this time over a mile having landed the Queen Mary when trained in America.

Doyle, though, preferred the claims of fellow Wathnan Racing-owned Fallen Angel who could only finish third.

“I rode Crimson Advocate just before I got injured. It’s a shame I have not had the chance to ride her on the track but I have sat on her at home and she is a beautiful filly who amazingly won the Queen Mary and is now up to a mile, which seems to be her trip,” said Doyle.

“I know she was getting a bit of weight off of Cinderella’s Dream at Royal Ascot, as the whole field was, but I thought she showed a really good turn of foot off the turn to put the race to bed with some style.

“She really seems to have taken a step forward this year. Interestingly, I was speaking to Richard Brown (racing manager to Wathnan Racing) earlier this year and he said he’d been speaking to John and Thady and they think we should try this filly over a mile. Everyone was scratching their heads a bit, but that shows why John and Thady are the top firm that they are.

“At Ascot, it definitely proved the right call and it would be lovely for her to get a Group One to her name as obviously the guys will be looking to breed from her at some stage further down the line.

“You would like to think she can step up and win a Group One.

“The slight possible question mark would be a mile in a straight line, as James (McDonald) did seem to think she enjoyed going round a turn at Ascot, which she was obviously used to from her time in the States. But she did win a Queen Mary, albeit only over five furlongs, in a straight line.”

Cinderella’s Dream was a good winner on the Rowley Mile earlier in the season
Cinderella’s Dream was a good winner on the Rowley Mile earlier in the season (Joe Giddens/PA)

The aforementioned Cinderella’s Dream, trained by Charlie Appleby, went off favourite at Ascot but does meet Crimson Advocate on 3lb better terms this time.

Her jockey William Buick said: “She had the penalty at Ascot and ran a very good race. She knuckled down and battled on well for second, I thought the winner won well and she’s probably an improving filly, but we gave her 3lb, which is never easy.

“I do think she might be suited coming back to a straight track – she was so impressive in the Dahlia over nine furlongs. I do think the Falmouth is going to suit her and she has more in her favour here than she did at Ascot.

“She’s been such a good filly, she never runs a bad race and she always runs in the good races, whether that’s here or in America. It would be lovely for her to win a Group One here, it’s not easy but we’ll do our best.”

Oisin Murphy rides the Gosdens’ other runner Running Lion, who finished fourth at Ascot.

He said: “Running Lion ran a brave race at Ascot. We’re really looking forward to running her in Friday’s race. It is obviously quite open, but we’re hopeful for a big run.”

Saeed bin Surror’s Elwateen finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas on what was just her second ever run before failing to stay the mile and a half of the Oaks.

“She’s doing very well. She worked a few days ago, her last piece of work, and she’s definitely in good form,” said Bin Suroor.

“She came back very well from her last run and we’re looking forward to running her on Friday.

“She has plenty of speed, she didn’t stay the trip over a mile and a half.

“A trip between a mile and a mile and a quarter suits her, we gave her a chance at a mile and a half but it didn’t work out.

“On the quick ground she will be happier, good ground will be perfect for her.”

Aidan O’Brien runs Coronation Stakes third January, while his son, Donnacha, is represented by Atsila.

Elmalka, winner of the 1000 Guineas last year, aims to get back to winning ways for Roger Varian and German trainer Andreas Wohler is represented by Lady Ilze from Germany.

Venetian Sun setting the standard in Duchess of Cambridge

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Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun seeks to add a third win to her flawless record in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

The Starman filly has always been held in the highest regard since her purchase for 240,000 guineas as a yearling and has not disappointed so far, winning her debut at Carlisle in May and then claiming the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in good style.

She remains at the same six-furlong trip on the July course, but is raised marginally in grade as she takes on a Group Two task under regular rider Clifford Lee.

Burke said: “It wasn’t originally in the planning to run here, but it’s a Group Two and a step forward and to get that Group Two on the CV for her as a broodmare later on is very important.

“It looks a race that she can win and she worked very nicely last week. We obviously haven’t done a lot with her since Ascot, but she had her first little piece of work since last week and did it well.

“We don’t need to be pushing any buttons with her now, we know exactly where we are with her.”

Michael Bell’s Spicy Marg steps up to six furlongs, having last been seen finishing unplaced in the five-furlong Queen Mary at the Royal meeting.

Prior to that she was an impressive winner on debut, however, and the race will determine at which level she is campaigned in the future.

“This race decides if she’s geared towards something like the Cheveley Park or we lower our sights, but she looks classy at home and it’s up to her to show us,” said Bell.

“We’ve seen glimpses of it on debut in a very good time and she ran a perfectly respectable race at Ascot.

“Given we think there’s a couple of reasons for underperforming we’d be hopeful for an improved performance.”

Ed Walker’s Royal Fixation will be ridden by William Buick on her second start, with her debut a pleasing one-length victory at Thirsk last month.

“She’s got stacks of speed and we think she’s very nice,” the trainer said.

“It’s a very strong race, but she’s in good form and this has been the plan since she won.

“I’m sure she’ll improve for that run and I guess the only thing is she barely came off the bridle.

“She will have to come off it this time and she might be like lots of mine and still be very green off the bridle, but I expect whatever we see on Friday we will then see better again in the future.”

Elsewhere in the race is Tim Easterby’s Argentine Tango, winner of both the Hilary Needler and the Empress Stakes, and Archie Watson’s Shine On Me, who was sixth in the Queen Mary.

Richard Hughes’ Mood Queen (Ryan Moore) completes the field of six.

Cinderella’s time for the spotlight

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Cinderella’s Dream can reverse Royal Ascot form and claim Group One glory in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

The Godolphin runner found the reopposing Crimson Advocate just under two lengths too good in last month’s Duke of Cambridge Stakes but there are valid reasons to think she can turn that verdict around.

Firstly, Charlie Appleby’s charge was conceding 3lb to the winner that day and they are off level weights this time, while jockey William Buick also felt a straight track is a better fit for this daughter of Shamardal.

Cinderella’s Dream had previously impressed over nine furlongs in the Dahlia Stakes on the Rowley Mile course and while she is at a weights disadvantage with the likes of January, it has been honours even between the older fillies and the three-year-olds over the last 20 years so perhaps that is not too much of an obstacle to overcome.

Appleby and Buick also have an eyecatching newcomer later on the card as €1.9million breeze-up buy Distant Storm makes his racecourse bow in the Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes.

Venetian Sun was very impressive in victory at Ascot and trainer Karl Burke follows a familiar route by now tackling the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

Burke successfully took this route with Dandalla in 2020 and while Venetian Sun did not match that filly’s six-length verdict in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting, her one-and-a-half-length win was more than good enough.

Having won on debut at Carlisle – beating Argentine Tango who tries her luck again – Burke headed to Ascot with plenty of confidence and Venetian Sun justified that faith with a comfortable verdict that hinted at much more to come.

Story Horse can gain compensation for the narrowest of defeats last time by landing the bet365 Trophy.

A short-head winner on the Rowley Mile at the Guineas meeting, he then clashed with French Master at Goodwood at the end of May, beaten just a neck.

The winner gave a huge boost to the form when landing the Copper Horse Stakes at Ascot and Story Horse should have every chance of adding his own flourish.

Nighteyes can emerge best in a really classy renewal of the William Hill Summer Stakes at York.

She outran her 100-1 odds to finish fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last month, beaten just over four lengths by impressive winner Lazzat.

David O’Meara’s charge had plenty to find on the ratings that day and a similar effort should see her involved in the finish here.

Ghaiyya can bring up her hat-trick in the Investec Out Of The Ordinary EBF Fillies’ Handicap at Ascot.

Stepping up to a mile and a half has been the making of this Ghaiyyath filly, with victories at Thirsk and Chester in recent weeks, and a 4lb rise may not be enough to stop her.

SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 2.00 Lady Of Arabia, 2.35 Better And Better, 3.10 Sea Force, 3.45 Ghaiyya, 4.20 Ride The Thunder, 4.55 Fast Track Harry.

CHEPSTOW: 5.35 Happy Chandler, 6.10 Blooming Legend, 6.40 Miakoda, 7.10 Abundance, 7.40 Ajrad, 8.10 Darkened Edge, 8.40 Douglas Dc.

CHESTER: 5.55 Steel Drum, 6.25 Wicksey, 6.55 Annsar, 7.25 Brielle, 7.55 Love Beach, 8.25 Never Dark, 8.55 Petra Celera.

CORK: 5.12 Speakasyoufind, 5.45 Harry’s Legacy, 6.15 Prince Of Air, 6.45 Killinure Lass, 7.15 Empire Succes, 7.45 Tag Man, 8.15 Beir Bua.

KILBEGGAN: 4.25 Eye Of A Tiger, 5.00 Saint Peregrine, 5.30 Boston Rajj, 6.00 Freddie Robdal, 6.30 To The Wire, 7.00 County Champs, 7.30 Flash De Touzaine, 8.00 Luckinthecity.

NEWMARKET: 1.50 Marharba Ghaiyyath, 2.25 VENETIAN SUN (NAP), 3.00 Story Horse, 3.35 Cinderella’s Dream, 4.10 Distant Storm, 4.45 Leadman, 5.20 Nogo’s Dream.

YORK: 2.10 Sword, 2.45 Nighteyes, 3.20 Secret Echo, 3.55 Yokohama, 4.32 Perfidia, 5.07 Brazen Bolt, 5.40 Sir Edward Lear.

DOUBLE: Venetian Sun and Nighteyes.

Do Or Do Not aiming to build on Ascot effort at Newmarket

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Although he is the only maiden in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes, Do Or Do Not is out to prove his Royal Ascot second was no fluke at Newmarket on Thursday.

Ed Walker’s son of Space Blues was sent off at odds of 80-1 when leading home the runners on his side of the track in the Coventry Stakes, but is sure to be much shorter in the betting this time, with his handler hoping the youngster can confirm the promise of that huge performance and break his duck.

“It’s a very different track to Ascot and he was doing some very good work late on there, but he’s not short of speed and showed plenty of speed at York before that and he’s a horse who has undoubtedly surprised us,” said Walker.

“He’s a very laid-back horse who is quite hard to assess at home, but he’s fit and well and he looks great, so I hope he can go and back up that Ascot performance.

“He’s got a wonderful temperament which is often half the battle and Ascot was only his third start so he could be able to improve on it and he came out of the Coventry really well, so we’ll see how we go.”

The top of the market for the Group Two is dominated by Charlie Appleby’s Maximized and Aidan O’Brien’s Brussels, who both sidestepped the Royal meeting but have hinted at being potential top notchers in their respective careers to date.

Both head to the July course unbeaten, with the Godolphin candidate seeing the form of his Woodcote win franked by Eve Johnson Houghton’s Epsom runner-up Havana Hurricane in the Windsor Castle at Ascot, while the Ballydoyle raider sprouted wings on his debut to down stablemate and subsequent winner Kansas.

Appleby said on the Godolphin website: “Maximized is two from two, stepping up from his novice to win nicely at Epsom. We gave him a break afterwards, as the plan was always to miss Royal Ascot, and he goes into this in great shape. He is on an upward curve and hopefully the one they all have to beat.”

Maximized in full flow at Epsom
Maximized in full flow at Epsom (Adam Davy/PA)

Johnson Houghton is represented on this occasion by Salisbury scorer Zavateri, who like Paul and Oliver Cole’s taking Goodwood victor Jel Pepper is one from one and now stepping up significantly in grade.

The select field is rounded off by Andrew Balding’s Comical Point, who steps up in trip having not been disgraced when fifth in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He ran in the Norfolk and I think the step up to six furlongs will suit and he will improve a bit for that as he was definitely doing his best work late on,” said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.

“Whether that will be good enough to win a race like this I don’t know, but I do think the six furlongs will help.”

Doyle banking on Bermuda to turn up the heat at Newmarket

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James Doyle is relishing the prospect of his reunion with Flora Of Bermuda as she seeks a change in fortunes in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes at Newmarket.

The Andrew Balding-trained filly was purchased by Wathnan Racing before Royal Ascot, where she finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes under PJ McDonald as Doyle rode Lazzat, also owned by Wathnan, to success.

Her prior form includes plenty of near-misses, including a second-placed run in the Duke of York Clipper Stakes this season and three smart Group One efforts last term.

Doyle, who rode the four-year-old in her career debut as a juvenile and has partnered her just once since, is hopeful she will this time be favoured by fortune as she tries again to score at the highest grade.

He said: “When you look at her profile she’s only won a Group Three and then the Alice Keppel before, which is mad,” said Doyle.

“She ran a hell of a race in the Champions Sprint, just behind Kind Of Blue. She wasn’t beaten far at all.

“She ran a hell of a race at Haydock as well and she ran well in behind Lazzat in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last year.

“She’s run some incredible races in Group Ones, so you’d like to think she can get her head in front in one of them.

“It’s been a little bit frustrating for the guys, and I’m sure her previous owners – hopefully she can get that Group One on the board.”

Of Flora Of Bermuda’s CV, which has seen her win only twice from 15 runs but also only come home out of the money twice, Doyle added: “She doesn’t seem to get the most luck in running, she seems to find a few traffic problems.

“She’s due a nice draw in the middle somewhere, that would be lovely for her just to simplify things.

“I think she’s a filly who likes to just be ridden with a touch of restraint, just not too far off them.”

Doyle, who has yet to land the July Cup, feels Flora Of Bermuda has the credentials to lay claim to a Group One and is naturally hopeful that Saturday’s race will prove the ideal opportunity.

“I haven’t ridden her for a little while, but I think with the form she’s shown and the way she’s hit the crossbar in these Group Ones, I’m hoping she can win one,” he added.

“Whether it’s the July Cup or other targets further down the line, we’ll have to wait and see, but she thoroughly deserves her spot in the line-up.”

Ghostwriter going for Princess of Wales’s Stakes gold

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Trainer Clive Cox considers the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes as too good an opportunity to pass up with his stable star Ghostwriter.

Although without a victory since the autumn of his juvenile campaign, the four-year-old has run some excellent races in defeat at the highest level since, last season finishing third behind City Of Troy in both the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International.

Having kicked off this year by finishing fourth in Dubai and then sixth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, Ghostwriter was sold for £2million on the eve of Royal Ascot and made a promising start in the colours of Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation by picking up the bronze medal in the Hardwicke.

Cox recently raised next month’s Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga as a likely target for the Invincible Spirit colt, but is more than happy to take in Thursday’s Group Two feature at Newmarket on the way.

“It was an early entry that wasn’t filling and it made perfect sense. It doesn’t interrupt any plans already made, so I’m very happy we’re in it,” said the Lambourn handler.

“He’s come out of Ascot very well, I’m very happy with him and it doesn’t impinge on plans to go to America at all.

“He’s shown a very good level of course form – he won his maiden on the July course and has also won on the Rowley Mile, so Newmarket is a place he handles well and I’m looking forward to it.”

Arabian Crown is one of two runners for Charlie Appleby
Arabian Crown is one of two runners for Charlie Appleby (Nigel French/PA)

Ghostwriter is set to renew rivalry with John and Thady Gosden’s Palladium, who was one place and little over a length behind him in the Hardwicke, while Charlie Appleby saddles both Arabian Crown and El Cordobes.

He told www.godolphin.com: “El Cordobes is coming back in distance from York, where we feel he did not stay the 14 furlongs. He has a bit to find on the book but, back at this trip, he should be competitive, and the quick ground will be no problem.

“Arabian Crown has been gelded since his last start and stepping back up to a mile and a half will suit. If he can recapture some of his earlier form, he is sure to be a player.”

The quintet is completed by James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye, who was last seen finishing fourth in the King Edward VIII Stakes and lines up as the sole three-year-old in the field.

“He’s very well, he’s been training great. Everything has been very straightforward and we’re really looking forward to the race,” said Owen.

“He’s got a good amount of resolution, he’s coming out of his races well and he holds his form.

“He’s against the older horses but he gets a nice allowance for that, so it will be really interesting.

“Fingers crossed it’s a nice opportunity for him.”