Cambridgeshire Meeting | Horse Racing Free Tips

Majestic To Bid For Rockfel Glory

Day two of Newmarket's Cambridgeshire Festival plays host to five black-type heats with the Unibet-sponsored G2 Rockfel S. and G2 Joel S. sharing top billing on the seven-race card. The former contest's honour roll features a swathe of subsequent Group 1 winners since the turn of the century, headed by Classic heroines Speciosa (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) and Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). However, the seven-furlong juvenile fillies' prize has never made its way to Kingsclere, and last month's G3 Sweet Solera S. victrix Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}), acquired by Doreen Tabor from Gearoid Costelloe in the interim, bids to break that sequence for the Andrew Balding stable in an open renewal. The 350,000gns Tattersalls December foal will head postward as the likely favourite.

George Boughey is set to saddle G3 Prix Six Perfections winner Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), who also ran third in the G2 Prix du Calvados, and Listed Empress Fillies' S. and Listed Winkfield S. third Cachet (Ire) (Time Test {GB}). The trainer has enjoyed a banner campaign with his juvenile band and has high hopes for both. “Oscula just got caught late on last time, but she got bumped into and that lit her up and she ran keen, which she's never done before,” he said. “I think she's up to this level and I think she'll run a massive race, but she's got to handle Newmarket. She wouldn't have done a huge amount of work on the track so that's a little bit new to her, but her style of racing should suit it. Cachet and Oscula both worked nicely on Tuesday morning. Cachet was slow out of the gate and unlucky in France. She jumps out fine at home so hopefully we'll tidy that up before this. I think you'll see a different Cachet as the race wasn't run to suit her in France, but she looks great now.”

Cachet's first-crop sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) gets two shots at the prize with G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. winner Romantic Time (GB) (Time Test {GB}) seeking to push conditioner William Stone another rung up the ladder after achieving a career high in that Salisbury contest earlier in the month. Amo Racing's Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has finished just off the board in two outings for David Loughnane since placing in both the G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. for Ralph Beckett. She goes postward coming back from a close-up fourth in last month's G3 Prestige S. at Goodwood. “Hello You is improving with every run,” explained Loughnane. “She's starting to settle down as she's been overly keen on her last two starts and was arguably a bit unlucky in running. She's definitely up to this level and deserves to get a group win beside her name. She's been very consistent and has run some solid races so hopefully we'll have a good run.” Other contenders of note include the hitherto undefeated duo Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}, who snagged wins at Leicester and Kempton for Roger Charlton, and John and Tanya Gunther's Girl On Film (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), a Ralph Beckett trainee coming back off a seven-furlong maiden win at the town's Summer venue last month. “It's a big ask, but her homework indicates she's ready for it and we'll see what happens,” said Beckett. “She's a big, raw-boned filly and I'm very hopeful that it works out on Friday. If it doesn't, she'll be a better filly next year. I'm looking forward to it.”

Benbatl Seeks Joel Record

Godolphin's three-time top-level scorer Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) annexed the penultimate renewal of his home town's G2 Joel S. and, if successful this time around, will become the first dual winner of the one-mile contest. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained veteran globetrotter also ran third last year and came back off a 337-day break to be denied by pixels in last month's G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood in his only subsequent outing. “He has done well since his last race and he's in good form,” said bin Suroor. “He ran a big race in the Celebration Mile after missing the break from the stalls. This has been his target since Goodwood and his last piece of work was very good. It's going to be a good race, but we are looking to see a big run from him.” His seven rivals include the Charlie Appleby-trained 3-year-old Master Of The Seas (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who garnered last term's G2 Superlative S. and this year's G3 Craven S., lining up off a short-head second over course and distance in May's G1 2000 Guineas. “Master Of The Seas was unfortunate to meet with a setback after the 2000 Guineas, but his preparation into this has gone well and we are very pleased with him,” revealed Appleby. “There will be improvement to come on whatever he does here as we have an eye on the Breeders' Cup or Champions Day afterwards.” Former Mike de Kock trainee and dual winner of South Africa's G1 Paddock S. Queen Supreme (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) adds flavour to an already spicy affair and makes her debut for the Andrew Balding team. “This is her first run since January, but she was a Grade 1 winner in South Africa when trained by Mike de Kock,” said rider Ryan Moore. “She would have had a tough trip over here and would have had to spend time in quarantine. She's running against two very good horses in Master Of The Seas and Benbatl so it's a tough ask, but we'll see how she goes.”

Albaflora A Late Bloomer?

Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud nursery has enjoyed a season for the ages and is represented by homebred G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G2 Lillie Langtry S. placegetter Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in the G3 Princess Royal S. over 12 furlongs. The 4-year-old distaffer, who also ran fourth in this term's G1 Coronation Cup, will go postward as a likely warm order and faces a competitive cast of 10 in a sixth attempt to break her pattern-race duck. Elsewhere on the card, Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor join forces to launch a three-strong Godolphin assault on the one-mile Listed Rosemary S. with last year's G3 Prix Six Perfections second Wedding Dance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) coming back off a 419-day sabbatical and representing the former. Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who has had a wind procedure since earning minor prizes in this year's G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine at Meydan, returns for this distaffers' test off a 218-day break of her own. Her Saeed bin Suroor-trained stablemate Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another on the comeback trail after finishing lame in Meydan's Mar. 27 G2 UAE Derby and makes her first start since. Appleby's G2 Princess of Wales's S. third Star Safari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) encountered soft ground for the first time when a close-up seventh in last month's G3 Prix de Reux at Deauville and is back on a sounder surface for the Listed Godolphin S. over 12 furlongs.

HQ Juvenile Contests Take Shape

Newmarket's week of bloodstock sales and racing builds to a crescendo on Saturday with a trio of Juddmonte-sponsored juvenile contests–the G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Royal Lodge S.–sitting alongside the Cambridgeshire meeting's titular event. The six-furlong Cheveley Park has attracted a 13-strong field, headed by the hitherto undefeated Ger Lyons trainee Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who has drawn stall three, with last month's G2 Lowther S. exacta of Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) in one and two, respectively. Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's G1 Prix Morny hero Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) is the one to beat in the 10-runner Middle Park and has drawn the one hole while Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) will be up, up and away from stall five in the seven-runner Royal Lodge.

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Goffs Orby Moves To Newmarket

The Goffs Orby Sale will for the second straight year be staged away from its traditional home in Co. Kildare, this year taking place at Tattersalls's Park Paddocks in Newmarket as the result of an agreement between the two sales companies. Originally slated for Sept. 28 and 29, the sale will now be held across two evening sessions on Sept. 24 and 25 after racing at Newmarket and with a daytime session on Sept. 26. The sale will, therefore, be held in conjunction with the Cambridgeshire meeting that features the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Middle Park S.

The Goffs Sportsman's Sale, which traditionally follows on from the Orby Sale, will remain in Ireland and be held in conjunction with the Goffs Autumn Yearling and HIT Sale on Nov. 1 and 2.

The Goffs changes were announced after the Irish government announced it will scrap plans to resume indoor hospitality from July 5 amid concerns about the Delta Covid-19 variant. Ireland's travel and quarantine rules remain among the strictest on the continent. Last week, a UK buyers' bubble established by Tattersalls Ireland that facilitated around 100 UK residents to travel to Ireland for the Derby sale was quashed by the government on the morning of the sale. Referring to that episode, Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Last week's events mean that there is currently no confidence in our ability to hold the prestigious Orby Sale in Ireland whilst the current travel restrictions into Ireland remain in place. The overseas buyers 'bubble' that worked so well for the Goffs Land Rover Sale was being replicated at the Derby Sale but was inexplicably withdrawn at the eleventh hour and there is simply no way that vendors, or Goffs, can take the risk that the same thing could happen on the eve of the Orby Sale as there is too much at stake.

“In 2020 we took a later decision to move Orby to our UK sales complex in Doncaster but it is well known that the results were disappointing to say the least and potential Orby vendors have made it clear that is not an option that would be embraced. Therefore we feel it is in the best interests of Irish vendors selling in Orby to clearly state that the sale will be held in Newmarket in conjunction with some top class racing, as we cannot confidently deliver overseas buyers to Kildare, making it impossible for us to properly promote our world-class catalogue to an international audience.

“In many ways this is a disappointing move to have to make but we feel we have been left with no choice by recent events, as yearling vendors need certainty given the value of the yearlings we are asking them to commit to Orby. Our fervent hope and belief is that we will back in Kildare Paddocks for Orby 22 as the Irish National Yearling Sale belongs in Ireland.

“At this point I would like to thank Edmond Mahony and his Tattersalls' colleagues for giving us the option to essentially rent Park Paddocks and accommodate what is a competitor sale. The last 18 months have required all of us to work together in ways we could never have imagined and, whilst there has been plenty of mutually beneficial cooperation and give and take, this is a step further than anything else. We do not underestimate the magnitude of this generous gesture.”

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Murphy’s Law At Newmarket On Friday

Newmarket’s Friday fixture is replete with black-type events and it is Oisin Murphy who holds the key to the featured G2 Shadwell Joel S. Having partnered the impressive 2019 winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), he hands that ride to Frankie Dettori this time as he helps prepare Qatar Racing’s G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. Kameko has by dint of fate and circumstance failed to make the places in three starts after his finest hour when taking that mile Classic on June 6 and he is back over the same course and distance here in a no-excuse exercise. “Benbatl is one of the highest-rated horses in the world and Kameko is a Classic winner who ran the fastest-ever Guineas, so it’s a mouthwatering prospect,” Murphy said. “It will be hard for Kameko with the penalty–we have to give Benbatl a pound–but there were limited options and he’s in super form and ready to run. I obviously love Benbatl. I only raced against him once and that was in the Juddmonte International when I won on Roaring Lion. I’ve ridden Benbatl in work recently as well and he’s also in super form.”

With two of Kameko’s subsequent defeats coming over further than 10 furlongs and his only other outing at this trip resulting in a luckless fourth in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 29, his rider is happy that he is at the right distance. “He travelled very well in the Sussex and got into second place in the Juddmonte, having sat last, and then his run petered out at the line,” he explained. “Hopefully the ground continues to dry today–both he and Benbatl want top of the ground.”

Last year, Benbatl was winning this off a 10-month gap before finishing a tailed-off last in the QEII at Ascot but he proved in the spring that he retains all his ability and was last seen finishing third in the inaugural Saudi Cup on dirt at Riyadh on Feb. 29. Saeed bin Suroor said he wants the rain to stay away. “He did his last piece of work on the Watered Gallop here in Newmarket and he is doing really well,” he commented. “It is his first run in Europe since he went to Dubai and Saudi Arabia. We are looking for a good result from him. It’s a tough race, but he won it last year and it’s the right race for him. We don’t want the ground to be too soft–good ground would be good for him.”

This is no two-horse race, with Cheveley Park Stud’s talented but mercurial Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}), Saeed Manana’s Sept. 5 G3 Superior Mile winner Top Rank (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Khalid Abdullah’s July 31 G3 Thoroughbred S. scorer Tilsit (First Defence) also in contention.

Also on the card is the G2 Shadwell Rockfel S., where Ballydoyle’s Sept. 12 Listed Ingabelle S. winner Monday (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Paul and Clare Rooney’s seven-length Aug. 29 G3 Prestige S. scorer Isabella Giles (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) appear to be the main protagonists.

The G3 Princess Royal Muhaarar S. sees Kirsten Rausing’s Aug. 20 G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) set the standard, but she faces some up-and-comers including Qatar Racing’s impressive Aug. 1 Listed Chalice S. winner Katara (Fr) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

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La Barrosa Centre Stage On Cambridgeshire Opener

Newmarket’s three-day Cambridgeshire meeting starts on Thursday, with Godolphin’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) lined up for the card’s sole pattern race, the G3 Tattersalls S. Impressive on his winning debut over this seven-furlong trip at Ascot on Sept. 4, the bay is certain to start at cramped odds after two winners have boosted that form.

“La Barrosa produced a very pleasing debut at Ascot and has come out of the race well,” Charlie Appleby said. “We felt that he has shown us enough to merit the step up to pattern company and this should tell us more about his future.”

He meets Middleham Park Racing’s Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who faces a stiff task under a five-pound penalty for his success in the six-furlong G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on July 19. Sixth last time in the G2 Flying Childers S. over five at Doncaster on Sept. 11, the versatile bay needs the forecast rain to be light. “We’ve gone up and down in trip with him a bit, but the guys that ride him think that this trip is what he wants,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “He was the last off the bridle over seven furlongs in a Group 2 on the July Course [when fifth in Superlative S.], so let’s hope we have made the right decision. I hope the ground isn’t too soft. He has been busy all season and he ran a good race last time out at Doncaster.”

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