Newmarket: Will The Rain Dampen City Of Troy’s Dewhurst Show?

Newmarket's wet spell would not have been what connections of City Of Troy (Justify) would have wanted, so all credit to “the lads” for their full commitment to running their new “big horse” in Saturday's G1 Native Trail's Dewhurst S. We already know what we are dealing with in terms of talent, with his performance in the G2 Superlative S. an adequate barometer, and luckily we will now get to measure his versatility and character as well with conditions as well as classy peers offering a sticking point.

As with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at Doncaster 12 months ago, soft ground will not mean a no-show from the colt that is certain to draw extra numbers to Future Champions Day and Ryan Moore was not too concerned about conditions immediately after steering Ylang Ylang (GB) to glory in the G1 Fillies' Mile. The times on Friday's card suggested good-to-soft was more accurate at that point, but the rain that came after the feature was heavy and relentless so this could be more of a slog then expected.

“He's ready for run and is three weeks down the road from The Curragh and Dean [Gallagher] is very happy with him,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “We've always loved him and he's done everything we've asked of him, so this should be a lovely run to finish off the season and a good experience.”

Soft ground holds no fears for Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's G2 Champagne S. winner Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who had the subsequent G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Listed Star Appeal S. winner Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) behind when taking Doncaster's G2 Champagne S. last month. Largely due to the dominance of Irish-trained colts in this race this century, Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) last year and Too Darn Hot (GB) in 2018 are the only two to complete the Champagne-Dewhurst double since Distant Music in 1999, so Charlie Hills' exciting colt is up against it.

“I was very impressed at Doncaster, like everyone else who was watching him, and he showed a good turn of foot which is what you need over seven in a Group 1,” Iberian's jockey Tom Marquand said. “There have obviously been Group 1 winners behind him, albeit on different ground. We've only seen City Of Troy on a racecourse twice and he's off a three-month absence since the Superlative. While he was impressive in that, if ever there is a day to take on a horse like that, this is it. Circumstances are probably as in our favour as they can be and I'm looking forward to it.”

Given how well Shadwell's Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) operated on the fast going prevalent for last month's G3 Tattersalls S., this shift underfoot has to be a question mark as it is for the G3 Acomb S. winner Indian Run (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and Prince Faisal bin Khaled and Najd Stud's TDN Rising Star Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}), who hardly looked a stout stayer over course and distance when third in the Tattersalls. Juddmonte's Array (Ire) (No Nay Never) handled heavy when edging the six-furlong G2 Mill Reef S. at Newbury, but these are far deeper waters and stamina is not guaranteed.

Owen Burrows said of Alyanaabi, “I felt he had to quicken at a few stages in the Group 3 last time. I'm not concerned if there is lack of pace in the race as this horse has won over six furlongs. He is pretty versatile. We always felt he was this level and the fact I pitched him in a listed race on his second start instead of going for a novice race under a penalty suggested that.”

 

More Autumn Offerings?

While the celebrated half-siblings Nashwan and Nayef and fellow class act Dr Fong captured the Autumn S. in its former guise as a listed contest at Ascot, it was not until the mile juvenile contest was shifted to Newmarket and upped to Group 3 status that it really took on an extra dimension. Since 2017, Godolphin's Dubawi luminaries Ghaiyyath (Ire) and Coroebus (Ire) and the Fabre A-lister Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) have graced its honour roll so this is always a race to take seriously.

Charlie Appleby has found another son of Dubawi to bid for a fourth consecutive edition and fifth since 2017 for the stable and a fifth in a row for Godolphin, with Military March (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) successful for Saeed bin Suroor in 2019. Not seen since finishing third in the Listed Pat Eddery S. on the King George card in July, Ancient Wisdom (Fr) becomes the latest to represent the form of that deep contest and his trainer is happy he is at a peak for this. “Ancient Wisdom has done very well for a break since Ascot,” he said. “I felt he lost little in defeat that day, as seven furlongs was on the sharp side and he was still learning. He has done very well since physically and it was always the plan to give him some time off ahead of an autumn campaign. His work has been good and he should handle testing conditions if the rain does come. We feel that he will be a strong player.”

Stamina will also be of concern to Aidan O'Brien, who puts forward the G2 Beresford S. runner-up Chief Little Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's TDN Rising Star Arabic Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also looks likely to relish a soft-ground mile test given the way he won on debut over seven furlongs at the July Festival here and finished second in Salisbury's Listed Stonehenge S. over this trip in August. Another big player is the Gredleys' Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who was a notable first-time winner for the James Fanshawe not renowned for big debut efforts when impressive over seven at Leicester last month.

 

Arabian Crown The One To Beat In The Zetland

Completing the trio of juvenile pattern races on the Future Champions Day card is the G3 Ghaiyyath Zetland S., where another of Appleby's Dubawi projects Arabian Crown (Fr) is likely to start at prohibitive odds. His defeat of aforementioned Arabic Legend in the Stonehenge gives him the form edge over some intriguing rivals including Ballydoyle's Curragh maiden winner Gasper De Lemos (Ire) (Justify) and Chasemore Farm's Sandown debut scorer Dambuster (GB) (Kingman {GB}) from the Andrew Balding stable.

“Arabian Crown brings a nice profile into this,” commented Appleby, who has won the last two editions with similar types. “He has a pedigree and running style that suggests stepping up to a mile and a quarter will produce further improvement, so he should be very competitive.”

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Newmarket: Shuwari Faces Ylang Ylang Again in Fillies’ Mile Decider

Unable to live with Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus) when outmanoeuvred and outspeeded in the G2 Rockfel S. at Newmarket last month, Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) face an entirely different test on Friday as they compete in the track's feature G1 Fillies' Mile. In all likelihood, fast ground over seven furlongs suited neither filly and now that the rain has come the kind of bias that proved ideal for Carla's Way's style will have disappeared. We know that Shuwari is made of the right material based on her prior defeat of Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the Listed Star S. at Sandown in July, hours before Ylang Ylang proved worthy of her TDN Rising Star status when capturing Leopardstown's G3 Silver Flash S. The question now is how they match up on a level playing field.

Shuwari's trainer Ollie Sangster commented, “She's a straightforward horse who relaxes and settles well and I can't see the step up in trip being a problem. It's nice to have a chance in a race like this and hopefully she will run well for us.” Ryan Moore said of Ylang Ylang, “She was taken off her feet a bit on quick ground over seven furlongs here last time, so the step up to a mile will suit and she has form on soft if we get a lot of rain. I'd like to think she is the filly to beat if returning to the form of her Leopardstown win.”

This is probably no match, with Doreen Tabor's Sandown maiden winner Classical Song (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) one of the lesser-exposed types held in high regard. Jeff Smith's G2 May Hill S. runner-up See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Anthony O'Callaghan and Sabina Kelly's G3 Weld Park S. scorer Caught U Looking (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) look capable of better and have little to find to get to the level of the main protagonists.

Smith's racing manager David Bowe said, “She still ran a bit green in the May Hill and has come on since then mentally. We're hoping that she will do us proud and she is obviously a really smart filly and we'll see how she fares. She has a really stout pedigree and she has the looks to go with it. She's a beautifully-proportioned filly and just neat and tidy for a two-year-old. We're very lucky that both her and Ghostwriter seem to be in good shape for the obvious next year. We don't want to tempt fate and get too excited, but it's nice to have a couple of nice horses on the books and we're in good shape.”

 

Skellet To The Test In The Oh So Sharp…
Also on the card is the seven-furlong G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp S., which features Juddmonte's recent acquisition Skellet (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Earning TDN Rising Star status over this trip at Salisbury last month, the Ralph Beckett-trained half-sister to Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) is met by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's comparatively vastly-experienced four-times winner Chic Colombine  (Fr) (Seahenge) and Godolphin's course-and-distance scorer Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said of Skellet, “We're looking forward to seeing her out and we'll find out a bit more about her. It looks a good race–Charlie Appleby's filly looked very good the day she won. Ours is a big filly and it's all about next year with her, but it will be good to give her a bit more experience. She has a beautiful pedigree [and] the fact she's by Kingman made her extra appealing.”

 

City Of Troy Faces Seven In The Dewhurst…
Saturday's G1 Native Trail's Dewhurst S. at Newmarket will see Coolmore's TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify) make his eagerly-awaited third start as he looks to seal juvenile champion honours. Kept away from slow ground after his win in the July Festival's G2 Superlative S., he may have to deal with those conditions with rain expected ahead of the seven-furlong highlight. He will be joined by stablemate Henry Adams (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is to be partnered by Frankie Dettori, with Aidan O'Brien withdrawing Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Three of the main rivals to the favourite will be Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's G2 Champagne S. winner Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Shadwell's G3 Tattersalls S. scorer Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Juddmonte's supplemented G2 Mill Reef S. winner Array (Ire) (No Nay Never).

 

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Dewhurst Likely For Bayside Boy

Group winner Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who won the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster on Sept. 11, is being pointed to the Oct. 9 G1 Dewhurst S. A winner at first asking at Newbury in July, the Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud-owned colt was second by only a head to Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) in the Listed Denford S. at there on Aug. 14. The Roger Varian trainee defeated The Queen's G3 Betway Solario S. winner Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by a head in the Champagne.

“Saturday was very satisfying,” said Varian, reflecting on his charge's Champagne victory. “His form is looking very strong. If you look at the distance between us and Masekela at Newbury and the distance between [Godolphin's subsequent G1 National S. winner] Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Masekela at Newmarket in the [G2] Superlative [S. at Newmarket in July], that form is all starting to tie in.

“We were very impressed with Charlie's horse at The Curragh on Sunday–but our horse has only had three starts as well, and he couldn't do much more than beat Reach For The Moon in the Champagne. He'd have to be considered as a high-class juvenile, I think.

“He's a horse that will stay beyond seven furlongs, but he's not a slow horse. He's a strong traveller and has won a Group 2 race that often points to the Dewhurst.

“He wouldn't be out of place in the Dewhurst field, and I'm sure that will be the number one target–but he's got entries in all the big races, and we'll have to see how he trains over the next fortnight or so and speak to connections.”

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Balding Juvenile Stars Target Group 1s

Trainer Andrew Balding outlined some long term Group 1 goals for his juvenile stable stars, with Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}) all bound for Group 1 targets in the fall.

The G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. at York on Aug. 19 is the next racecourse appearance for Kirsten Rausing's homebred G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. heroine. All being well, the dark bay will then take part in the six-furlong G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 25.

Balding said of the three-for-three filly, “Sandrine looks very good and I've been thrilled with her last two runs. She will probably run in the Lowther next then all eyes will be on the Cheveley Park. She will carry a penalty [at York] but we didn't want to wait until Newmarket to run her again. She seems to be very versatile ground wise. She is a very smart filly and is an absolute pleasure to train.”

Victorious at Newbury when unveiled in April, Berkshire Shadow saluted at Royal Ascot in the G2 Coventry S. He was last seen running second over soft ground in the G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood on July 27. The Sept. 25 G1 Muddmonte Middle Park S. going six furlongs or the G1 Darley Dewhurst S. over seven furlongs on Oct. 9 are both likely targets for the progressive colt.

“We might drop him back to six and look at the Gimcrack at York before looking at options like the Middle Park or Dewhurst in the autumn. He is a very talented horse and if he encountered soft ground again I imagine he would perform better on it now having raced on it. Like Sandrine, it is a pleasure to have him in the yard.”

Rounding out the Balding trio is Saturday's G3 Sweet Solera S. heroine Majestic Glory. Sixth at Windsor making her first start on July 5, the bay improved to second at Newbury on July 16 and donned cap and gown transferred to Newmarket on July 30, her final appearance before her Sweet Solera score. The Oct. 8 G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile is in the cards for Majestic Glory.

He added, “It was a very good performance that Majestic Glory put up in the Sweet Solera S. at Newmarket on Saturday and her breeding suggests she should stay further than seven furlongs.

“She hadn't had a massively hard race the time before and this looked a fairly good opportunity at this level so we took and I thought she looked very smart.”

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