The depth of this season’s Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) for 2-year-old colts on September 28 at Newmarket are poles apart from the Middle Park Stakes (G1) for colts over the same card. Cheveley has undefeated winners in the Phoenix Stakes (G1) and Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1), along with the third Prix Morny (G1). That’s all you can ask for in a group of 2 year olds.
Babouche has been targeted at Cheveley Park since the reckoning was ready Whistle jacket In Phoenix, form was enhanced when the colt finished second with a win over Morny eight days later.
Barry Mahon, racing manager for Babouche owner Juddmonte, said: “She has been a star all year and was impressive in beating the colts at the Curragh. We gave her A bit of rest and she is definitely stronger and the question mark is the ground, I don’t know how the rain will affect her chances.”
Babouche’s record is difficult to beat and a slower landing could produce another improved effort given the pedigree. Perhaps manager Ger Lyons’ record in England will be of greater concern to punters. Lyons is a force in Ireland, but has been 0-19 here in the past five seasons and 1-27 across both tracks at Newmarket since he started training. That sole success came at least 13 years ago in this race.
The money is in for the French Raider Daylight as the ongoing troubles she faces in Morny become clearer to punters. Is the daughter of earth light She will thrive on the testing surface and the stage is set for a big run.
“We were pulled wide at Morny and Mickael (Barzalona) was concerned about covering her so chose to go for Whistlejacket. Things didn’t open up for her until it was too late, but we were pleased with the performance her performance,” said Gousserie Racing’s Pauline Chehboub, co-owner of Daylight. “We immediately thought of Cheveley Park because she has a lot of natural speed. We went there with a lot of hope.
“The Rowley Mile is quite a special track with the way it drops and rises, but Daylight is a very balanced horse and she should handle that side of things. Good sprinters most of Europe are there, but she is one of them.”
Lake Victoria may be undefeated, but her suitability for this test was difficult to predict until recently. Unusually, Aidan O’Brien sent his winner Moyglare a long way in the trip just two weeks later at Cheveley Park. That race is often geared towards future Guineas and middle-distance runners rather than sprinters.
Quiet reflection flattered at the Curragh. Daughter of Frankel is the jockey’s second string of bookings and is the favorite in the field Bedtime story finished limping. A thorough test of endurance on this 6-day trek will be in order.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “She’s coming back six furlongs, a distance she’s never run before. We had this race in mind before Moyglare. Before she ran at the Curragh, We don’t think she’ll have any problem dropping it to six, so we’ll see if she’s in good form.”
Can Whistlejacket overcome the difficulties in Middle Park?
We’ve been here with Whistlejacket. He is on a rampage in another major racing market despite three of his six runs resulting in defeats at even money or shorter. Similar prices are in store for his latest assignment because it is, in fact, one of the weakest Middle Park mines in history.
Rashabar and Daylight, who had more trouble running each pitch.
We should at least praise Whistlejacket for his constitution. Eight days earlier, this precocious young bird had fought behind Cheveley Park favorite Babouche in Phoenix. Seeing how she performed in the equivalent matches 35 minutes ago, and indeed Daylight, will provide us with valuable metrics for both lines of formation.
Whistlejacket clearly has a great reputation at Ballydoyle and he showed character to match his style as he came from behind to win at Morny. That race at Deauville became a major highlight as nine winners have achieved the group 1 double here in the past 18 years.
O’Brien said: “Whistlejacket has settled well on the soft ground so we’ll see how he gets on. We were delighted with him in the final day’s Prix Morny and he seemed to be in form good since then.”
O’Brien can rely solely on Whistlejacket for a record-extending eighth win at Middle Park, with stablemate Ideas of March is set to be retracted due to the ground.
Minister of National Defense And Shadow of light missed the September 21 Mill Reef Stakes (G2) due to deteriorating ground conditions. Their relationship will curse the recent weather. Certainly so will those involved with the Richmond Stakes (G2) winner Black Forza who found things moving too fast in the lucrative Kentucky Downs listed in his next start.
Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Shadow Of Light was a runner who was due to run at Newbury last week but we changed that direction after the ground became heavy. Conditions here could be a step slower again, although a little comfort wouldn’t be a concern.” . He has progressed since York and will be a contender at this level.”
First winner dizzy And happy have even more on their plate to prevent another Ballydoyle domination.
