The 2016 renewal of the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes will take place on Saturday, October 8th. The race is named after a horse that won the Fillies’ Triple Crown, back in 1942. Andre Fabre’s Esoterique won in 2015 and French raiders have enjoyed plenty of success in this encounter, recently.
Our ante-post market for this race is already live. Let’s take a look at some of the horses that punters are already betting on.
Alice Springs
Aidan O’Brien’s Galileo-sired chestnut already has plenty of miles on the clock and has raced in Ireland, England, France and America. She won the G1 Falmouth Stakes, at Headquarters in July, although Usherette put in a very disappointing performance that day.
Alice Springs won’t have impressed many in France, with her poor showing in the G1 Rothschild Stakes at Deauville, but she was too good for the likes of Qemah and Persuasive when winning the G1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown earlier this month and should start as favourite.
Bet On 2016 Newmarket Sun Chariot Stakes NowErvedya
Owned by the Aga Khan, this Siyouni-sired filly looks like being France’s best hope of winning. As a 3-year-old, she triumphed in the Essai Pouliches, the Coronation Stakes and the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (all G1).
Her 4-year-old campaign has been a little disappointing, although Ervedya’s 3rd place in the G1 Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in August was an eye-catching display. The likes of Galileo Gold and Esoterique finished behind her and she looks a genuine threat.
Arabian Queen
She’s a Dubawi filly who won the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes, at York in 2015. In doing so, Arabian Queen became the only horse to have beaten Golden Horn in a European race.
So far, 2016 has been a disappointment for connections and 3rd place in Listed company at Yarmouth last time out suggests she has something to find – even though that race was won by So Mi Dar. Could challenge, if she can rediscover her very-best form.
Others to consider are Volta, Smart Call, Always Smile and Frederic Head’s Siyoushake. Irish Rookie and Epsom Icon may struggle to attract money from even the most optimistic of each-way bettors!
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About The Sun Chariot Stakes
This is a straight turf fixture that takes place on the Rowley Mile and there is a two hundred thousand pounds purse to be shared. Three year-old horses carry nine stones exactly, while older thoroughbreds will be given a further three pounds.
The race was first held in 1966, just after England had beaten Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
Sun Chariot was an exceptional filly and will never be forgotten, following her Fillies Triple Crown triumph in 1942. She was bred by the National Stud and out of a dam called Clarence. She was sired by Hyperion, a winner of the New Stakes (1932), the Dewhurst Stakes (1932), the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1933), the Chester Vase (1933), the Epsom Derby (1933) and the St. Leger Stakes (1933).
She also won the Queen Mary Stakes as a two year-old, before going on to complete the Triple Crown in her Classic campaign. She then became a useful broodmare and the best of her crop were Blue Train, Landau and Pindari.
The Sun Chariot Stakes was originally a one mile and two furlongs fixture and restricted to three year-old fillies. The event was given Group 2 status in 1971 and older horses have been permitted to run since 1974. The Sun Chariot Stakes was reduced to a mile in 2000 and the honour of Group 1 status was only bestowed as recently as 2004.
Notable Sun Chariot Stakes winners include Integral, Sky Lantern, Saphresa, Halfway To Heaven, Peeress, Attraction, One So Wonderful, Indian Skimmer, Cormorant Wood, Time Charter and Swiss Maid.
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