July Stakes 2016 Betting Preview

The 2016 renewal of the July Stakes will be held at Newmarket, on Thursday (7th July, 2016). Shalaa won this race, last season. Let’s take a look at some of the horses most-likely to finish in the shake-up, this year…

Mehmas

Richard Hannon’s Acclamation sired colt is out of a dam called Lucina. He won on debut at Chester and followed the victory up at Newbury, beating another superb prospect in Global Applause. However Ed Dunlop’s charge got revenge in the Listed National Stakes (Sandown) and Mehmas had no answer to Caravaggio taking surge in the G2 Coventry stakes.

Ardad

The Kodiac-sired bay colt has only had 2 outings and remains unbeaten. John Gosden’s inmate beat Seed Corn by a length at Yarmouth, before announcing himself as a genuine class act in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes (Ascot). Savannah’s Dream was beaten by over 3 lengths and Ardad  looks the biggest threat to Mehmas.

Intelligence Cross

Aidan O’Brien’s American juvenile has also only been raced twice and both appearances were at the Curragh. The War Front colt was beaten by Grand Coalition, on debut, but shed his maiden tag in late June when partnered with Ryan Moore. He’s one to watch, but a big step-up is required here.

Horses likely to attract each-way money include Silver Line, Yalta, Peace Envoy, Love Dreams, Broken Stones, Medici Banchiere, Barrington and Private Matter.

Here is how the market currently looks at RaceBets. Click on the image to go straight to the ante-post market for up to date prices.

July Stakes History

First held in 1786, the Newmarket July Stakes is a highly-competitive six furlong dash for two year old thoroughbreds. It will come as no surprise for you to read that the July Course is used for this historic race, which is strictly for two year-olds. Horses carry nine stones in weight and any Group 1 or Group 2 winner will be given a further three pounds penalty. The purse is eighty thousand pounds.

There is no older race for two-year old horses than the July Stakes. When it was first introduced, fillies were also allowed to take part. A very unusual penalty was given, in the early days. Any horse that had been sired by either Highflyer or Eclipse was burdened with an extra three pounds!

The July Stakes was made a Group 3 race in 1971 and was promoted to Group 2 status in 2003. Fillies have not been allowed to run since 1976.

David Loder trained three consecutive winners, between 1999 and 2001. Loder is from Gloucestershire and is descended from the family of Loder Baronets. A former Eton boy, Loder’s short career began in 1992 and ended in 2005. He was forced to retire, due to ill-health.

His first first July Stakes victory came with City on a Hill and his third and final winner was Meshasheer. Sandwiched between those two was the 2000 champion, Noverre. Owned by Godolphin Racing and bred by the Darley Stud, this American bay stallion was out of a dam called Danseur Fabuleux. His sire was Rahy, whose most notable achievements on the track were his victories in the Sirenia Stakes and the Bel Air Handicap.

Rahy proved to be an exceptional stud horse and his progeny include Serena’s Song, Dreaming Of Anna, Mariah’s Storm and Fantastic Light. Noverre won almost one million pounds in prize-money and his other notable victories included the Prix d’Orgemont (2000), the Prix La Flèche (2000), the Champagne Stakes (2000) and the Sussex Stakes (2001). Noverre was also sent to stud, although he has not shone as a sire. His most useful runner was probably Le Havre, but the majority of his foals have been mediocre.

Another very good winner of the July Stakes was the 1993 champion, First Trump. Owned by Mollers Racing, trained by Geoff Wragg and foaled in 1991, his dam was Valika and he was sired by Primo Dominie. First Trump also won the Richmond Stakes and the Middle Park Stakes. He was named European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1993.

Make sure that you create an account with RaceBets, in time for this year’s renewal of the July Stakes!