Newmarket
The ITV racing team bring us four races from Newmarket on Friday, where
Promissory looks the one to beat in the Princess Royal Stakes, the lightly-raced Cloak Of Spirits can regain the winning thread in the Rockfel Stakes. King Of Comedy could prove to be the class act in the Joel Stakes.
Rosemary Stakes
The one they all need to beat is Maqsad, who won the Pretty Polly at Newmarket three starts before falling short in the Oaks and Nassau Stakes respectively. This represents a significant drop in class and she really should be winning this.
The Gosden and Dettori team are represented by She’s Got You who’s won three of her last four starts. She stayed on strongly the last day and is a filly on the upgrade. Ryan Moore takes a rare ride for David O’Meara on Agincourt who’s been a model of consistency this season and should once again run well.
Of the bigger priced runners, Foxtrot Lady has the assistance of Champion-elect Oisin Murphy. She’s yet to win this season but this is her first crack at a mile but with the way she stayed the last day, it could well suit.
Selection: Foxtrot Lady – E/W
Princess Royal Stakes
The thrice-raced Promissory runs here for John Gosden and ran a super race to finish runner-up in the Group 3 March Stakes after a short break. She has a great pedigree and looks to have the ability to match.
Promissory
The much-raced Shailene got her head in front at Newbury when last seen. I think she’s a smashing filly but will come up short here. Spirit Of Appin has progressed well all season and has twice been placed at listed level. She looks booked for the runner-up spot here.
Selection: Promissory
Rockfel Stakes
Daahyeh brings some very strong form into the race having run away with the Albany on just her second start. She was a beaten favourite in the Group 1 Moyglare at the Curragh earlier in the month. She’s a classy individual and will take all the beating.
James Tate’s Under The Stars was a Group 3 winner earlier in the season and wasn’t beaten by far behind Daahyeh in the Moyglare. If she can race closer to the pace then she may reverse the form.
Blissful bids for a hat-trick of victories having stayed on strongly to take a listed contest at Leopardstown most recently. Aidan always seems to have the Midas touch with his fillies and can’t be underestimated.
Cloak Of Spirits was sent off as a hot favourite in the May Hill last month on just her second career start. She travelled well that day until fading late on and with the drop in trip looking sure to suit, she should run well.
Selection: Cloak Of Spirits – E/W
Joel Stakes
Benbatl is the highest rated in here having previously won the Dubai Turf and finished runner-up behind Winx in the Cox Plate a year ago. He’s won on three of his four starts after a break and shouldn’t be underestimated.
The horse in form has to be King Of Comedy who finished second in the St James’s Palace earlier in the season and wasn’t disgraced behind Japan in the Juddmonte International when last seen in action. He’s a nice type and will take beating.
Zaaki is a very solid Group 3 performer and nearly took the Group 2 Summer Mile in July. He’s improved since a gelding operation but may come up short. Roger Varian’s UAE Jewel is an unknown quantity having won impressively on both career starts to date. The drop back in trip shouldn’t inconvenience him and holds claims.
Selection: King Of Comedy
