Newmarket Saturday preview: get the inside track from connections

The Group 2 Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes opens Saturday’s Group race programme, with seven runners declared for the mile contest. Karl Burke’s BURNING UP steps up to Group company after winning both his starts at Haydock Park and bids to maintain his unbeaten record against his strongest opposition yet.

Charlie Appleby saddles FIRST LAW, who followed a winning debut with victory in the Listed Bow Echo Ascendant Stakes. The same race provided a springboard to Royal Lodge success for Bow Echo last season. A son of Too Darn Hot, First Law was purchased by Godolphin for 1 million guineas from Airlie Stud at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He is joined by stablemate QUEST FOR STARS, who won his first three starts before finishing third in the Group 1 Golden Fleece Stakes at Leopardstown.

Marco Botti’s ROCKET BOY, runner-up to First Law in the Ascendant Stakes, renews that rivalry. A Tattersalls graduate as both a foal and a yearling, he was most recently purchased by Botti for 68,000 guineas from Hegarty Bloodstock at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Speaking to Tattersalls Botti said: “Rocket Boy is in very good form and came out of his last race in good shape. I thought he ran well despite the very soft ground, but there’s no doubt he prefers a better surface. His best form has been on good ground, and good to firm would probably be ideal.

Andrew Balding is represented by QUICKEN AWAY, a promising Frankel colt who won at Goodwood on his second and most recent start. He was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock for 500,000 guineas from Fittocks Stud at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Jockey Oisin Murphy, who has ridden him on both starts, told Tattersalls: 

HAFFNER, winner of the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes on his penultimate start, lines up for Aidan O’Brien. Completing the field is Charlie Johnston’s IWASJUSTSAYING, who won on debut before finishing runner-up last time. Johnston purchased the son of Ghaiyyath for 68,000 guineas from Deerfield Farm at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The pace of the afternoon quickens in the Group 1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes, where six leading juvenile fillies are set to meet for the six-furlong contest. Their form lines have crossed repeatedly this summer, setting up a race rich in unfinished business.

Aidan O’Brien’s SUN GODDESS heads the market as she seeks a third Group 1 victory. She has won five of her six starts, her only defeat coming in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, where Saturday’s rival LIBERTANGO finished a length clear. Trained by George Boughey, the daughter of No Nay Never was purchased by Rob Speers and Old Mill Stud for 400,000 guineas from Grove Stud at April’s Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale.

Speaking to Tattersalls ahead of Saturday’s race, Boughey said:

Libertango has won three of her four starts, with her sole defeat coming in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket. There, fellow Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up graduate SENORITA BONITA beat her by three-quarters of a length. Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, Senorita Bonita has since won the Group 1 Prix Morny by four lengths. The daughter of Starspangledbanner was purchased by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock on behalf of Victorious Forever for 900,000 guineas from Egmont Stud. 

Joint trainer Ed Crisford told Tattersalls: “We’ve been really pleased with Senorita Bonita since her win in the Prix Morny and she’s trained really well into the Cheveley Park, we’ve all been very happy with her. It looks like it’s going to be a cracking race and it’s just nice to have a filly that’s good enough to take part in a race of this quality.”

Her jockey, Oisin Murphy added: “Senorita Bonita’s been impressive on every start under me. She’s a quality filly and a very good advertisement for the sire. I’m really looking forward to Saturday’s [Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions] Cheveley Park – she’s talented to say the least.”

The Duchess of Cambridge also brings Joseph O’Brien’s ALWAYS AN ANGEL into the picture. She finished a close third behind Senorita Bonita and Libertango before going on to win at Listed level. The daughter of Harry Angel was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock for 75,000 guineas from Glending Stables at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale.

Joseph O’Brien said: “Always An Angel has had a good preparation for the race and has had a good season up until now. We’re very much looking forward to competing in what is as strong a renewal of the race as I can recall in recent years. I think we go there with every chance.”

Andrew Balding’s MOONRISE arrives with three wins from four starts, including two Group 3 victories on her most recent outings. Completing the field is Aidan O’Brien’s Listed-placed SNOWING, a daughter of No Nay Never and another graduate of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. 

The Group 1 Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes brings the afternoon’s trio of juvenile Group races to a close. Seven colts are set to contest the six-furlong prize, continuing the day’s theme of Tattersalls graduates competing at the highest level.

Charlie Appleby saddles the unbeaten INNER CITY BLUES for Godolphin. The son of Blue Point has won both his starts, most recently taking the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket. He was purchased by Yeomanstown Stud for 180,000 guineas from Ridge Manor Stud at the Tattersalls Foal Sale.

Clive Cox’s ORTHODOX  won the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes by three and a half lengths on his penultimate start before finishing behind Cheveley Park contender Senorita Bonita last time. The son of Havana Grey was purchased by Alexandra Butler for 175,000 guineas from Whitsbury Manor Stud at the Tattersalls Foal Sale.

Ireland’s challenge includes Michael O’Callaghan’s PUSH THE BOAT OUT, also unbeaten in two starts. A dual Tattersalls graduate, he was most recently purchased by O’Callaghan for 85,000 guineas from Grangeclare Stables at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale.

O’Callaghan said: “We’re looking forward to running Push The Boat Out in the Group 1 Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes on Saturday, he’s unbeaten, and he beat the Coventry winner [GREAT BARRIER REEF] on his second start. He’s a very good horse and we’re looking forward to the race.”

Aidan O’Brien sends two Book 1 graduates from Ballydoyle: MARCO POLO, who won a Cork maiden by more than five lengths, and CONFUCIUS, a maiden winner who has also placed at Group level.

Amo Racing’s dual winner FORCE NOIR lines up for Robson de Aguiar, while Adrian Keatley’s HELL OF A SPIN brings consistent Group form to the field. He has finished in the first three on all four starts, winning a maiden and placing twice at Group level, most recently when runner-up in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York. A son of Naval Crown and a two-time Tattersalls graduate, he was purchased by Keatley for €75,000 from Tally-Ho Stud at the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale.

The next sale to take place at Tattersalls is Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Europe’s Premier Yearling Sale which takes place from Tuesday 6th to Thursday 8th October at Park Paddocks in Newmarket. Please visit www.tattersalls.com to view the catalogue and for more information.