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July Stakes preview: all the key quotes
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 8 Jul 2026
Hugo Palmer is confident Adaay Of Scarlett has the best form of the four runners in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday – and is hoping that might be enough.
The Mehmas colt has experience of Headquarters – albeit across the road – when winning by four and a quarter lengths on the adjacent Rowley Mile on his debut in April.
He made it two wins in a row at Ascot in May before narrowly going down by half a length in both the Listed National Stakes at Sandown and the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“We are really happy with him and we are looking forward to running him,” Palmer said. “He’s got the best form in the race, but he’s vulnerable to a massive improver.
“I think he’s improved since Ascot and we are really looking forward to him running.
“I’m amazed Timeform haven’t given him a ‘p’ because every run has been better than the last, but there we go.
“I think it’s fair to say he improved for the six furlongs at Ascot, so we’re delighted with him.”
An obvious potential improver is €900,000 breeze-up buy Inner City Blues for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.
The Blue Point colt has only made one appearance in his career thus far, cruising to a two-length maiden victory at York last month which has seen him shoot to the top of the market.
“Inner City Blues gained some valuable experience at York, having come to us from the breeze-ups,” Appleby told godolphin.com.
“When the penny dropped, he pulled away nicely. We feel he has stepped forward and hopefully will take a bit of beating.”
Hickory Lad could hand Philip Makin his biggest triumph since switching from the saddle to training in the Group Two contest.
He eased to glory in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, but the Easingwold-based handler admitted he is unsure about the fast surface for his stable star.
“He’s in good shape,” Makin said. “He seemed to like the easy ground at Epsom, so that might make the ground a question mark but I’m happy with him.
“His form stacks up OK, he’s going to have to improve going up in class, but I feel that he has at home. His work has improved since Epsom so we will see and give it a shot.
“The race has cut up to only four runners so it makes it less competitive, we might be up against some good horses, but it makes it a little bit less competitive.
“Possibly it could be more tactical. Our horse is very straightforward, he can be ridden anyhow, so I don’t think it will matter to us too much.
“The Gimcrack could be an option after this, but we will see what happens. If I was to choose I’d prefer good ground to good to firm, but it’s the middle of summer and that’s what we’ve got.”
Richard Hannon’s Persian Spring completes the line-up having won his only start over six furlongs in novice company on the Knavesmire during the Dante festival.
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