Juvenile Watch: Ross Millar's Saturday tips at Newmarket

This is a meeting where, traditionally, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin fare well and, true to form, Appleby heads into the weekend with his yard in red-hot form, operating at a staggering 60 per cent strike-rate in the past fortnight, with each of his last four juvenile runners scoring. That includes Nabati, a gutsy winner of the Mill Reef at Newbury. 

Appleby is double-handed here, with William Buick electing to ride the less-experienced, and therefore potentially less-exposed, First Law, with Champion jockey elect, Billy Loughnane, on the higher-rated Quest For Stars.

While I understand this logic, I wonder whether Buick has been too quick to disregard the latter-named colt. Yes, he seemingly found his level when losing his unbeaten record when comfortably brushed aside in the Group One HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes last time out, though he raced inefficiently there after breaking slowly, and was then unable to sustain his challenge over a furlong further than he faces here. This is also a step down in grade and, personally, I’d fancy him to be the first home of the Godolphin pair. 

However, they both have plenty to find with my tentative selection HAFFNER. He sets a clear form standard thanks to his win in the Group Three Tattersalls Acomb Stakes over a furlong shorter than this. Ridden aggressively on that occasion, Ryan Moore was clearly confident in the stamina this son of Justify is in possession of. Indeed, Aidan O’Brien has frequently referenced that progeny of Justify can take their form to another level. 

Like Quest For Stars, Haffner was comfortably beaten at Group One level last time out, but I believe it was a lack of speed for that grade over seven furlongs that proved his un-doing. 

I think he’s the best of these, and it’s only the relatively busy campaign he’s had that tempers my enthusiasm for him. 

Selection: Haffner.

What a renewal this looks set to be! Sun Goddess has been highly progressive since being caught late on in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. She's won all four starts since, including a pair of Group Ones, and her performance last time out in the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs was a career best. I’m sure her future lies over that sort of trip, though she clearly doesn’t lack pace. 

Libertango has already defeated Sun Goddess (at Royal Ascot) and arguably bettered that effort when winning the Group Two Sky Bet Lowther Stakes last time out. Prior to that, she came off second best to Senorita Bonita in the Duchess Of Cambridge, although on that occasion, I know Billy Loughnane though he committed for home too early. He rectified that last time out, and will surely ride her to arrive late on the scene here.

Senorita Bonita was narrowly defeated in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, but has improved for the step up to this trip, winning her past two starts, including when defeating the colts in the Prix Morny at Deauville last time out. 

However, it is a concern to see that the Crisford yard are operating at a paltry strike-rate of just 4 per cent in the past fortnight. In a race of fine margins, this is enough to make her the first off my shortlist. 

Of the remaining pair, I’m confident that SUNGODDESS is the most talented. I do wonder, though, how she’ll cope with the dip, as she has looked awkward on occasions. She’s also had a busy season – this will be her eighth start – but her trainer is a master at managing a juvenile fillies busy workload. 

Libertango is a solid contender, and is likely capable of reversing form with Senorita Bonita. However, she does require the most precise ride of the principles, so that narrowly pushes me in favour of Sun Goddess in the hope that (not for the first time) I’m over-thinking the potential influence the dip may have on her. 

Selection: Sun Goddess.

I think it’s reasonable to conclude that it was the combination of both slower ground and the additional furlong that saw Orthodox produce by far his most laboured effort to date when he only beating one home in the Prix Morny last time out.

He will appreciate this sounder surface here, but I still have reservations about this trip with a stiff finish, and I think we will see him back sprinting next year. 

Both Marco Polo and Confucius are below the usual standard that we normally associate with Ballydoyle representatives in this, so I’d be surprised if they are up to landing a Group One. 

The strongest Irish challenge will likely come from Push The Boat Out. He won a Group Three on his latest start, but the ground rode softer than officially described, and I’m not sure Carry The Flag, who finished second, produced the most robust opposition. 

My preference is for INNER CITY BLUES. He took a giant step forward to win the Group Three Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes on his latest start, despite racing keenly early on, proving value for more than the winning distance. 

With his yard hitting the aforementioned top form, I’d be disappointed if he can’t account for some largely underwhelming rivals. 

Selection: Inner City Blues.