Fascinating prospects at Newmarket's July meeting
One of European racing's summer highlights takes place in Newmarket this week when the July meeting rolls out over three days.
Held on the July Course a short hack across the heath from the bigger Rowley Mile course it serves up high-class action in a charming location. Recent updates to social areas behind the grandstand blend seamlessly into the tree-lined pre-parade ring which must be the best in Britain and while races begin head-on towards the grandstands, viewing for the important final two furlongs is excellent.
Qatar Racing will be represented by some interesting prospects during the meeting, which starts tomorrow (Thursday) when Sheikh Fahad will be riding in the historic Newmarket Town Plate (13.00). Now a keen participant in charity races, it will be the Sheikh's first attempt on the Town Plate, which is run over three and three-quarter miles, the longest Flat race held on a licensed racecourse in Britain. The event will be a pleasant prep for the rider ahead of his participation later this month in the Mongolian Derby.
Sheikh Fahad rides Almagest, who is trained near Chepstow by Robert Stephens hopefully he will become the second of two famous victories for Wales this week. Almagest has shown his stamina in races over hurdles, but is a four-time winner on the Flat.
Goldmember, an easy winner at Thirsk in May, tackles the Gr.3 Bahrain Trophy for trainer David Simcock, who says: ‚"It was unfortunate he could not run at [Royal] Ascot but I have quickly learnt soft ground is not what the horse wants. He worked nicely with Oisin recently and I am looking forward to running him.‚"
Blue skies and bright sunshine over Newmarket today is just what Simcock would have ordered ahead of the race, which is set to be run on good to firm ground, and it will also suit trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, who could saddle Arod in Saturday's Gr.1 July Cup over six furlongs, although he also holds an engagement in Ascot's Gr.2 Summer Mile on the same afternoon (as does Lightning Spear).
Declared horses on Friday's Newmarket card include Bletchley, who is due to reappear in the Gr.2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (aka Cherry Hinton Stakes) (15.45) having finished second, beaten a head, in Royal Ascot's Gr.3 Albany Stakes (seen left in picture below). Also set to run for Qatar Racing in that contest is Soul Silver, who won on debut at Yarmouth last month.
At York the same afternoon, La Rioja, who was fourth of ten runners in the Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup on her latest start, drops two grades to tackle the Gr.3 Summer Stakes (16.00) for Henry Candy's stable.
The July race meeting takes place while Tattersalls' July Sale is held at Park Paddocks in Newmarket. Qatar Racing is offering half a dozen horses under Jamie Railton's banner they can be found on the home page of this website under 'Horses' and 'Horses for Sale', while catalogues can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com.