Newmarket’s July Festival came to a close on Saturday and Sam King has a trio of horses for your tracker from the three-day meeting.
Thursday 13th July – Newmarket 4.10 – Ornellaia
This looked like a fair fillies' juvenile maiden and although the winner, Sacred Angel, remains a nice enough prospect going forward I suspect the second and third-placed horses will prove the ones to follow.
The second-placed Dubai Treasure travelled best of all before faltering late on and she should pick up a race of a similar nature with that run under her belt but it's the third-placed horse, Ornellaia, that really caught the eye.
AMO Racing have a number of high-class two-year-olds and may have another nice prospect on their hands after Ornellaia shaped with bundles of promise when third on debut at Newmarket last week. She travelled enthusiastically in the early stages and still looked to be full of running with two and a half furlongs to go. The daughter of Night Of Thunder was a bit short of room as she made her challenge and was understandably green when coming off the bridle. Kevin Stott switched his mount behind horses more towards the near side and she kept on in very pleasing style under hands and heels riding.
Connections clearly hold her in some regard given she holds a Group 1 Moyglare Stakes entry and the way she finished off her race, having been keen enough in the early stages, suggests there's certainly an engine underneath the bonnet.
The Dominic Ffrench Davis-trained filly should have little issue picking up a similar contest next-time-out and looks like a nice prospect for the latter half of the season and beyond.
Friday 14th July – Newmarket 1.50 – Local Dynasty
Charlie Appleby suffered varying fortunes over the course of the three-day meeting, but he was probably unlucky not to pick up another winner with Local Dynasty in the opener last Friday.
He looked a touch unlucky when third in the Golden Gates Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot in June and suffered a similarly awkward passage when fourth in the 6 Horse Challenge At bet 365 Handicap (Heritage Handicap) at Newmarket. Held up under James Doyle, the pair had to sit and suffer waiting for room as the race developed in front of them and it wasn't until nearing the two pole when Doyle switched towards the near side, that he was able to ask his mount for maximum effort.
The son of Dubawi stayed on nicely once in the clear, but ultimately his race was lost some way from home and James Doyle understandably didn't knock him about in the closing stages. A step up to 1m4f for the first time could be on the cards next-time-out. Only the runner-up, who also came from towards the rear but had a much smoother passage, was quicker than him over the last three furlongs.
There could easily be more to come with seven career outings, and he would certainly be of interest if upped in distance with some cut in the ground next time around.
Saturday 15th July – Newmarket 1.40 – Get Jiggy With It
The complexion of this contest changed quite dramatically with a number of runners being withdrawn on account of the rain-softened ground. However, it still looks like a race worth following. Charlie Appleby's beautifully-bred winner Race The Winner holds a Group 1 Moyglare Stakes entry and put her experience to good use but it's the second-placed horse, Get Jiggy With It, who went straight into my tracker.
Charlie Hills' filly found herself towards the rear of the field after being slowly away and had little cover for the early parts of the contest. The race began to develop away from her as the favourite, and eventual winner, picked it up towards the stands rail. Kieran Shoemark manoeuvred his mount more towards the centre of the track and despite showing clear signs of inexperience, she quickened up nicely to put herself into contention. The daughter of Highland Reel continued to pick up well once meeting the rising ground and looked like laying down a real challenge to Race The Wind in the closing stages. However, she was never quite able to pick up the winner, who had the rail to help, but it remained an effort full of promise first-time-out.
The sectionals also help confirm her debut promise with a final three-furlong time of 36.17 seconds making her the quickest filly in the field for that section by upwards of 0.49 seconds.
A half-sister to Listed winner Primo Baccio, she certainly looks to have a bright future and should have no trouble getting off the mark in maiden company.
