Sunday's Meetings Hamilton Flat 7 Races 1:25-4:53p.m. Salisbury Flat 7 Races 1:30-5:00p.m. Sligo Flat 7 Races 1:35-5:00p.m. Newmarket Flat 7 Races 1:45-5:20p.m. 1000 Guineas Off @ 3:35p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
17:00 Salisbury - Grey Owl Class-6 Handicap over 1m6f on good-to-firm ground. This Australia gelding has briight chance of taking this finalé. Fast ground track conditions should suit admirably. David Probert rides for the Emma Lavelle yard. 5/2 (BetVictor) best price on the ATR site, at time of writing,
A massive 3 days for Godolphin, so many years in the making... Kentucky Oaks, then the 2000 gns, then last night (finally) the Kentucky Derby. Can they make a clean sweep today in the 1000gns. The KD 4th incidentally Juddmontes Final Gambit, who had only contested a grade 3, didnt just come from another county to finish 4th, but from another state. Godolophin made Coolmore up their game and make what we see today.
Just the seven races on the card for the running of the second Classic but the two juvenile races after the big race are not going to inspire much betting action with just four and six runners so this is a disappointing card. With the much cooler weather forecast, how will the fillies and mares react to the sudden change after a couple of warm weeks? Proceedings open with the Pretty Polly Stakes, which has thrown up plenty of decent fillies and that is not just the winners. As usual there is little form to go on as the field comprises fillies that may have had one or two juvenile starts. So this is likely to come down to home reputations. Owen Burrows fields Falakeyah, winner of her only start on the kitty litter last November very easily and the daughter of New Bay should not find the extra furlong and a half an issue. The Frankel filly Sand Gazelle won her only start on the Kempton kitty litter but the 20/1 SP suggests that was not expected! The Gosdens are also running Life Is Beautiful, winner of a mile maiden on the Kempton kitty litter last year and second in a novice there in April. Sadly the Ralph Beckett filly that I was interested in (That’s Amore) was taken out at final declarations but he is represented by Likealot, winner of a novice on the Chelmsford kitty litter in February. Janey Mackers won a Doncaster maiden easily on soft ground but will she be at home on this quicker ground? Qilin Queen won a Salisbury novice in a photo but was easily brushed aside when runner-up in a Haydock Listed event after that; however, she could have improved over the winter. Trad Jazz carries the Gredley Family colours and has won both starts on the kitty litter but drops back in trip having won over 11 furlongs last time. Anna Swan won her first two juvenile starts but was well beaten in the Fillies’ Mile for Sir Michael Stoute when last seen. This looks a race for the notebook... After the three year old fillies, the older fillies and mares contest the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes (2.20). Several have dropped out to leave just five. Globetrotters Beautiful Love and Cinderella’s Dream were last seen at Gulfstream (sixth in a Grade 3) and Meydan (second in a Group 2) respectively. I think the former is better over further than today’s nine but this is the latter’s trip. Secret Satire won the Musidora in 2024 but was last seen following home Cinderella’s Dream in the Belmont Oaks. The mare Running Lion was second in this race last year but subsequently won the Duke Of Cambridge at the Royal meeting and finished with an excellent second in the Prix de l’Opera, which makes her a live contender today. The very obvious form pick here under the race conditions is last year’s (surprise) 1000 Guineas winner ELMALKA, although she finished fourth in her subsequent three races all at Group 1 level; but she should see out the extra furlong here. The second Classic at 3.35 has seen the betting dominated by the Fillies’ Mile winner Desert Flower for the last couple of months as its price has contracted while the main opponents have disappeared or the Ballydoyle possibles have drifted. Her unbeaten record includes the two pattern races that she won readily, the May Hill and the Fillies’ Mile, with Aidan O’Brien’s January four length further behind in the latter as runner-up on both occasions. Duty First ran well in a couple of juvenile races (third in the Rockfel, second in the Prestige) but was a shock winner of the Fred Darling, going away by more than three lengths so it is hard to see Hey Boo (second, race fit) and Simmering (seventh) reversing that running. Remaat was third in the Nell Gwyn, a race where the first two were held up off the pace, so the tactics here will be interesting. Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story (runaway winner of the Chesham, only fifth in the Prix Marcel Boussac), Exactly (third in the Moyglare and the Prix Marcel Boussac) and Merrily (third in the Prestige and won the Oh So Sharp) were taken out at final declarations. Ballydoyle’s Frankel filly Lake Victoria was unbeaten, winning the Moyglare, the Cheveley Park and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf but makes her seasonal bow today; and the betting movement this spring has not been favourable. Juddmonte’s filly Red Letter (another Frankel) has not been seen since disappointing in the Moyglare following an easy win over the same course and distance. Flight was third in the May Hill behind Desert Flower and third in the Oh So Sharp behind Merrily. It is impossible to assess the maiden winners Elwateen and Chantilly Lace. At the prices the race is a no bet as I think that Desert Flower will win it but I never backed her ante post. Is Blindedbythelights (2.55) another Sir Mark Prescott job horse? Will the last three horses be an Appleby/Buick treble?
Conditions at Newmarket not quite as sloppy as at Churchill Downs for Good Cheer (Oaks) and Sovereignty (Derby).
