Pallasator (13-8) and Mohatem (6-4) gave us a handy double on Thursday on the opening day of the Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket. The quality shifts up a gear on Friday with two Group 2 races on a very competitive eight-race card starting at 1.40.
The opening Listed race looks like developing into a battle between Ryan Moore on Provenance and William Buick on Belle D’Or. Although both fillies have excellent form in the book, neither looks the easiest of rides. Sir Michael Stoute had to resort to the hood for Provenance after her disappointing Sandown defeat and Moore rode a very clever race on her to win at Haydock. I got the impression that there is more to come from the well-bred filly and she could just grab the spoils.
Lucida looks the class act in the Rockfel Stakes at 2.40 following her unlucky second in the Moyglare Stud Stakes behind Cursory Glance. The winner got first run on her that day and she ran on well to be beaten only a neck. If she reproduces that effort she should win.
There are some talented milers assembled for the Group 2 Joel Stakes including Outstrip in the blue of Godolphin. He was a smart two-year-old and treated The Great Gatsby with contempt at Doncaster before winning at the Breeders’ Cup. He has come up against Kingman in his last two races and finished within three lengths or so. The danger is the rapidly improving Wannabe Yours who had to be switched around runners to score at Goodwood. Both look worthy of support at decent prices.
Windshear just missed out on a place in the St Leger and ought to gain compensation in the Godolphin Stakes at 3.45. Hopefully he hasn’t forgotten how to win after finishing second four times in a row previously but he has much the best form.
We round off the day with a couple to cheer on in the Silver Cambridgeshire at 5.00. The sensible thing to do is probably to sit this one out and see if there is any significant draw advantage for Saturday’s big race but I’m going to take an each-way interest in Mange All and Sheila’s Buddy.
Mange All ran well last time out to beat all bar The Corsican at Doncaster. He has a slightly shorter trip here and should run well. Sheila’s Buddy was second here a year ago and his recent third at Newbury looked suspiciously like a prep run for another tilt at this big handicap.
Provenance 1.40 @3-1 Betfair
Lucida 2.40 @11-8 Bet365
Wannabe Yours 3.15 @11-2 William Hill
Outstrip 3.15 @9-1 BetVictor
Windshear 3.45 @6-4 Coral
Mange All 5.00 @5-1 Bet365
Sheila’s Buddy 5.00 @25-1 Coral (each-way)
Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4
