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The Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile continues on Friday, with three Group races including the 7f Group 2 Rockfel Stakes.
The unbeaten Shuwari heads the betting for trainer Ollie Sangster, following her defeat of subsequent Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Fallen Angel at Goodwood in the Listed Star Stakes. Shuwari was always travelling well in the hands of Oisin Murphy and easily accelerated past the field with three furlongs to run, staying on to finish half-a-length ahead of Fallen Angel. In the light of the second-placed filly's exploits since, this rates as one of the better juvenile performances of the season.
An impressive winner on debut at Doncaster when recording an excellent time on the clock, Carla's Way could only manage to finish midfield at Royal Ascot in the Group 3 Albany Stakes on her next run. She was given a wind surgery in early July and shaped better when second behind Darnation in the Group 3 Prestige Fillies' Stakes, with the winner going on to record another Group success at Doncaster. There could be further improvement from the filly on her second start since that wind operation, and her form is very solid.
It is a surprise to see Aidan O'Brien's Ylang Ylang available at 5/1 despite her very disappointing run in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh. The filly had been a comfortable winner of the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown prior and it would be fair to assume that her last place finish (beaten thirteen-and-a-half lengths) in the Moyglare was not the daughter of Frankel's true running. Aidan O'Brien has proved this season, on multiple occasions, his genius in getting horses back to form and Ylang Ylang is probably over-priced with that in mind.
WIN: YLANG YLANG
Chindit will be attempting a third straight success in the 1m Group 2 Joel Stakes (3:35), following his victories in the Group 3 Superior Mile and the Listed Fortune Stakes. The five-year-old defied all expectations when recording a head win over Knight in the Fortune Stakes at Goodwood last time, with the soft ground not expected to suit Richard Hannon's charge. He continues to add stallion value ahead of a move to India to stud and it would be difficult to dismiss Chindit in his current form.
The exciting Maljoom makes his return for the William Haggas team, having not been seen on the racetrack since the epic five-way battle in last year's Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes, where he finished half-a-length fourth behind Coroebus. Unbeaten in three starts prior to that, including a victory in the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas, the Caravaggio colt boats plenty of ability and the market may prove the best guide to his chance on reappearance.
Of the remaining four runners, the Mighty Ulysses may be worth considering. He had not been seen on the racetrack for nearly a year when fifth in the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot and clearly benefited from the run. The four-year-old dead-heated for first in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury subsequently and at the current prices (6/1), he makes plenty of appeal.
WIN: MIGHTY ULYSSES
The three-year-olds dominate at the head of the market for the 1m4f Group 3 Dubai Stakes (2:25), with John and Thady Gosden double-handed. Running Lion was able to get back on track when finishing a well-beaten second in the Listed Upavon Fillies Stakes and her form from earlier in the season has been given a boost with Sumo Sam winning two Group races. That said, the Gosden's other runner, Sweet Memories, appeals as an improving type. Unbeaten in her two starts as a three-year-old, the daughter of Sea The Stars stepped up in grade and distance when taking the Listed Chalice Stakes at the July course and is open to further improvement. Frankie Dettori gets the leg-up and it may prove fruitful to side with a progressive filly for this race, rather than one of the exposed three-year-olds.
William Haggas' Sea Theme boasts a very similar profile, having won at Listed level in the 1m4f Galtres Stakes at York on her third career start. Also sired by Sea The Stars, the filly appears to relish the twelve furlong test and is a proven winner on good-to-firm ground, which she is expected to encounter on the Rowley Mile.
WIN: SEA THEME
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: QUEEN FOR YOU
RACE 2: SEA THEME
RACE 3: YLANG YLANG
RACE 4: MIGHTY ULYSSES
RACE 5: BROADWAY ACT
RACE 6: LION'S PRIDE
RACE 7: CRACK SHO