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Newmarket plays host to Future Champions' Day in a couple of weeks, but the Cambridgeshire meeting hosts a fillies version with the Group 1 Cheveley Park and Fillies' Mile, though this year it was another race that produced the most significant performance. David Johnson explains...
More will be heard of Miss France, that is for sure. Agents for Marine Lorphelin, winner of the latest renewal of the beauty pageant founded in 1920 by Maurice de Waleffe need not unduly concern themselves, as it is the Andre Fabre-trained filly that is more likely to be dominating the headlines in 2014.
Miss France came into the Oh So Sharp Stakes with just a couple of runs behind her, well held on her debut before winning a fillies minor event at Chantilly late last month. She now finds herself towards the head of the 1000 Guineas betting and also Timeform's highest-rated European 2-y-o filly, with a figure of 114p.
Although only a Group 3 contest, the form Miss France showed in pulling well clear with Lightning Thunder is in advance of that shown subsequently at Newmarket at the weekend by the Fillies' Mile and Cheveley Park winners Chriselliam and Vorda.
Miss France and Lightning Thunder both earned bare form ratings of 110, figures towards the high end of those suggested by historical standards, and more than confirmed by the overall race time. The timefigure takes an even higher view, rating both Miss France and Lightning Thunder 116.
Miss France was value for more than the bare margin of a head, and that has been built into her updated master rating, a rating of 114p the highest awarded to the winner of the Oh So Sharp Stakes, which was upgraded from listed status in 2007.
Later that afternoon, Chriselliam caused a surprise to win the Fillies' Mile, sweeping through from rear in a steadily-run race to run down the favourite, Rizeena, the style of the win suggesting she was full value for it.
The Fillies' Mile is pretty straightforward to assess, historical standards giving a relatively close range of 110-114 with prior-rating standards pointing to a figure of 112. This was the third time the race has been run at Newmarket since switched permanently from Ascot, and a figure in the low 110s certainly points to it being a fairly typical, unremarkable renewal.
Similar comments apply to the Cheveley Park Stakes, which like the Fillies' Mile wasn't truly run, as shown by the fact that the winning timefigure of 88 was some 24 lb shy of the winning form figure of 112. Following on from the Oh So Sharp Stakes, this proved another pattern-race victory for France as favourite Vorda, last seen when chasing home No Nay Never in the Morny, landed the spoils in comfortable fashion.
A winning rating of 112 fits within the acceptable parameters of race standards (106-113), but in historical terms, the figure is ordinary, better than Rosdhu Queen (107+) last year, but some way below the likes of Hooray (121) in 2010 and Special Duty (118) in 2009.
Vorda is likely to be seen again this autumn with the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' mooted as a target, but it has to be doubted whether she has the stamina for a mile, even on the tight Santa Anita turf track.
The pattern races for the juvenile colts at the meeting don't strike as being form to rate highly, Miracle of Medina getting the run of things in the Somerville Tattersalls Stakes, and his winning figure of 103 was the third lowest since the turn of the century.
The bare form of the Royal Lodge also looks rather suspect for all that it was two smart colts that ultimately filled the first two places. Berkshire hadn't been seen since his win in the Chesham at Royal Ascot which had been boosted numerous times since, while Somewhat had been an impressive winner of the Washington Singer last time.
The proximity of the beaten horses means it's unlikely either of that pair ran up to their best, and a performance rating of 107 for Berkshire on Saturday is the lowest allotted to a Royal Lodge winner since 1992. Sir Jack Layden wasn't obviously flattered, but the fact that he was rated only 88 coming into the race, having been beaten in nursery company, suggests his rating of 106 is best treated with some caution. Berkshire remains on 112p and Somewhat on 114.
Later on Saturday, the Sun Chariot hosted the latest instalment of Elusive Kate v Sky Lantern, and it was the latter that got revenge for her defeat in the Falmouth. Sky Lantern has maintained her form admirably all year, on the go since the Nell Gwyn and showed she's at least as good as ever, recording a figure of 122 on Saturday.
That wasn't the only significant 3-y-o 1m+ race at the meeting with the Group 2 Joel Stakes on Friday seeing Soft Falling Rain put up a Group 1 performance. Soft Falling Rain increased his rating to 131 with his three-and-a-half length success over Montiridge, doing well to maintain his effort given how he raced closer to an overly-strong pace than the runner-up.
A rating of 131 is the highest awarded to a winner of the Joel Stakes since 1990, and it sets up a fantastic QEII on Champions' Day should Toronado, Dawn Approach and/or Olympic Glory turn up as well.
