Newmarket Saturday

Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1)

THE decision to drop her back to six furlongs had been questioned by some (ahem), but Lake Victoria (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) was backed as if defeat was out of the question - ousting Babouche as favourite at 6/4.

She never looked in danger of defeat as she made much of the running before staying on strongly up the hill to register a hugely impressive win in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.

The daughter of Frankel and Sprint Cup heroine Quiet Reflection did not look short of tactical speed as she put her rivals to the sword under an attacking ride and hit the line with three lengths to spare over Daylight (Patrice Cottier/Mickael Barzalona), with Arabian Dusk (Simon and Ed Crisford/) staying on at one pace for third, half a length behind the French filly.

The winner, who had previously bagged group wins in the Sweet Solera and Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs, must be considered to have an exceptional chance in the 1000 Guineas, and her price was slashed to as short as 7/4 for the Fillies’ Classic after this romp. The win provided O’Brien with a record fifth success in the Cheveley Park Stakes having previously shared that honour with Alec Taylor Jr and Criquette Head-Maarek.

O’Brien said: “She quickened very well. For a Frankel filly, she was very impressive over six furlongs. We always had this race in mind and before she won the Moyglare, the plan was to come back here, she’s always worked very quick.

“We wouldn’t normally do it that way round, but we had it in our head before the Moyglare we were coming here. We wouldn’t be afraid of stepping up for the Fillies’ Mile, that’s what Ryan said. We’ll see what the lads want to do.

“It’s very rare to do what she has done and look more impressive. It was uncomplicated, she wasn’t dropped in, he gave her a lovely ride. We did back her up quick, though, and it is a risk doing that - we’ll let her tell us if she’s going to run again. We have Dreamy in the Fillies’ Mile, too, and it’s possible that she will run.”

IT seemed unlikely that anything could create a similar impression to Lake Victoria in the Middle Park, but Shadow Of Light (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) also took the breath away with a much-improved performance to slam odds-on favourite Whistlejacket (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) by a yawning four lengths.

The 11/4 second favourite had finished a close second to Cool Hoof Luke in the Gimcrack at York on his previous start, having won twice previously, but he was taking his form up a notch by landing this Group 1 in such ready fashion.

Tracking the early pace on the near side, Shadow Of Light moved powerfully to take the lead from Dash Dizzy (Charlie Johnston/Tom Marquand) over a furlong out.

The runner-up was always on the pace, he had no answer to the winner’s acceleration on the climb to the finishing post, albeit putting a length and a half between himself and Dash Dizzy at the line.

Whistlejacket probably raced too freely to match the form of his Prix Morny success, but was without any other excuse, and the winner has patently improved past him.

Withdrawn

Shadow Of Light had been due to contest the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury late last month but was withdrawn on account of the heavy ground. Connections will be happy they didn’t pull him again, with heavy also the official going on Friday, but the track dried remarkably well, with this race run almost exactly three seconds quicker than the only six-furlong contest run on Thursday, after which there was a further deluge.

The winner was cut to a general 10/1 for the 2000 Guineas, but William Buick sounded a warning to ante-post punters in his post-race interview.

“He’s a horse who is growing up the whole time,” said the winning rider. “I think he’s very versatile with regard to how races are run. He’s a very quick horse, obviously next year is a way off but he’s got plenty of speed being Earthlight’s half-brother by Lope De Vega. You’re hoping he could get further I guess but at the moment he’s a six-furlong horse and, to what I know, that’s how he looks as well; he rides like a fast horse.”

Owen bubbling

over Hawkeye

WIMBLEDON Hawkeye (James Owen/James Doyle) defied market weakness to post an impressive performance in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, staying on strongly on his first try at a mile to beat Royal Playwright (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) by a length and a half, with Angelo Buonarroti (Ralph Beckett/David Egan) a further length and three-quarters away in third stepping up from maiden company.

Runner-up behind the hugely exciting The Lion In Winter over seven furlongs in the Acomb Stakes at York last time, Wimbledon Hawkeye relished the stiffer test, and coped well with the soft ground, although conditions improved markedly on Saturday and the ground was closer to yielding than the official description.

Sent off a generous 4/1 given the strength of the Acomb form, Wimbledon Hawkeye was given his head with over a quarter of a mile remaining and soon had the race in safe keeping, looking a smart prospect for three-year-old honours.

Bookmakers were quick to cut the son of Kameko for the 2000 Guineas, but the collateral form boost wasn’t lost on them either, with The Lion In Winter hardening as favourite for the Newmarket Classic.

Huge potential

“He’s done us so proud,” said winning trainer James Owen. “Yesterday I had my first listed winner at Newmarket and, today, my first Group 2 winner and for it to be with a juvenile that’s got huge potential. He’s not the biggest but he’s got stronger all year, improved with every run. He is a proper Guineas hope for next year.

“I’ve learnt at a little bit of a slower rate than he’s learnt, he’s learnt with every run and I’m learning behind him but life’s great at the minute. I can’t thank the Gredleys enough and all my other owners.”

The Futurity at Doncaster is a possible target depending on how quickly Wimbledon Hawkeye recovers from this, but owner Tim Gredley scotched any notion of sending his colt to the Breeders’ Cup, saying: “I’d have thought America was unlikely, but we really hoped today would happen. We’ve always believed in him, there’s more growing in him and hopefully he will develop into a Derby horse.”

LIBERTY Lane (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) proved different class to his rivals in a draw-affected Cambridgeshire. The big field allowed jockeys to explore the far rail for the first time at the meeting, and the virgin ground seemed to confer an advantage, with the first seven home racing on the far side of the track and the winner in stall 4 beating James McHenry (Ed Bethell/Callum Rodriguez) from stall 2.

Burke was barely finished celebrating saddling the first three home in the Ayr Gold Cup, and this win from a horse who was unsighted in the same race 12 months earlier, is further proof that he is the best trainer of high-class handicappers in the country at present.