By Tom Frary
After Thursday's appetiser, Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting steps up on Friday with the five pattern races including the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Rockfel S. for the 2-year-old Classic aspirants, a “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland in November. Currently favourite for the seven-furlong contest is Isa Salman and Abdulla Al Khalifa's impressive July Course winner Commissioning (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who looks to provide John and Thady Gosden with a first group success for their team of 2-year-olds in 2022. There are a clutch of proven black-type performers up against her and four other unexposed and unbeaten fillies, including the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Rage Of Bamby (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) who looked a smart type when doubling her tally over this trip at Leicester Sept. 6. The race also serves as a measurement of just how good the G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) is, with Gallop Racing's Aug. 6 G3 Sweet Solera S. in attendance having finished last of 11 behind The Aga Khan's star 12 days ago.
Over To Potapova
In the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Joel S., the likes of the G3 Sovereign S. and G3 Prix Quincey winner Tempus (GB) (Kingman ({GB}) and G3 Criterion S. scorer Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) have to deal with the mercurial filly Potapova (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Reinvigorated by exaggerated hold-up tactics when beating two subsequent Group 3 winners in Sandown's G3 Atalanta S. last time Aug. 20, the Cheveley Park Stud homebred could finally be about to fulfil her potential and remains one of the autumn's potential improvers. The G3 Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai S. sees Sunderland Holdings' Sea Silk Road (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Godolphin's Eternal Pearl (GB) (Frankel {GB}) re-oppose, having been first and second in Goodwood's Listed Height of Fashion S. over 10 furlongs May 20. Both have been upwardly-mobile since, with Eternal Pearl particularly so having won Deauville's G3 Prix Minerve over 12 1/2 furlongs last time Aug. 14.
Ballydoyle Loaded For Saturday Group 1s
Final fields were confirmed for Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. and G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S., with Aidan O'Brien providing the likely favourite for both in the already-accomplished No Nay Never duo Meditate (Ire) and Blackbeard (Ire). Both contests are typically deep, with the nine fillies pitched against Meditate in the Cheveley Park including another No Nay Never of real substance in Rockcliffe Stud's G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Molecomb S. scorer Trillium (GB). The Middle Park includes Nick Bradley Racing and Elaine Burke's G2 Gimcrack S. runner-up Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Godolphin's impressive G3 Sirenia S. scorer Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
Click here for the fields.
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