Newmarket Dubai Future Champions Festival Day 1 Tips
A bumper day of five Group races will take place at Newmarket on Friday, with the main event being the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile (14:57).
Other highlights on the card include the Group 2 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes, as well as a trio of Group 3’s with the Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (13:15), the Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (13:50) and the Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes (16:45).
13:15 - Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes
This is a fascinating contest to kick off the Future Champions Festival which has been won by some smart types such as Sergei Prokofiev, Winter Power and Rumstar.
The vote goes for the pacey King Power Racing filly, Revival Power, who won the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes last time out in sensational fashion, showcasing her speed to make all in a race that contained some interesting types.
Now down in a Group 3, she will have to contend with a 5lb penalty, but the manner in which she won her race at Doncaster suggests she is the one to beat.
Selection: Revival Power @ 3/1
13:50 - Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes
Course-and-distance winner Mubasimah looks as though she could cause a bit of an upset in the second race on the card. Despite only having one run to her name, this daughter of the legendary Frankel made all on her way to an impressive win on debut in a manner which suggests there may be more to come.
While she may not have the experience of some of her rivals today, she will be in good hands with Oisin Murphy on board and another strong performance looks likely.
Selection: Mubasimah @ 5/1
14:25 - Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes
A relatively small field for this year's renewal of the Challenge Stakes, but by no means lacking in talent. We have Group winners from Ireland in Poet Master and from France in Beauvatier, but the vote goes for the Irish 2000 Guineas second Cosmic Year.
Having run well early this season, he has tailed off a bit since the ground has softened up, but it looks as though there will be good ground for him at Newmarket and he has a great opportunity to bounce back.
Selection: Cosmic Year @ 15/8
14:57 - Fillies’ Mile
In what looks set to be a closely contested renewal of the Fillies’ Mile with a number of runners who already have some Black Type to their name, including Dance To The Music and Queen of Hawaii, the vote goes for what appears to be Aidan O’Brien’s first stringer, Precise.
She caused a bit of a shock when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes last time out. She was seemingly the third string that day, but she made people sit up and take notice with a fine display running prominently throughout and staying on well in the closing stages.
Today’s first attempt at a mile should be no issue as she looked as though she wanted further on her previous run and she should show her class again.
Selection: Precise @ 11/8
15:30 - Old Rowley Cup Handicap
The Old Rowley Cup has had some winners in the past that have gone on to bigger and better things, including the likes of Trueshan and Siskany, and this year's renewal has some interesting types in the likes of Dangerman and Respond.
However, Shadwell’s Munsif looks to be the one to beat here. Winning over a mile and a half last time out, he has learned to settle better early in his races and if he can replicate his previous effort here, he should go well.
Selection: Munsif @ 7/2
16:10 - Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies’ Stakes
This is a race that has been dominated by Charlie Appleby in recent years and this trend looks likely to continue with the Godolphin filly Act Of Kindness very much looking like the one to beat.
A promising third on her debut a fortnight ago, she ran well throughout the race and stayed on gamely in the closing stages. She will have learned a lot from that run and is open to improvement.
Selection: Act Of Kindness @ SP
16:45 - Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes
The final race of the day sees a number of improving types but the one who catches the eye most is the John and Thady Gosden-trained Sand Gazelle. She had a tough start to the season but landed a Listed Race at York in July and followed that up with an impressive second in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Filles Stakes at the Curragh. She was no match for the winner that day but has proved that she has ability at this level and looks tough to beat.
Selection: Sand Gazelle @ 11/4
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
