15:15 Newbury

Saturday 23 September 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 1m 17.29s

(6)

Haatem²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 104| D

5/1

Bath maiden winner who backed up his Coventry effort when runner-up in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket (7f). Went one better in Vintage Stakes at Goodwood but disappointed in Gimcrack at York since. Looks vulnerable under a penalty.

Form: 135219

(2)

Array¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 100| BF| D

7/4

Off the mark at the third attempt when easily landing odds in 6-runner novice at Newmarket (6f, good, 2/13). Not far behind Seven Questions when close third in Sirenia Stakes at Kempton (6f, 11/8) 14 days ago and should be in the mix again.

Form: 2213

(1)

Matters Most²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 95| D

8/1

500,000 gns yearling who has won 5f Salisbury novice and 6f Windsor nursery. Took form to another level when runner-up in listed event at Ripon last month but more needed again at this level.

Form: 31512

(3)

Mister Sketch³⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| D

5/2

Territories colt. Dam unraced half-sister to useful winner up to 7f Rimth. Confirmed debut promise when winning novice at Salisbury in impressive fashion. That wide-margin win is backed up by the clock and he rates a smart prospect.

Form: 21

(8)

Seven Questions¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 101| D

7/1

Useful gelding who completed hat-trick on nursery debut at Leicester and further improvement when placed in better company since, just denied in Group 3 at Kempton 2 weeks ago. Shortlist material.

Form: 211132

(5)

Turf Phoenix⁵³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: A M Balding| OR: 94

14/1

Leicester maiden winner but limitations exposed in Group company since.

Form: 41869

Non-Runners

(4)

Red Zone Hero⁸

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: M L W Bell J: Tom Marquand

(7)

Roman Emperor¹⁰⁸

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: J Ryan J: K Stott

Forecasts

Array (7/4), Mister Sketch (5/2), Haatem (5/1), Seven Questions (7/1), Red Zone Hero (15/2), Matters Most (8/1), Turf Phoenix (14/1), Roman Emperor (33/1)

Not the strongest of renewals but MISTER SKETCH looked potentially smart when a wide-margin winner at Salisbury so could be the way to go. There wasn't much between Seven Questions and Array when placed in the Sirenia Stakes at Kempton 2 weeks ago and they head the dangers.