13:50 Newmarket

Saturday 30 September 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 1m 37.06s

(6)

Aablan²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 103

4/1

Dubawi colt who was sent off at 4-7 when making a winning debut on the July Course and improved on that form when following up in the Solario Stakes at Sandown 4 weeks ago, despite still showing signs of inexperience.

Form: 11

(1)

Al Musmak²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 103| D

7/1

Did well to catch an experienced rival to make a successful start at Ascot in July and built on that promise when second in a listed event there (7f) next time. That form worked out well and he resumed winning ways in ready fashion in Haydock listed event (8.2f) 3 weeks ago. Open to more progress.

Form: 121

(2)

At Vimeiro¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: C Soumillon| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

33/1

Sea The Stars colt. Dam, German 1¼m-1½m (Group 2) winner, half-sister to smart German 9f/1¼m winner Accon, third in Deutsches Derby. Caught the eye doing his best work late on in a 1m Doncaster maiden on debut 2 weeks ago but this represents a big step up.

Form: 5

(9)

Capulet²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108| D

7/4

Bred in the purple and built appreciably on last month's promising debut success when runner-up to exciting stablemate Diego Velazquez in Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown 3 weeks ago, clear of rest. Sets the standard on that form and open to further progress.

Form: 12

(7)

Caviar Heights²⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 87| D

14/1

Sea The Stars colt from excellent family and looks useful himself, putting experience to good use to get off the mark in 9-runner maiden at Goodwood (1m) 25 days ago. This demands a lot more but he's very much the type to get even better with age.

Form: 421

(3)

Defiance⁵¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Varian| D

33/1

Camelot colt who was value for extra over the result when making a successful debut in 9-runner maiden at Sandown (1m, good to soft) last month, doing well to run down the reopposing Caviar Heights having been squeezed at the start. Sure to improve and looks a very interesting runner.

Form: 1

(8)

Ghostwriter²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: C G Cox| OR: 98

10/3

Invincible Spirit colt who landed a newcomers event with authority on the July Course and maintained his unbeaten record with a useful effort in a 7f a novice at Ascot (7f, firm) 3 weeks ago, staying on well. That performance is backed up by an excellent timefigure and he'll go on improving.

Form: 11

(4)

Macduff²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 98| BF

12/1

Sea The Stars colt who overcame inexperience to make a winning start in a 7f maiden on the July Course last month, quickening to lead close home. Built on that when second to Al Musmak in listed race at Haydock (8.2f) and he's likely to progress further.

Form: 12

(5)

Son⁴⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 98

33/1

Built on encouraging debut effort when taking 10-runner maiden at Newbury in June (6.5f) with a bit in hand. Has had his limitations exposed in stronger company since, however.

Form: 31553

Forecasts

Capulet (7/4), Ghostwriter (10/3), Aablan (4/1), Al Musmak (7/1), Macduff (12/1), Caviar Heights (14/1), Son (33/1), Defiance (33/1), At Vimeiro (33/1)

A mouth-watering renewal of this long-established Group 2. CAPULET stepped up considerably on last month's promising debut win when finding only exciting stablemate Diego Velazquez too good in the Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and has to be considered the one to beat on that form, especially with further progress on the cards. Ghostwriter defied a penalty in an excellent time at Ascot and is well worth his place in this higher grade, while Defiance is another fascinating contender.