15:15 Newbury

Saturday 21 September 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 1m 13.89s

(5)

Billboard Star²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 103| D

8/1

Raced only at 6f, winning a Newmarket novice (good to firm) in June. Very useful efforts when reaching the frame in Group 2s at Newmarket July meeting and Glorious Goodwood but he ran poorly in the Gimcrack at York last time.

Form: 31240

(1)

Brian¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Liam Keniry| T: S Kirk| OR: 98| CD

15/8

C&D winner who recorded a big career best when easily winning a valuable sales race at Newmarket (6f, soft) last month. Backed up that improvement when ½-length third of 10 to Symbol of Strength in Group 3 Sirenia at Kempton (6f, AW) a fortnight ago.

Form: 231413

(10)

La Bellota²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Darragh Keenan| T: J Ryan| OR: 95

28/1

Useful form at 5f, finishing runner-up on first 2 starts before a very good fifth of 16 in a York listed race. Tackles 6f for the first time now. Big improvement needed if he's to land a first career success in this Group 2.

Form: 225

(8)

Powerful Glory³⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| D

5/2

£190,000 buy earlier in the year who was sent off at 10-11 when readily making a winning debut at Pontefract (6f, good) last month. Good prospect for a yard which has won this before.

Form: 1

(3)

Sarab Star²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: J Channon| D

4/1

Zoustar colt from a good family who overcame inexperience to make a winning debut at Salisbury (6f, good to firm) 22 days ago. This is a big jump in class but he's open to progress.

Form: 1

(9)

Star Anthem⁹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: C G Cox| OR: 99

7/1

Bath maiden winner who has been off since finishing 1¾ lengths eighth of 22 to Rashabar in the Coventry at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) in June, nearest finish.

Form: 218

Non-Runners

(6)

Andesite²⁹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: K R Burke J: Oisin Murphy

(2)

Defence Minister¹⁶

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: H Al Jehani J: James Doyle

(7)

Shadow Of Light²⁹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: C Appleby J: W Buick

(4)

Symbol Of Strength¹⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: A Keatley J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Brian (15/8), Powerful Glory (5/2), Shadow Of Light (11/4), Sarab Star (4/1), Symbol Of Strength (6/1), Star Anthem (7/1), Defence Minister (15/2), Billboard Star (8/1), Andesite (14/1), La Bellota (28/1)

SHADOW OF LIGHT had subsequent Sirenia winner Symbol of Strength a place behind him in the Gimcrack and is taken to confirm his narrow superiority over Adrian Keatley's charge. Andesite was over 5 lengths behind that pair in the Gimcrack but that was his first run since a debut success in May and it would be no surprise to see Karl Burke's charge get a lot closer to them this time. Easy debut Pontefract scorer Powerful Glory is another fascinating contender.