Newmarket Saturday 9/10/2021
For the flat racing at Newmarket on Saturday 9/10/2021
I will be working on the assumption that the going will have changed to good at Newmarket by Saturday as no rain is forecast.
1.45 Newmarket 1m2f (Row) Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (2yo)
Although the blue blooded Hafit is in this race my preference is for Goldspur who absolutely hacked up on his debut on soft going. He was seriously impressive and won the class 4 novice race by 6 ½ lengths.
Being a son of Dubawi there is likely to be improvement on a firmer surface in addition to the natural progression we would expect. I expect him to be fine running in Group Company and he will appreciate the step up in trip.
Charlie Appleby is in awesome form as normal with a 29% wins to runs percentage in the last 14 days.
James Doyle is back in the saddle after riding him last time so will be well aware of the horse’s capabilities.
Goldspur WIN 7/2 Bet365 BOG
2.20 Newmarket 1m (Row) Emirates Autumn Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (2yo)
This race is fascinating.
Both Coroebus and Imperial Fighter have raced against Royal Patronage but over slightly different distances. The 1m race Coroebus contested was slow by 1.96 seconds on Good to firm he lost by a neck. The 7f race Imperial Fighter contested was slow by 0.96 on good going and he lost by 2 ¼ lengths. This would suggest they are very closely matched.
I am concentrating on these two because I prefer them to the rest of the field.
At the prices it makes sense to take on the favourite and Oisin will be keen to make amends for not racing on Friday by winning as many as possible.
Imperial Fighter is tested on both good and soft going, will relish the trip and the class will be no issue.
Imperial Fighter EW 6/1 Ladbrokes 1/5 1-3 BOG
3.35 Newmarket 2m2f (Row) Together For Racing International Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+
It’s quite possible I have wrote more words regarding Platform Nineteen than any other horse as I have recommended him on all his starts this season.
He is an excellent long distance runner and always puts in a fine effort.
Before his giant 648 day break he was winning races at will with 4 in a row all over long distances until his defeat and then he was rested. He returned with a win over 2m in a class 3. He lost his next race by 3 ½ lengths but the race was a muddle from start to finish. Held at Goodwood it was started with a flip start and had to be restarted as the field did not break properly. Platform Nineteen is sometimes walked to post or taken down early so there was a fair chance he got a bit worked up by proceedings and did not show his best. Last time out he did well again finishing 3rd in a 14 runner class 2 race over 2m ½ f. He ran on the outside of the group racing prominently tracking the leaders. I’m not sure running so wide helped his cause especially coming off the last corner at York where he put in a fine effort down the straight.
The price is way too big on this one and it looks a great EW bet.
Platform Nineteen EW 25/1 Coral 1/5 1-7 Bog
4.45 Newmarket 1m1f (Row) Darley Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+)
Mostahdaf gets the nod here. He is a fantastic horse and as a 3yo is still open to progression. The older horses will have trouble giving weight away to him as he has won 4 out of the 5 races he has contested.
The ground is not an issue as he is by Frankel. When he got beaten in St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) on fast ground he had been badly hampered which messed up his chances.
He will relish the drop in class and the trip will not be a problem.
He won a listed race on his return after a 92 day break and can follow that up with this group three which should be well within his grasp.
Jim Crowley has rode on the last three occasions and gets back in the saddle on Saturday. He is in blazing form at the moment with 8 winners from 22 runners over the last 14 days which is a 36% strike rate.
Mostahdaf WIN 2/1 William Hill