Ratings Update: Wichita is one to look out for

First published Monday, September 30

Much of the talk heading into this year’s Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket revolved around the Middle Park Stakes, one of the most highly-anticipated races of the season with so many promising colts going head-to-head.

In the event, however, the six-furlong Group 1 proved something of a let-down, with the withdrawal of Siskin – who reared over in the stalls – robbing the race of one unbeaten colt, while his antics possibly affected the performance of another in Mums Tipple (reportedly finished lame, loses ‘p’ and down to 119). The presence of 100/1-shot Summer Sands (up 16 lb to 109) in third and 66/1-shot King Neptune (up 12 lb to 107) in fourth also suggests it wasn't the vintage renewal it threatened to be.

Nevertheless, none of the above should detract from the winner Earthlight (remains on 117p), who didn’t need to improve on his Prix Morny form to extend his winning sequence to five in comfortable fashion, making smooth progress from mid-field to lead in the last furlong and always doing enough to beat Golden Horde (up 5 lb to 115) by a neck, the runner-up showing improved form to get much closer than he did at Deauville.

A first Middle Park winner for Andre Fabré since Zieten in 1992, Earthlight clearly isn’t short of speed and it's hard to believe on pedigree that he won't stay 1m; Fabré was pointing the way to the 2000 Guineas after the race, though obviously Godolphin have an even stronger candidate for the opening classic of the season in the shape of the 134p-rated Pinatubo.

"Earthlight stays unbeaten!"

Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes goes to Earthlight, who makes it 5 from 5! What a horse 🏇 pic.twitter.com/m5FcQ2xTTM

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 28, 2019

It remains to be seen who will emerge as the leading contender for the 2000 Guineas at Ballydoyle, but Wichita (up 14 lb to 119p) laid down a significant marker when producing a completely dominant display to land Thursday’s Tattersalls Stakes, storming clear to score by seven lengths and, in the process, running to a level surpassed by only Pinatubo among this year’s crop of juveniles.

A big, scopey sort, that only adds to his potential for his three-year-old campaign, but before that he's earnt a crack at a top juvenile race, the Dewhurst a possibility back over this C&D, although he'd need supplementing and would probably come up against Pinatubo, so stepping up to 1m for the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster may make more appeal.

Aidan O’Brien certainly knows what it takes to win that race, with his nine wins since 1997 including the last two renewals with Saxon Warrior and Magna Grecia – both of whom went on to land the following year’s 2000 Guineas – and Wichita’s strength at the finish here suggests the extra furlong is unlikely to hold any fears for him even now; he is very much one to keep onside.

🎵"I am a lineman for the county"

🏆 Wichita proves he's on the main road to stardom with an impressive victory for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien in the G3 Tattersalls Stakes @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/T1KaSnEeTn

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 26, 2019

Incidentally, also worth a mention is the performance put up by Highest Ground (94P) at Leicester last Monday. He looked something well out of the ordinary in making a winning debut – one that had looked a write-off following a significantly slow start – gradually working his way into contention from there and ultimately well on top at the finish. An exciting prospect (installed in Derby market right away), only prevailing inexperience can stop him being a major factor in good juvenile company this autumn, for all that he currently holds no fancy entries.

Back to Saturday and the first of the two juvenile Group 1s on the card was the Cheveley Park Stakes, which looked an up-to-scratch renewal on paper with many of the key form lines for two-year-old fillies represented. The favourite was the dual Group 2 winner Raffle Prize (remains on 113), who had also chased home Earthlight on her previous start in the Morny, but she ultimately had to settle for second again behind the 16/1 winner Millisle (up 11 lb to 115).

Held up in a strongly-run affair, it’s fair to say that Millisle was seen to maximum effect on the day given how the race developed, but she still impressed with the way she forged clear late on, doing so in the manner of one who will be suited by 7f+ next season, when she is likely to have the 1000 Guineas as her first big target. She's entitled to be considered a credible contender, too, a progressive filly for whom this track clearly holds no fears.

For her part, Raffle Prize possibly did a bit too much too soon with so much competition for the lead, while her brazen speed raises doubts as to whether she’ll be fully effective at 1m next year. Tropbeau (up 4 lb to 109p), on the other hand, is very much in the mould of one who will be suited by going back up to 7f (and beyond), finishing with running left after a troubled passage, highly likely to have snatched second granted a bit more luck in running.

Millisle storms through to take the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at @Newmarketraces! 🏇 pic.twitter.com/yY51j5JTwv

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 28, 2019

There was also a surprise result to the Royal Lodge Stakes that opened the card, with 16/1-shot Royal Dornoch (up 12 lb to 109) proving better than ever to open his account in pattern company at the fourth attempt, clearly relishing the longer trip as he found plenty to get the better of Kameko (108 from 111p) close home.

The winner should continue to give a good account at this sort of trip, though he’s likely to prove vulnerable if stepping up to the top level in the coming weeks, a comment that also applies to Kameko, who still has the potential to make up into a smart three-year-old (likely to stay 1¼m), despite failing to immediately confirm the promise of his second in the Solario.

The Cambridgeshire had a slightly different shape to recent renewals, with a BHA mark in the low 80s good enough to get a run – 10 lb lower than the 2018 edition – resulting in a healthy sprinkling of three-year-olds in the line-up. One of that age group proved successful as John Gosden unleashed a pattern-class performer in the making for the second year in a row.

Admittedly, Lord North (up 9 lb to 120p) is not quite at the same level as Wissahickon was 12 months ago, but he was still hugely impressive in the way that he dispatched his rivals, brushing aside the consistent Beringer (up 5 lb to 112), with further substance provided by the last-time-out winner, Good Birthday (remains on 104), in third and last year's runner-up, Mordin (remains on 112), in fourth. Lord North has the makings of a very smart four-year-old for 2020, with a winter campaign on the all-weather seemingly on the agenda in the interim.

Friday’s Joel Stakes witnessed the best performance of the meeting, with the returning Benbatl (remains on 129) proving at least as good as ever to turn what had looked a good renewal beforehand into a procession, tanking along at the head of affairs, winding things up from three furlongs out and drawing clear for a hands-and-heels ride.

Having recorded his first win in Britain since his three-year-old days, Benbatl will presumably take up one of his entries on Champions Day next and will hold strong claims in either the QEII or Champion Stakes provided the ground isn't too testing (proven on good to soft). The QEII in particular appeals as a good target given the paucity of top-class milers around at present, acknowledging that these forcing tactics won't be quite as easy to pull off over that stiff mile at Ascot.

Runner-up King of Comedy (down 2 lb to 123) proved to be a disappointment back down in trip, again looking far from straightforward in the run, and it could be that his temperament is starting to get the better of him (also walked to start and fitted with first-time sheepskin noseband). It's hard to see him being anything other than a bit-part player if taking up either of his end-of-season Group 1 engagements, especially if re-opposing Benbatl.

Wow!! 😮

Off the track for 335 days, triple Group One winner Benbatl returns in style to bolt up in the Shadwell Joel Stakes at @NewmarketRace under @oismurphy! 👏👏 #Impressive pic.twitter.com/FLrs4BnbJW

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 27, 2019

There are reasons to be positive about all of the four who pulled clear in the Rockfel Stakes, their efforts up to par for the race, Daahyeh (remains on 106) setting the standard having been kept to pattern company since her debut and not needing to improve to win at Group 2 level for the first time.

A useful and professional juvenile, it’s easy to see a few improving past her by next spring – including the lightly-raced third Cloak of Spirits (up 6 lb to 104p) – making it no surprise that connections are eyeing a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf over 1m, though that might be beyond her, too, in terms of both class and stamina.

Neither Agincourt (remains on 105) or Mountain Hunter (up 1 lb to 115) had to find much in the way of improvement to win listed races elsewhere on the card, while the pillar-to-post win recorded by Spirit of Appin (up 5 lb to 109) in the Princess Royal Stakes also needs treating with a degree of caution, with so many of her rivals running below par. She was seemingly exposed coming into this and needs to prove that she can reproduce this sort of form under less favourable circumstances.

There was no doubting the superiority of Withhold (remains on 120) as he also went pillar-to-post in Thursday’s Rose Bowl Stakes, making the most of a good opportunity with the minimum of fuss. Still fresher than most for the time of year, the Long Distance Cup at Ascot next month is reportedly the target and he certainly has the ability to hit the frame.

Won by the likes of St Nicholas Abbey, Capri, Saxon Warrior & Japan, Innisfree provides Aidan O'Brien with a 19th victory in the G2 Beresford Stakes @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/R4Isp5K9Mv

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 29, 2019

Finally, Aidan O’Brien unleashed another promising two-year-old at the Curragh on Sunday, with Innisfree (up 7 lb to 107p) improving again to beat Shekhem (106 from 94p) and provide his trainer with a remarkable nineteenth win in the Beresford Stakes.

O’Brien’s last three winners all went on to win at Group 1 level, and, while Innisfree didn't quite produce the 'wow factor' needed to mark him out as being in quite the same league, he looks well worth his place in the classic mix next season with further improvement on the cards, a comment that also applies to Shekhem, who showed talent and determination in equal measure to make the winner pull out all the stops.