The Cheveley Park Stakes (2.25) and the Middle Park Stakes (3.00) provide Group 1 action at Newmarket on Saturday. Here, we assess the leading contenders in both races and give a verdict on who will come out on top.
Unbeaten in three career starts, supplementing a Cork maiden success with wins at the Curragh in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes and Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. Had the Middle Park favourite Whistlejacket a length and a half behind in the Phoenix and that colt has since franked the form with a win in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville. Will be back against her own sex on Saturday and must hold strong claims, for all that soft or heavy ground would be an unknown.
Looked value for further than the winning margin when a narrow winner of a Curragh maiden on her debut in June and followed up impressively in the Sweet Solera Stakes on Newmarket's July course next time. She made it three from three when a length-and-a-quarter winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes this month, coming with a decisive run after being held up at the back of the five-runner field. Her three wins have all come over 7f, but she looks speedy enough to handle the drop back in trip and her dam Quiet Reflection was a Group 1-winning sprinter who appreciated testing ground.
Front-running filly who made all when landing the Listed Empress Fillies' Stakes at the July course earlier this year. Ran well in defeat against the boys in the Prix Robert Papin and Molecomb Stakes before the switch to fillies'-only company saw her run out a narrow winner of last month's Lowther Stakes at York. Her form figures against her own sex reads 7111, but she looks more exposed than most after six starts and on Racing Post Ratings needs to improve to win.
Ran out an impressive winner of a Chantilly maiden on her debut in May before finishing third when sent off the 11-10 favourite for a Group 3 back at that venue next time. She atoned for that defeat with a comfortable win at Deauville in July and was last seen staying on for third in the Prix Morny. Back against her own sex here and the forecast rain will suit, but the Morny form suggests she had a bit to find with the favourite Babouche.
Narrowly denied on her debut at Deauville last month before justifying skinny odds when an emphatic five-length winner of a Chantilly maiden, when she looked potentially above average. Has been supplemented for this race at a cost of £20,000 and her trainer Francis Graffard has enjoyed a fine season with his runners in Britain. This represents a big step up in class, but she's dangerous to rule out.
Cheveley Park Stakes Contenders
Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (2.25 Newmarket, 6f Group 1)Paddy Power: 13-8 Babouche, 5-2 Lake Victoria, 9 Celandine, 10 Daylight, Truly Enchanting, 14 Rayevka, 16 Heavens Gate, Leovanni, 20 Arabian Dusk, Bubbling, 25 Merrily, 40 Maw Lam, 50 Greydreambeliever, Magic Mild
Babouche and Lake Victoria put their unbeaten records on the line and it is the latter who is fancied to come out on top. She produced a telling turn of foot when landing the Moyglare over 7f last time and her proven stamina should come in handy dropped back in trip. Being a daughter of the top-class sprinter Quiet Reflection, who relished testing ground, a likely soft surface is not expected to pose a problem.
Middle Park Stakes Contenders
Has gained three wins in a six-race career, most recently justifying favouritism in the Prix Morny at Deauville for a Group 1 breakthrough. All three victories have been achieved with soft in the going description, so the forecast rain looks a plus, and he is the only Group 1 winner in this line-up.
Has seen his RPR improve in all four career starts, getting off the mark at the third attempt when a three-length winner of a Curragh maiden last month. He was stepped up to Group 3 level on the back of that success and justified odds of 2-5 with another comprehensive win. This race was nominated as a target afterwards and he retains plenty of upside.
Closely related to 2019 Middle Park winner Earthlight and he comes into this race with a progressive profile. Winner of a Yarmouth maiden and a novice on the July course before finishing a creditable second in the Gimcrack Stakes at York last time. Looks open to plenty of improvement but it will be needed at this level, and he was withdrawn from last week's Mill Reef Stakes on account of testing ground.
Claimed a Fairyhouse maiden on his second start before following up in the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, where he benefited from being held up in a race where the leaders went off hard. Faded into fourth after challenging wide in a valuable Listed race at Kentucky last time and while this this track is expected to suit him better he is going to need to put up a career-best to trouble the market principals.
Defied trouble in running to land a novice on the July course on his debut before following up at Haydock this month, when he defied a penalty and looked strong at the line. Open to plenty of improvement on the back of two starts and has been supplemented for this at a cost of £20,000, but his connections have warned he is unlikely to run if the ground turns testing.
Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (3.00 Newmarket, 6f Group 1)Paddy Power: Evs Whistlejacket, 3 Ides Of March, 6 Shadow Of Light, 7 Black Forza, 10 Henri Matisse, 16 Defence Minister, 20 Andesite, Camille Pissarro, 33 Intrusively, Jouncy, 50 Dash Dizzy, Treasure Isle
Whistlejacket sets the standard courtesy of his Prix Morny success, but stablemate Ides Of March comes into this on the back of two electric wins at the Curragh and is selected to bring up the hat-trick. The son of Wootton Bassett is on an upward career trajectory and does not have much to find with the favourite on RPRs.
Irish Dominance at Newmarket
Babouche made it three out of three in her career to date with an impressive success against colts in last month’s Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
The daughter of Kodiac proved too good for Whistlejacket on that occasion and the latter quickly boosted the form with a subsequent Prix Morny victory at Deauville.
Both are set to line up in top company at Newmarket this weekend with Whistlejacket heading betting lists for the Middle Park Stakes on Britain’s first top-flight programme for juveniles this season.
It has been Irish dominance in the top two-year-old division so far with Joseph O’Brien’s Scorthy Champ successful in the National Stakes over the Irish Champions Festival where Lake Victoria landed the Moyglare.
Lake Victoria, also unbeaten in three starts, is set to attempt a quick follow up by dropping a furlong in distance and taking on Babouche in a potentially mouth-watering clash for the Cheveley Park.
It follows confirmation that her highly-regarded stable companion Fairy Godmother, winner of Royal Ascot’s Albany in June, won’t line up.
“Fairy Godmother is finished for the season, we just decided to leave her off for the rest of the year,” Aidan O’Brien explained.
“As for Lake Victoria, we were thinking we might bring her back to six furlongs for this going to the Moyglare.”
Bookmakers reckon the edge for this Saturday’s race lies with the Lyons runner and Babouche is a general 13/8 favourite to pull off a Phoenix-Cheveley Park double last achieved by Minstrella in 1986.
Lyons famously opened his career Group One account in the Cheveley Park 13 years ago as the Johnny Murtagh-ridden Lightening Pearl emerged on top.
O’Brien has a record fifth Cheveley Park firmly in his sights however and has five of the 14 entries left in the six-furlong highlight after Monday’s latest acceptance stage.
Truly Enchanting, a Group Two winner at the Curragh in June, is in the mix to line up and could be joined too by Bubbling, unlucky in Leopardstown’s Ingabelle Stakes on her previous start.
A pair of French-trained fillies, Daylight and the supplemented Rayevka, remain in the Cheveley Park. The last French-trained winner was Vorda in 2013.
There has been Irish dominance in the last decade with six winners from this country including last year’s heroine, Porta Fortuna. Donnacha O’Brien’s star has progressed in 2024 to record a hat-trick of top-flight successes including the Matron Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival.
O’Brien already holds a record seven Middle Park wins and has left four others in alongside Whistlejacket. They are topped by Ides of March who impressed in a Curragh Group Three last time. Henri Matisse, beaten by Scorthy Champ in the National, is also a possible starter.
Michael O’Callaghan will try to get back on the winning trail with Black Forza after a tilt at a valuable pot in Kentucky Downs earlier this month ended in frustration. Goodwood’s Richmond Stakes winner lost his chance with a slow start and could manage only fourth.
The Wathnan operation have supplemented Defence Minister into the Middle Park despite holding a Group Three entry earlier in the week.
“With all the rain and a very changeable forecast we want to have a range of possible targets for Defence Minister. He’s a very promising colt but we know he wants decent ground, so we are keeping all our options open at this stage,” said a spokesman.
Also among the dozen left in the Middle Park is Godolphin’s Gimcrack runner up Shadow Of Light.
A Look at the Favorites
Ger Lyons’ unbeaten Babouche is favourite to pull off a rare Group One double in Saturday’s Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. The filly has shown incredible form this season, winning all three of her starts, including an impressive victory against colts in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. Her performance against Whistlejacket, who later went on to win the Prix Morny, solidified her position as a top contender.
While Babouche is favored, it’s important to consider the challenge from Lake Victoria, another unbeaten filly. Lake Victoria also has a Group 1 win under her belt, claiming the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She’s proven capable of handling different distances, and the dropping down to 6 furlongs could be an advantage. The fact that she’s a daughter of Quiet Reflection, a Group 1-winning sprinter who excelled on testing ground, makes her a strong contender for the Cheveley Park Stakes.
Beyond the Cheveley Park Stakes
The Cheveley Park Stakes is just one of the many exciting races happening at Newmarket this weekend. The Middle Park Stakes is another Group 1 race for two-year-olds, attracting a strong field of contenders. Whistlejacket, the runner-up to Babouche in the Phoenix Stakes, is the current favorite for this race. He’s already proven himself at the Group 1 level, having won the Prix Morny. But he’ll face stiff competition from stablemate Ides Of March, who has won his last two starts at the Curragh.
With the Irish dominance in the top two-year-old races this year, both the Cheveley Park and Middle Park Stakes are poised to deliver thrilling competition. It’s a great opportunity for fans to witness some of the best young horses in action, as they lay the foundation for future success.
Key Takeaways
- Babouche is the favorite to win the Cheveley Park Stakes, but Lake Victoria is a strong contender with her own Group 1 win and proven ability.
- The Middle Park Stakes is also a must-watch, with Whistlejacket and stablemate Ides Of March being the frontrunners.
- Irish horses have been incredibly successful in these races recently, and this weekend is no exception.
