Saturday 16th July 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

A big welcome to this week’s Saturday Preview where I’ll be focusing on Newbury where it’s Super Sprint Day. I’ll kick things off this week with the 1:15 which is a novice event that’s ridden over a distance of six furlongs. There could be some smart newcomers lurking around here, however, I’ve sided with the horse with experience and that’s Mutaany who’s currently a 3/1 chance for the team of Charlie Hills and Jim Crowley. Sporting the Shadwell silks he’s had two starts to date, progressing each time finishing second on his most recent outing at Nottingham. Whilst a lot of these will likely be still finding their feet, he should know his job by now and if progressing from his run last time he’s got every chance of playing a serious role.

Next up it’s the 1:50 which is Listed action in the form of the Bet365 Stakes over a mile and two furlongs. Despite only attracting the five runners, it’s a competitive affair of which I’ve sided with the four-year-old Cadillac who heads the betting at 13/8 for Kevin Philippart De Foy and Jack Mitchell. He was an expensive purchase out of the Jessica Harrington yard and made a pleasing start to life for his new connections, finishing second of fifteen behind Dubai Future in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. He’s already got Group 2 & Group 3 honours on his CV and if turning up here in form that’s anywhere near his best he’ll be a massive player.

We move into handicap company at 2:21 as the Castle Gin Stakes takes centre-stage which is a Class 2 event over two miles and half of a furlong. This is extremely competitive but hopefully eight runners stand their ground so we can get three-places on offer, as I’ve sided with Auriferous at 8/1 for the combination of Andrew Balding and Hayley Turner. He gets a considerable amount of weight from some of his market rivals here and arrives here in decent form, having last been seen when finishing fifth of eighteen in the Northumberland Vase up at Newcastle. It’s also likely that there is still progression to come from too as he’s only a four-year-old, another positive for him is that he’s got form at this distance and this track having gone close over this trip here in April when going down by just shy of a length to the smart Ahorsewithnoname. I think he’s got every chance of running a big race here.

The 2:56 is up next which is group action in the form of the Hackwood Stakes, which is a Group 3 event that’s contested over six furlongs. This is a rarity, as we actually have a decent sized field here with fourteen runners currently set to take their place. It’s 4/1 the field here so this is competlely wide open, I’ve taken a chance on Minzaal though at 6/1 who’s the mount of Jim Crowley and trained by Owen Burrows. He was very smart as a two-year-old, winning the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York before placing in two Group 1s in the Middle Park and Champion Sprint Stakes. He’s been lightly campaigned since, and hasn’t quite shown the same level of form, however, he’s still posted a couple of solid efforts and I think he’s got every chance of getting involved at this sort of level.

Concluding the preview is the 3:30 which is big race of the day the Super Sprint over five-furlongs. The race is one of the most valuable of its type as well as the one of the most competitive. I’ve taken a chance on Miami Girl in this year’s renewal of the race who’s a 17/2 chance for Richard Hannon and Rossa Ryan. The yard are synonymous with success in the race and I think this filly has a solid chance of running a big race for them, she was last seen when winning comfortably in a conditions race at Windsor, but her best performance to date was when finish fifth of twenty-one in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. That’s solid form and if she runs up that level again here she’d been in with a huge shout.