Friday 10th October 2025
Newmarket Future Champions Festival (Day 1)
1.15 Newmarket: Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Class 1) (Group 3):
The first race of Newmarket’s Future Champions Meeting comes up at 1.15 on Friday, and this is the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes, which is contested over five furlongs. This looks like a good opportunity for Brussels to add to his maiden success for Aidan O’Brien, who’s the mount of Christophe Soumillon. He’s posted several solid efforts in defeat since his maiden victory, including when just three-quarters of a length behind Wise Approach over six furlongs here in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes last time out. That piece of form is the strongest on offer here, and he has a similar profile to the yard’s Puerto Rico, who’s having an Indian summer campaign. He should be tough to beat.
Brussels – 5/4 (Win) (NB)
1.50: Newmarket: Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (Class 1) (Group 3):
The second race on the card is more Group 3 action at 1.50, with the Oh So Sharp Stakes for the fillies, and this particular affair is contested over a distance of seven furlongs. There should be a lot more to come from the Roger Varian-trained Classic Cuvee, who’s the mount of William Buick here. She progressed from a promising debut effort on the July Course here in August to win a competitive maiden at Doncaster last time out, defeating Amelia Earhart in the process. The pair of them pulled a couple of lengths clear of the rest of the field that day, and I think that the Varian charge could develop into a very nice filly.
Classic Cuvee – 10/3 (Win)
2.25 Newmarket: Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes (Class 1) (Group 2):
We move into Group 2 company at 2.25 with the Group 2 Challenge Stakes, and this is another contest that’s set to be ridden over a distance of seven furlongs. I quite like the chances of Poet Master here for the team of Karl Burke and Clifford Lee. He was a Group 2 in Ireland last year and also won a competitive handicap over course and distance. He’s only had the two starts this term, making him fresher than most of his rivals here, and he was only denied by half of a length last time out in Longchamp. He’s versatile ground-wise, and I believe that he can make his presence felt in this.
Poet Master – 5/1 (Each-Way)
2.57 Newmarket: bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Class 1) (Group 1):
The feature race of the day comes up at 2.57, and this is the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, which is contested on the Rowley Mile. I find it very hard to see past the Aidan O’Brien-trained Precise here, who currently heads the betting under Christophe Soumillon. She’s won her last three starts, including a Group 3 at Goodwood, and most recently the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, where she got the better of the likes of Venetian Sun and Composing. That’s hot form to say the least, and she still should have more to offer. I think she’ll be very tough to beat.
I do think that Charlie Appleby’s Dance To The Music could well be a very nice filly too, she won the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes on the July Course here in August, and was given too much to do in Group 1 company in Canada last time out, yet was still only beaten just over a length in fourth. She can go well again here with a handier ride, and I’ll have a little each-way play on here as well as the favourite.
Precise – 7/4 (Win) (NAP) & Dance To The Music – 13/2 (Each-Way)
3.30 Newmarket: bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Class 2) (Heritage Handicap):
My final selection of the day comes within the 3.30, and this is the Old Rowley Cup, which is a Class 2 Heritage Handicap over a mile and four furlongs. This is always extremely competitive; however, I’m taking a chance on Daiquiri Bay here for Alan King and James Doyle. He looked potentially useful when winning at Chester at the start of the season, and has since gone on to run with credit in several big competitive handicaps at Ascot, Goodwood, and York throughout the season. He perhaps wasn’t in love with the soft going last time out at Ascot, when he was a good way behind the winner, Tenability, and he looks to have a sounder surface here. This represents a slight ease in grade for him, and I believe he can make his presence felt.
Daiquiri Bay – 8/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
