TOP CLASS ENTRIES FOR NEWMARKET'S RECORD-BREAKING AUTUMN
Newmarket's record-breaking autumn comes a step closer today with the release of some outstanding entries for the big races at the Ascot Festival, which has been transferred to the Rowley Mile this year during Ascot's redevelopment and takes place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September, and the following week's Cambridgeshire Meeting which runs from Thursday 29th September to Saturday 1st October. In all, Newmarket will stage five Group One races, two Group Twos, four Group Threes and 7 Listed races over this eight day period, with Champions' Day and its six Group Races, including two Group Ones, to follow just a fortnight later.
Released today are the entries for the £200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by Barclays Bank Plc) (Group One), the £175,000 Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile (Group One), the £70,000 totesport Royal Lodge Stakes (Group Two), the £170,000 Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes (Group One) and the £170,000 Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes (Group One). Entries for the £200,000 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Group One) close on Wednesday and will be published next week.
There are 53 entries for the £200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by Barclays Bank Plc), including the 2004 victor Rakti. Michael Jarvis' is likely to face some stiff opposition as he bids to become the first back-to-back winner since Rose Bowl in 1975/1976 including the likes of Valixir, his conqueror in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at York, Godolphin's Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Dubawi and the tremendously tough Maids Causeway, winner of the Coronation Stakes earlier this season. Both of the first two horses home in last week's Sussex Stakes, Proclamation and Soviet Song, hold entries while Aidan O'Brien has nine to choose from, including UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters and Coral Eclipse scorer Oratorio. Other significant entries are Attraction, who has not run since putting up a rare poor showing at Hong Kong in May and the second French challenger Whipper, successful in the 2004 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
Whipper's trainer Robert Collet also has a leading contender for the £175,000 Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile in New Girlfriend, the sensational winner of the Group Two Prix Robert Papin last time out. Other fillies to have shown decent form among the 97 entries include Ed Dunlop's Cross Channel, who was nominated as possible for this race after winning the Blue Square EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket on July 30, and the Clive Brittain-trained Deveron, who created a favourable impression when taking the New Ham Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Sponsors Meon Valley Stud have two entries, Millistar and Pentatonic.
The £70,000 totesport Royal Lodge Stakes has received 135 entries, including last week's impressive Group Two Vintage Stakes scorer Sir Percy, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Asset, who took the eye with a facile success at Yarmouth last time and Terry Mills' improving performer Close To You, victorious in three of his four starts. Aidan O'Brien has an abundance of talent to pick from with his 24 entries including George Washington, successful in the Group Two Railway Stakes and ante-post favourite for next year's UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas, Group Two TNT July Stakes victor Ivan Denisovich and the unbeaten Horatio Nelson, successful in the Group Three Weatherbys Superlative Stakes at Newmarket's July Meeting. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained City Of Troy created a very favourable impression when taking the Racing UK Conditions Stakes on his debut at Newbury on July 16 and is another possible starter.
The 70 entries for the £170,000 Group One Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes, run on September 29th, include the Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes heroine Donna Blini, who could bid to give trainer Brian Meehan a second consecutive success in the contest following Magical Romance's win in 2004. Donna Blini could reoppose Salut d'Amour, a fast-finishing second in the Cherry Hinton, whose trainer Jeremy Noseda also has Group Three Albany Stakes scorer La Chunga to rely on. Mick Channon also holds a powerful hand with unbeaten Group Two Queen Mary Stakes winner Flashy Wings and Silca's Sister, impressive in a Newbury maiden last time. New Girlfriend is also a possible for this race while Aidan O'Brien has entered seven, including Listed winner Rumpelstiltskin.
There are 60 entries for the £170,000 Group One Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes, run on September 30th, which include Aidan O'Brien's powerful trio of George Washington, Horatio Nelson and Ivan Denisovich. Other leading contenders include recent Group Two Richmond Stakes scorer Always Hopeful, representing the team of owner John Fretwell and trainer Eoghan O'Neill, Group Two Coventry Stakes winner Red Clubs, a disappointment behind Ivan Denisovich last time out in the TNT July Stakes at Newmarket and David Nicholls' admirably tough Strike Up The Band, who gained a deserved success when taking the Group Three Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Michael Prosser, Newmarket's Clerk of the Course, commented: "This autumn is going to be a sensational "one-off" for Newmarket and the Rowley Mile and these excellent entries just serve to whet the appetite for what lies ahead here next month. The ground has been flourishing over the summer and the track will be raring to go for what is probably the most exciting spell of racing in the Rowley Mile's entire 350-year history."
Tickets are on sale for all of Newmarket's autumn fixtures with generous advance booking discounts available. Visit www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk or call 01638 675 500.
AT THE RACES - STATEMENT WITH REGARD TO THE COMPETITION COMMISSION APPEAL TRIBUNAL
ATR did not participate in the appeal hearing as it had already validly terminated the Media Rights Agreement prior to the OFT's decision that the MRA infringed the Competition Act.
Today's decision by the Competition Appeal Tribunal therefore has no adverse impact on the claim we have made against the RCA and others and we remain confident of success.
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