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38 Remain In Contention For The Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes
Following Tuesday’s scratching stage, a strong field of 38 two-year-olds remain in contention for the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury Racecourse. Run over six furlongs and worth an increased total prize fund of £175,000, the contest is the feature race of the Dubai Duty Free International Weekend and is set to take place on Saturday 19 September. This year’s renewal will be run in honour of the late Ian Balding, the legendary trainer of Mill Reef himself.
One of the leading fancies is Arapaho Gold, who remains unbeaten in four starts for Michael Dods. The son of Bayside Boy provided the first-season sire with a first Group winner when landing the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York last week, digging deep to hold off Final Objective by three-quarters of a length. That success followed a Listed victory in the Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury in July, and connections have long earmarked the Mill Reef as an intended target. He is one of four to carry a Group-race penalty and a joint-top weight of 9st 6lb.
Godolphin are represented by a pair for Charlie Appleby, headed by Inner City Blues. The €900,000 breeze-up colt has won both his starts, following a debut success at York with victory in the Group 2 Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes at Newmarket, where he powered clear under William Buick. He is joined by Nabati as the stable bids to follow up last year’s success with Words Of Truth.
The Coolmore challenge is spearheaded by Man’s Best Friend, who gave Aidan O’Brien a third Markel Richmond Stakes when quickening through a gap to score at Goodwood in July. The No Nay Never colt is one of several O’Brien could saddle for the partners, with Carry The Flag, Confucius and Marco Polo also among the acceptors.
Hugo Palmer’s Adaay of Scarlett has been the model of consistency at the highest level, finishing runner-up in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the July Stakes and the Richmond Stakes. Stablemate Sale Shark, winner of the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes, is also in the mix.
Clive Cox could be doubly represented by Orthodox and Geometric, both owned by Mr J. Goddard. Orthodox, a joint-top weight on 9st 6lb, franked his considerable promise with a runaway victory in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. Meanwhile, Etienne represents Richard Spencer and Agamemnon carries the colours of Jastar Capital and Murt Khan for Richard Hughes.
Wathnan Racing hold a strong hand with Gimcrack runner-up Final Objective, trained by Hamad Al Jehani, along with the Karl Burke-trained pair Launch Sequence and Light of Dawn. Burke, who saddles five in total, also has Great Oak, Revels and Varzi engaged.
Flann Sunna, Pure Mint, Social Symbol and Tawakal could line up for Simon and Ed Crisford, while Eve Johnson Houghton’s Night In Vegas arrives in form having finished third in the Richmond Stakes. Fittingly, Andrew Balding – son of the man the race honours – could be represented by a pair of smart fillies, with the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes winner Moonrise and Juddmonte’s Jolivette, last seen finishing third in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes, both entered.
The next confirmation stage is on September 14, when supplementary entries can also be made.
