Mill Reef Momentum: Did You Know

Ahead of the Dubai Duty Free International Weekend on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st – and the Mill Reef Stakes – we’re looking back at horses whose stories have begun – or gained momentum – courtesy of success in the Mill Reef.

RIBCHESTER

Trained by Richard Fahey, Ribchester ran in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes on what was only his third career start having finished second in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes a month previously.

Partnered by James Doyle for the first time for new owners Godolphin, the son of Iffraaj was sent off 13/8 favourite at Newbury. Having been held up in last, he made progress to join the leaders two furlongs out before winning by one and quarter lengths despite showing greenness.

The following season he won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot before landing the first of four Group 1’s in the Prix Jacques Le Marois.

He started his four year old career in Meydan when finishing third in the Group 1 Dubai Turf before a return to Newbury in the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.

Sent off 7/4 favourite under William Buick, Ribchester made all to finished three and three-quarter lengths ahead of Lightening Spear.

This was the first of three Group 1 victories over the mile in the 2017 season with further success in the Queen Anne Stakes and the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Ribchester retired to stud following a fifth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile having amassed total prize money of £2,641,449. His most notable progeny includes the winner of the 2024 Dubai Turf, Facteur Cheval.

Watch the full video by clicking the image below.

JAMES GARFIELD

James Garfield provided trainer George Scott with the first Group win of his career when landing the 2017 renewal of the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori and sent off at odds of 100/30, the son of Exceed and Excel won by three-quarters of a length ahead of Invincible Army.

He had one further start as a two-year-old in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf before a return to Newbury after a break of 169 days.

The first start of his three-year-old campaign was in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes. Once again partnered by Frankie Dettori, he ran on well to beat the favourite, Expert Eye into second.

James Garfield very nearly landed success at the highest level when headed close home to finish a narrow second in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.

He retired to stud at the end of his three-year-old career.

Watch the full video by clicking the image below.

HARRY ANGEL

In 2007, Dark Angel won the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury Racecourse.

Nine years later, one of his progeny, Harry Angel, emulated his sire and landed victory in the 2016 renewal of the Mill Reef Stakes for trainer Clive Cox and jockey Adam Kirby.

Having been touched off by a nose in his first start over five furlongs at Ascot, he stepped up in trip to six furlongs in the Mill Reef when sent off 2/1 favourite.

He landed a comfortable victory, finishing two and a half lengths ahead of the Andrew Balding trained Perfect Angel.

Both the first and second home that day were sired by Dark Angel. Harry Angel went on to be Champion Sprinter as a three-year-old, winning both the Group 1 Sprint Cup and July Cup.

As a four-year-old, he won the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes before retiring after a narrow defeat in the Group 1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes.

Harry Angel has since sired six Group winners, one of which is the David O’Meara trained, Cheveley Park Stud homebred, Esquire.

Ridden by Daniel Tudhope on the first start of his three-year-old campaign, Esquire was a surprise winner of the 2024 renewal of the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes went starting at odds of 16/1.

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DARK ANGEL & WINGS OF WAR

Trained locally in Lambourn by Barry Hills and ridden in all his races by Barry’s son, Michael, Dark Angel only raced as a two-year-old.

In his sole year racing, he won four of his nine career starts including the 2007 renewal of the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes.

Sent off 9/4 favourite, he made all to hold on by a neck after a strong late challenge from the Jeremy Noseda trained Strike The Deal.

Dark Angel landed back to back victories on his next start when winning the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes which was to be his only Group 1 victory.

Having retired to stud, Dark Angel has proven himself to be a leading sire of sprinters having been leading European sire of sprinters/milers for the last four years.

Featured amongst his most notable progeny are Harry Angel and Wings of War, both of whom have subsequently won the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes.

Harry Angel won the 2016 renewal and the winning combination of trainer Clive Cox and jockey Adam Kirby, combined again to win the 2021 renewal with Wings of War.

Having broken his maiden on his second career start at Nottingham, Wings of War was stepping into Group 2 company for the first time in the Mill Reef Stakes.

Sent off a 17/2 chance, Wings of War just did enough to get up on the line and beat the Hugo Palmer trained Hierarchy into second by just a head.

That was to be his last win when trained by Clive Cox before being gelded at the end of his three-year-old career following a third place finish in the Group 2 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes behind Jumby.

Wings of War left Clive Cox’s Lambourn yard to continue his training in Hong Kong.

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