Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting Bets: Graham Cunningham's view on Middle Park Stakes, Cheveley Park Stakes and more

Events / Graham Cunningham / 01 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

"The Cheveley Park Stakes is a cracker. Lady Of The Desert was highly impressive in the Lowther at York, while Misheer bolted up in the Cherry Hinton and Sand Vixen confirmed that she has a potent turn of foot with an emphatic success in the Flying Childers at Doncaster. Add in the exciting French filly Special Duty and this looks bound to have a major say in shaping the market for next year’s 1000 Guineas, but which of the quartet is the safest bet on this occasion?"

Precocity is the keyword on day two of Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting as some of the fastest juveniles in Europe do battle for the Cheveley Park Stakes and the Middle Park Stakes. Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham weighs proven form against untapped potential as he gives his views on Friday's main events.

1.25

Some say an ounce of proven form is worth a pound of potential, but that's not always the case.

Take this Group Three contest, for example. Blue Maiden boasts the best public form, and the fact that she hails from a small yard may help her price, but I suspect there will be at least one rival here with greater long term potential.

Tabassum is one option based on her emphatic Newmarket debut success, but Pipette could be even more progressive. Andrew Balding's filly was plainly green on her debut in a Salisbury maiden, but she beat some decent rivals with real authority and looks well worth this swift step up in class.


1.55

Confront may not be the most straightforward character, but he's thrived since being fitted with a sheepskin noseband and earplugs and sets the standard for the rest to match here based on his recent successes in Listed company at York and Haydock.

Rio De La Plata was well behind in the Haydock race but should fare much better on this faster surface, while We'll Come is an old villain with the natural ability to outrun his price if the mood takes him.

However, Confront is the safe choice. He's well treated at the weights with no penalty and plainly goes well here based on his win in a good handicap during Guineas weekend.


2.30

This is a cracker. Lady Of The Desert was highly impressive in the Lowther at York, while Misheer bolted up in the Cherry Hinton and Sand Vixen confirmed that she has a potent turn of foot with an emphatic success in the Flying Childers at Doncaster.

Add in the exciting French filly Special Duty and this looks bound to have a major say in shaping the market for next year's 1000 Guineas, but which of the quartet is the safest bet on this occasion?

Misheer plainly has questions to answer after her subdued Donny effort, while Sand Vixen needs to show she is effective over six furlongs as she is over five.

Splitting Special Duty and Lady of the Desert is very difficult - and there is precious little between them on form - but my tentative vote goes to Special Duty.
Criquette Head's filly raced more freely than ideal when splitting the high-class Arcano and Canford Cliffs in the Prix Morny at Deauville and a repeat of that will take her very close back against her own sex.


3.05

Assessing the tactical scenario is far more straightforward than pinpointing the winner in a Middle Park that looks well up to scratch.

In short, the freewheeling Poet's Voice is highly likely to take them along, with unbeaten Irish raider Arctic set to track him and Awzaan, Showcasing and Radiohead ridden to swoop late.

Poet's Voice has made a big impression with his high cruising speed, while Awzaan showed a rasping turn of foot in the Mill Reef at Newbury and Arctic has made useful rivals look second rate in the mud.

All three are plausible winners, but Showcasing's sire Oasis Dream arrived in the big time by winning this race in 2002 and he can do the same judged by the way he sprinted clear in the Gimcrack at York last month.