Six fillies were declared for the prestigious Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in what looks to be one of the most mouthwatering clashes of the season.
Aidan O’Brien has won the race six times in the last ten years and fields the ‘freakish’ Sun Goddess. The Sioux Nation filly hasn’t looked back since a short head defeat on debut, beaten just once since by Libertango in the Albany. Her six length romp in the York Harry Half Million by Goffs Stakes was sandwiched by two Group 1 successes, latterly the Moyglard Stud.
The Cheveley Park has provided strong signals ahead of the 1000 Guineas next year, with Sun Goddess heading the market. True Love won the Cheveley Park last season prior to her 1000 Guineas success this term. However, it should be heeded that Lake Victoria, a similarly dominant filly to Sun Goddess, failed to land the 1000 Guineas on her reappearance.
Sun Goddess is a similar mould to Meditate, who contested both the Albany and the Moyglare en-route to the Cheveley Park. She went one place better than her stablemate at Ascot, though could only manage second in the latter contests. Like Lake Victoria, she too was beaten in the 1000 Guineas. While the Cheveley Park does provide 1000 Guineas, success in each hasn’t often equated which should be noted by Sun Goddess backers.
Lowther Stakes a foreboding sign for Libertango
Libertango is one of two horses to have beaten Sun Goddess this season when a length winner of the Albany. She won the Lowther Stakes next time out, but that hasn’t been a lucky path toward the Cheveley Park. Nine of the last ten winners of the Lowther contested the Cheveley Park next time out, with just Fairyland completing the double in 2018.
Libertango’s sole defeat in her career came in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakkes when second to Señorita Bonita. The Starspanglebanner filly’s sole defeat herself came in the Queen Mary when second to the unbeaten Victorious. She’s improved markedly since stepping up to six furlongs, latterly winning the Prix Morny by four lengths.
Senorita Bonita became the third filly to win the race in the last ten years, but only one has gone on to contest the Cheveley Park. That was Pretty Pollyanna in 2018, who also won the Duchess of Cambridge, but failed to justify favouritism in the Cheveley Park.
There appears to be a gulf in class between the ‘big three’, but Alwaysanangel cannot be entirely discounted. Not long ago did Joseph O’Brien win the St Leger with his outsider. Alwaysanangel was third to Señorita Bonita at Newmarket, staying on well from rear to pull clear with the top two. She won a listed contest over seven furlongs next time out, and a strongly run race will likely suit.
Moonrise has won two Group 3’s en-route following her Chesham Stakes second. That included the Princess Margaret Stakes, which has thrown up two winners of this contest since 2021.
Snowing will likely play the hare for Sun Goddess and while she would be a shock winner, she wouldn’t be the first Coolmore second string to take this.