Before the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe headlines the weekend’s racing, Saturday in Britain boasts Group 1 action itself, with the Sun Chariot Stakes taking place at Newmarket. There is also high class racing from Ascot on ITV.
Matty Sutcliffe focuses on those two Saturday meetings, picking out four horses to watch.
13:14 Ascot – British EBF October Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+)
A Listed contest featuring a host of out of form sorts who generally struggle to win can go the way of Domina Ignis, following a promising return from an 85 day break at Doncaster in Group 3 company last time out.
The Pinatubo daughter was a taking winner on debut at Southwell in November, beating the 4/7 favourite Angel Gabriel 5 lengths.
She made her seasonal debut when third in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newmarket, finishing two lengths behind Sukanya have just been short of room at a crucial stage before finishing her race off strongly to finish a length behind the subsequent Coronation Stakes runner up Touleen.
She failed to perform up to Group 1 company in the 1000 Guineas, nor could she in the Jersey Stakes, but there was cause for excuses in the latter event as she finished 4th in her group of seven up the nearside, with the winner in that group beaten seven lengths, with the 2nd in the group a listed winner since.
She made a perfectly respectable reappearance last month when a staying on four length seventh in the Sceptre Stakes, and if she steps forward from that performance she’s entitled to outrun her odds particularly given she remains somewhat unexposed.
13:35 Newmarket – BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+)
It’s been 30 years since Sir Mark Prescott won the Sun Chariot Stakes with Last Second, and he can belatedly reclaim the prize with Moon Target, whose season looks to have been geared toward this prize.
The Cracksman filly was always going to be a better three year old, but she looked a smart juvenile when landing her first two starts prior to being beaten 3/4L by Precise in the Prestige Stakes.
She went off the boil thereafter, with her Rockfel Stakes third sandwiched between two comfortably beaten performances. She didn’t make her seasonal debut until Royal Ascot, where she ran a huge races to be beaten a two length fourth, a neck behind the 1000 Guineas winner True Love.
She backed that up when two lengths behind Blue Bolt in the Prix Rothschild, and wasn’t disgraced on grounds softer than ideal in a competitive renewal of the Atlanta Stakes.
With those three runs this season now behind her, I’d expect her to take another step forward here and get closer to Blue Bolt, who having started her campaign at the beginning of May, and travelling twice for Group 1 honours, could be over the top by now.
13:50 Ascot – Rous Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+)
Aramram returns to Listed company for the first time since taking the Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster on his seasonal debut following some solid efforts in stronger company.
The son of Blue Point had been a model of consistency in top level handicaps prior to that Listed success, and he proved it was no fluke when beaten 3/4l into second in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes, followed by a respectable fifth in the Group 2 Minster Stakes.
He failed to fire in two Group 1’s thereafter, but he produced a good performance off top-weight in the Great St Wilfred when finishing first in his far-side group of four, and it was always going to be a tough asked off 9-10 in a heavy ground renewal of the Ayr Gold Cup.
He’s a horse who generally fires around this time of year with form figures of 83121737160 in the months of September and October, including a handicap success at this meeting last season.
Dropping back to five furlongs is the unknown, having only tried it once, but he’s bred to cope with the minimum trip and a strongly run test over a track that suits him shouldn’t pose a problem in that respect.
15:00 Ascot – John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+)
Charlie Appleby won this with a three year old in Blue Point in 2017 who was returning from a 207 day layoff and would go on to be one of the leading sprinters of recent times, so we should take note that he attempts to repeat that with Hidden Force, despite last being seen in the Craven Stakes over a mile.
The Frankel colt made a winning debut at Kempton in December, and followed that up with another course success. He lost his unbeaten streak in the Craven Stakes when keen under William Buick, failing to stay the mile on turf debut.
Interestingly, Buick immediately after the second Kempton run said he’s got plenty of pace and didn’t strike him as being able to go beyond a mile, unsurprisingly given how potent his turn of foot was there.
He returns having had wind surgery in the interim and still an entire, suggesting Godolphin continue to rate him very highly and he’s worth chancing in a division that continues to lack a standout performer.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Four to Watch for Saturday 3 October
13:14 Ascot – British EBF October Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Domina Ignis 16/1 1pt EW 3 places
13:35 Newmarket – BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Moon Target 12/1 1pt EW 2 places
13:50 Ascot – Rous Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Aramram 16/1 1pt EW 3 places
15:00 Ascot – John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Hidden Force 4/1 1pt WIN
FAQs
When was Matthew Sutcliffe’s article published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 5pm on Thursday 1 October.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe