Great Barrier Reef was a notable absentee among the final declarations for the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday morning, with Coolmore opting to send both Marco Polo and Confucius.
Aidan O’Brien has won the race three times since 2017, notably with subsequent July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns in 2018. Blackbeard also won the race in 2022, capping off a sensational juvenile season. He’s made a strong start to life at stud, and O’Brien will be hoping his pair can follow suit.
Marco Polo was second to subsequent Group 3 winner and the re-opposing Push The Boat out on debut. He failed to fire in the Gimcrack, but got back on track when a wide margin winner of a Cork maiden.
His other mount, Confucius, has been disappointing since his Naas maiden win, failing to justify favouritism on three occasions. By No Nay Never out of a Cheveley Park winner, he’s certainly bred for this level but he needs the first time blinkers to eek out improvement.
Clive Cox was happy to blame the ground for Orthodox’s performance at Deauville and believes he can return to form. He told the Press Association, via At The Races: “We’ve been happy with him since then. I’ve been really pleased with his work and I’m delighted with the forecast.”
The Havana Grey colt was a comfortable winner of the Norfolk Stakes to remain unbeaten. The form has worked out in places, and he’s evidently held in high regard.
Charlie Appleby is looking to make it a hat-trick in the race and he fields the unbeaten Inner City Blues. He overcame greenness to win with ease at York on debut, prior to landing a three runner July Stakes. His sire was second in the 2016 Middle Park, and he has the potential to go one better.
Ace Stud have acquired the services of Push The Boat Out following his Round Tower win. He beat the prior ante-post favourite there, and already has the beating of Marco Polo. His form is among the strongest in here, and there are very few negatives surrounding him.
Force Noir backs up eight days after his Dundalk success and steps back up into stronger company. He was disappointing in the Norfolk behind Orthodox, but looked smart prior to that. Adrian Keatley isn’t afraid of pitching his horses in deep and Hell Of A Spin takes his chance. Third in a Molecomb and second in a Gimcrack, he’s entitled to give a good account of himself.