The Dubai Future Champions Festival starts on the Rowley Mile on Friday 9 October. The card has five Group races and the Old Rowley Cup, headed by the Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile at 2.57pm.

Plenty of future Classic winners have come out of this card, the Fillies’ Mile above all. We’ve gone back through the last ten runnings of each race (twelve for the Old Rowley Cup) to pull out the trends worth knowing before you bet.

Key Race Schedule For Friday

Time	Race	Grade	Distance	Runners
1.15	Cornwallis Stakes (2yo)	Group 3	5f	13
1.50	Oh So Sharp Stakes (2yo fillies)	Group 3	7f	16
2.25	Challenge Stakes (3yo+)	Group 2	7f	6
2.57	bet365 Fillies’ Mile (2yo fillies)	Group 1	1m	8
3.30	bet365 Old Rowley Cup (3yo heritage handicap)	Class 2	1m4f	11
4.45	Pride Stakes (fillies & mares)	Group 3	1m2f	17

Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3) – 1.15pm

The Cornwallis Stakes is a Group 3 sprint over five furlongs for two-year-olds, open to both colts and fillies. It was run at Ascot until it moved to Newmarket’s Future Champions meeting in 2014, and it is one of the last chances for juvenile sprinters to pick up a Group race before the end of the season.

Bad race for favourites: they have won 3 of the last 10 runnings, and none since Twilight Jet in 2021.
Prices: four of the last 10 winners started 8/1 or bigger, including Beckfords Folly at 16/1 last year. Good Vibes (12/1) and Winter Power (10/1) also won at big prices.
Fillies have won 4 of the last 10 against the colts.
Future sprint stars: Winter Power (2020) won the Nunthorpe the following summer, and 2015 winner Quiet Reflection won the Commonwealth Cup and the Haydock Sprint Cup. Battaash, 3rd to Mrs Danvers in 2016, became a champion sprinter.

Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3) – 1.50pm

The Oh So Sharp Stakes is a Group 3 over seven furlongs for two-year-old fillies only. It is named after Oh So Sharp, who won the fillies’ Triple Crown (1000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger) in 1985, and it often attracts lightly raced fillies stepping up from maiden or novice wins.

The shock race of the day: six of the last 10 winners started 9/1 or bigger. Three of them were 22/1 or longer: Altyn Orda (25/1), Midnight Mile (22/1) and Merrily (25/1).
Favourites: only 2 wins from 10 (Saffron Beach in 2020, Calendar Girl in 2025).
Classic links: Miss France won the race in 2013 and took the 1000 Guineas the following May. Saffron Beach (2020) was 2nd in the 1000 Guineas and later won the Sun Chariot and the Prix Rothschild. Flight, 3rd in 2024, was runner-up in the 2025 1000 Guineas.
With 16 declared, this year looks just as open.

Challenge Stakes (Group 2) – 2.25pm

The Challenge Stakes is a Group 2 over seven furlongs on the Rowley Mile, open to colts, geldings, fillies and mares aged three and older. It is one of the last big seven-furlong prizes of the British season and tends to attract established Group performers rather than improving types.

Raiders rule: the last three runnings have gone overseas, to Ireland in 2023 and France in 2024 and 2025. No overseas runner won between 2016 and 2022.
No shocks: all 10 winners started 7/1 or shorter, and 6 were 7/2 or shorter. Favourites won 4 of the 10.
Experience counts: 8 of the 10 winners were aged four or older.
Repeat winners: Limato won in 2017 and 2018, and the race has a long history of dual winners. Aclaim (2016) went on to win the Group 1 Prix de la Forêt.
Only six go to post this year, and small fields are nothing new: 2019, 2023 and 2025 all had five or fewer runners.

14:25 Newmarket

Good To Firm

Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes (Group 2)

Flat Turf
Turf
0m 7f 0y
Class 1
6 runners

First Prize: £93,572
2nd: £35,475
3rd: £17,754
4th: £8,844
5th: £4,439
6th: £2,228

ITV

View Course

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

1 (2)

Holguin 40 days W: 9st 5lb Age: 6 yo Colt

J: Callum Rodriguez T: Hamad Al Jehani

OR: 109 RPR: 123 Form: 1-6351

GG Racing Score 35% Ability 5/10 Draw — Jockey 2/10 Trainer 4/10 Course 5/10 Distance 0/10

2 (4)

Never So Brave 27 days W: 9st 5lb Age: 5 yo Colt

J: Oisin Murphy T: Andrew Balding

OR: 112 RPR: 123 Form: 552656

GG Racing Score 57% Ability 5/10 Draw — Jockey 6/10 Trainer 7/10 Course 5/10 Distance 6/10

3 (1)

Witness Stand 6 days W: 9st 5lb Age: 5 yo Colt

J: Kieran Shoemark T: Dr Richard Newland

OR: 111 RPR: 123 Form: 263652

GG Racing Score 33% Ability 5/10 Draw — Jockey 0/10 Trainer 2/10 Course 0/10 Distance 8/10

4 (6)

Time To Turn 89 days W: 9st 3lb Age: 3 yo Colt

J: William Buick T: Charlie Appleby

OR: 107 RPR: 116 Form: 181-26

GG Racing Score 60% Ability 0/10 Draw — Jockey 10/10 Trainer 10/10 Course — Distance 10/10

5 (5)

Flora Of Bermuda 27 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 5 yo Filly

J: James Doyle T: Andrew Balding

OR: 111 RPR: 126 Form: 101102

GG Racing Score 78% Ability 10/10 Draw — Jockey 8/10 Trainer 7/10 Course 10/10 Distance 2/10

6 (3)

Pina Sonata 26 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 4 yo Filly

J: Daniel Muscutt T: James Fanshawe

OR: 107 RPR: 123 Form: 6-1751

GG Racing Score 38% Ability 5/10 Draw — Jockey 4/10 Trainer 0/10 Course 5/10 Distance 4/10

Terms and conditions

*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.

Betting Forecast

Holguin, Never So Brave, Witness Stand, Time To Turn, Flora Of Bermuda, Pina Sonata

bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Group 1) – 2.57pm

The Fillies’ Mile is a Group 1 for two-year-old fillies, run over one mile on the Rowley Mile. It was staged at Ascot until 2010 and has been run at Newmarket since 2011. It is the most important race of the season for juvenile fillies over a mile, and the winner usually heads the betting for the following year’s 1000 Guineas and Oaks.

A nursery for Classic winners

Classic winners keep coming out of the Fillies’ Mile. Since 1990, eight of its winners have gone on to land a Classic:

Fillies’ Mile	Winner	Classic(s) won next year
1991	Culture Vulture	Poule d’Essai des Pouliches
1995	Bosra Sham	1000 Guineas
1996	Reams Of Verse	Oaks
2001	Gossamer	Irish 1000 Guineas
2015	Minding	1000 Guineas & Oaks
2017	Laurens	Prix de Diane
2024	Desert Flower	1000 Guineas
2025	Precise	Irish 1000 Guineas

Minding is the standout. She won the Fillies’ Mile in 2015 and took the 1000 Guineas and Oaks the following year. Precise added the Coronation Stakes to her Irish Guineas win this summer, and Inspiral (2021) never ran in a Classic but won the Coronation, two Jacques le Marois and a Breeders’ Cup.

The beaten fillies have been just as good. Hermosa was 2nd in 2018 and won both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas. Love, 3rd in 2019, won the Guineas and the Oaks. The 2020 running had Mother Earth and Snowfall down the field, and they went on to win the 2021 1000 Guineas and Oaks respectively.

Key Fillies’ Mile trends

Favourites dominate: 7 of the last 10 winners started favourite, including 4 of the last 5.
Aidan O’Brien is the race’s leading trainer with 7 wins, 3 of them in the last 10 years. Son Joseph O’Brien has won it twice.
Proven at Group level: 8 of the last 10 winners had already won a Group race.
In form: 6 of the last 10 won last time out, and 4 arrived unbeaten.
The May Hill route: three of the last nine winners won the May Hill at Doncaster on their previous start (Laurens, Inspiral and Desert Flower). The Moyglare has supplied three more.
Freshness matters: every winner in the last 20 years had run within the previous 5–29 days.

Musical Times, May Hill Stakes, Doncaster — Musical Times winning the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster

2026 angle: Early favourite Musical Times fits nearly every trend. Charlie Appleby and William Buick won with Desert Flower in 2024 off a May Hill win, and Musical Times arrives unbeaten in three, most recently winning the May Hill by seven and a half lengths at 7/4. She is already favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas, which Desert Flower went on to win. At an early 8/15 she is short, but the race usually goes to the favourite.

14:57 Newmarket

Good To Firm

bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Group 1)

Flat Turf
Turf
1m 0f 0y
Class 1
8 runners

First Prize: £283,550
2nd: £107,500
3rd: £53,800
4th: £26,800
5th: £13,450
6th: £6,750

ITV

View Course

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

1 (5)

Dancing Destiny 26 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 2 yo Filly

J: Declan McDonogh T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

OR: — RPR: 112 Form: 341223

GG Racing Score 57% Ability 7.9/10 Draw — Jockey 2.9/10 Trainer 0/10 Course — Distance 10/10

2 (7)

Exceptionally 24 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 2 yo Filly

J: Colin Keane T: A P O’Brien

OR: — RPR: 108 Form: 03343

GG Racing Score 33% Ability 5.7/10 Draw — Jockey 1.4/10 Trainer 3.6/10 Course — Distance 0/10

3 (1)

Forbidden Fire 28 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 2 yo Filly

J: Oisin Murphy T: Andrew Balding

OR: 102 RPR: 107 Form: 11

GG Racing Score 55% Ability 4.3/10 Draw — Jockey 5.7/10 Trainer 7.9/10 Course — Distance —

4 (3)

Haven 14 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 2 yo Filly

J: Ryan Moore T: A P O’Brien

OR: — RPR: 96 Form: 821

GG Racing Score 27% Ability 0/10 Draw — Jockey 7.1/10 Trainer 3.6/10 Course — Distance —

5 (6)

Lex Victoria 30 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 2 yo Filly

J: James Doyle T: Simon & Ed Crisford

OR: 93 RPR: 99 Form: 11

GG Racing Score 41% Ability 1.4/10 Draw — Jockey 4.3/10 Trainer 5.7/10 Course 7.5/10 Distance —

6 (8)

Musical Times 29 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 2 yo Filly

J: William Buick T: Charlie Appleby

OR: 115 RPR: 123 Form: 111

GG Racing Score 90% Ability 10/10 Draw — Jockey 10/10 Trainer 10/10 Course 7.5/10 Distance 6.7/10

7 (4)

Rogue Passion 33 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 2 yo Filly

J: Rossa Ryan T: Edward Bethell

OR: 105 RPR: 112 Form: 4211

GG Racing Score 64% Ability 7.9/10 Draw — Jockey 8.6/10 Trainer 1.4/10 Course — Distance —

8 (2)

Scommessa Sicura 29 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 2 yo Filly

J: Saffie Osborne T: Andrew Balding

OR: 99 RPR: 106 Form: 222122

GG Racing Score 28% Ability 2.9/10 Draw — Jockey 0/10 Trainer 7.9/10 Course 0/10 Distance 3.3/10

Terms and conditions

*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.

Betting Forecast

25/1 Dancing Destiny, 33/1 Exceptionally, 10/1 Forbidden Fire, 16/1 Haven, 9/1 Lex Victoria, 4/7 Musical Times, 7/2 Rogue Passion, 50/1 Scommessa Sicura

bet365 Old Rowley Cup (Heritage Handicap) – 3.30pm

The Old Rowley Cup is a Class 2 heritage handicap for three-year-olds only, run over a mile and a half. First staged in 2014, it carries a £100,000 guaranteed prize and is aimed at progressive middle-distance and staying handicappers at the end of their Classic-generation season.

This 1m4f heritage handicap for three-year-olds was first run in 2014. It has produced a top-class stayer in Trueshan, who won it in 2019 for Alan King and went on to win the Goodwood Cup, two Prix du Cadrans and three British Champions Long Distance Cups.

Key Old Rowley Cup trends

Appleby and Buick: Charlie Appleby has won it 3 times from just 7 runners. William Buick has ridden 3 winners from 11 rides.
Favourites: 4 winning favourites from 12 runnings, all of them since 2018 (4 from the last 8).
Price range: 8 of the 12 winners were 8/1 or shorter. Farquhar at 40/1 in the first running is the only winner bigger than 16/1.
Ratings sweet spot: 7 of the last 9 winners were rated 87–96. Siskany (103, 9-7) is the only winner rated 100+ or carrying more than 9-3.
Last-time-out winners struggle: just 1 of the last 9 winners won on its previous start. Three had finished 2nd.
Goodwood is a strong guide: it was the last run for three winners, more than any other course.
Fillies and Irish raiders have yet to win it.
Draw: no strong bias, although the last two winners came from stalls 1 and 2.

2026 angle: Study Of Words, drawn 1, is the early favourite for Appleby and Buick. Rated 94 and carrying 9-3, he sits right in the ratings sweet spot. Top weight Archers Bay (OR 100, 9-9) needs to match Siskany, the only winner to carry more than 9-3.

Pride Stakes (Group 3) – 4.45pm

The Pride Stakes is a Group 3 over a mile and a quarter for fillies and mares aged three and older. Known as the Severals Stakes until 2014, it held Listed status until it was upgraded to Group 3 in 2019, and it closes Friday’s card with a big, competitive field.

Favourites to avoid: 2 wins in 10 years and none since 2020. Last year Falakeyah was beaten at 6/5.
Mid-range prices: every winner in the last 10 years started 9/1 or shorter, and 9 of the 10 were between 11/4 and 9/1.
Three-year-olds have won half of the last 10 runnings, including four in a row from 2018 to 2021.
Upgraded to Group 3 in 2019, the race has since gone to seven different trainers. Ralph Beckett, who won with Lady Boba (5/1) in 2024, is represented again this year.

Friday trends summary

Back the favourite: the Fillies’ Mile (7 from 10).
Look for a price: the Oh So Sharp, Cornwallis and Pride, where favourites have won just 7 of 30 between them.
Stick to the market leaders: the Challenge Stakes (no winner bigger than 7/1), keeping an eye on the overseas raiders.
Trainer to follow: Charlie Appleby, with recent Fillies’ Mile and Old Rowley Cup winners and the Fillies’ Mile favourite in Musical Times.

18+ | Please gamble responsibly. Odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.

Newmarket Friday Cheat Sheet: Stats & Trends For Day 1 Of Future Champions Festival

Key Race Schedule For Friday

Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3) – 1.15pm

13:15 Newmarket

Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3)

Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3) – 1.50pm

13:50 Newmarket

Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies)