Newmarket‘s Cambridgeshire meeting may be in the rear-view mirror, but HQ is not done with the Group 1s just yet. The BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes headlines Saturday’s card on the Rowley Mile, with seven fillies and mares set to go to post over 1m at 1.35pm.

The field may be small, but there are storylines in abundance. A Juddmonte star on a five-race winning streak, an Irish raider seeking Matron revenge, and a quartet of three-year-olds getting weight from their elders all make for a fascinating renewal. Here are the main talking points ahead of Saturday.

Blue Bolt bids to go one better

12 months ago, Blue Bolt was a progressive three-year-old taking her first crack at the top level in this very race. She ran a fine race in second to Fallen Angel, beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths after her rider briefly dropped a rein under 2f out. She has not looked back since.

Andrew Balding’s daughter of Blue Point has won all five of her starts this term. That run began in Listed company at Goodwood, before she went up through the gears at Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. Three Group 1 wins have followed, including the Falmouth Stakes on Newmarket’s July Course and, most recently, the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, where she was a cosy two-and-a-quarter length winner under Colin Keane.

Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon summed up the mood in the camp when saying, “she has done nothing but improve since then and it would be nice to go back and go one better.”

City Of Memphis seeks Matron revenge

The only blot on City Of Memphis‘ 2026 record came courtesy of Blue Bolt. Paddy Twomey’s four-year-old won her first three starts of the season, including the Group 3 Mutamakina Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh in May.

She was then off the track for 111 days before reappearing in the Matron, where she was held up in midfield and stayed on into second under Billy Lee. That was a career-best effort on the figures despite the lengthy absence, and the rematch on the Rowley Mile is one of the more intriguing subplots of the weekend.

Sun Chariot Stakes 2026 racecard

13:35 Newmarket

Good To Firm

BetMGM Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)

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

First Prize: £212,663
2nd: £80,625
3rd: £40,350
4th: £20,100
5th: £10,088
6th: £5,063

ITV

View Course

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

1 (3)

Blue Bolt 21 days OUR TIP W: 9st 5lb Age: 4 yo Filly

J: Colin Keane T: Andrew Balding

OR: 119 RPR: 131 Form: -11111

GG Racing Score 72% Ability 10/10 Draw — Jockey 5/10 Trainer 1.7/10 Course 6.7/10 Distance 10/10

2 (4)

City Of Memphis 21 days W: 9st 5lb Age: 4 yo Filly

J: W J Lee T: P Twomey

OR: 110 RPR: 124 Form: 5-1112

GG Racing Score 67% Ability 8.3/10 Draw — Jockey 8.3/10 Trainer 5/10 Course — Distance 3.3/10

3 (2)

Kon Tiki 35 days W: 9st 5lb Age: 4 yo Filly

J: Marco Ghiani T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

OR: 108 RPR: 118 Form: 7-2419

GG Racing Score 47% Ability 3.3/10 Draw — Jockey 1.7/10 Trainer 6.7/10 Course — Distance 8.3/10

4 (5)

Calendar Girl 35 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Filly

J: Saffie Osborne T: Owen Burrows

OR: 105 RPR: 116 Form: 211-16

GG Racing Score 32% Ability 1.7/10 Draw — Jockey 0/10 Trainer 0/10 Course 10/10 Distance 5.8/10

5 (1)

Evolutionist 62 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Filly

J: Shane Foley T: K R Burke

OR: 110 RPR: 121 Form: -12844

GG Racing Score 47% Ability 5.8/10 Draw — Jockey 6.7/10 Trainer 8.3/10 Course 0/10 Distance 1.7/10

6 (7)

Moon Target 35 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Filly

J: David Probert T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

OR: 110 RPR: 121 Form: 38-433

GG Racing Score 36% Ability 5.8/10 Draw — Jockey 3.3/10 Trainer 3.3/10 Course 3.3/10 Distance 0/10

7 (6)

Secret Of Life 35 days W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Filly

J: Rossa Ryan T: Ralph Beckett

OR: 104 RPR: 113 Form: 1-114

GG Racing Score 52% Ability 0/10 Draw — Jockey 10/10 Trainer 10/10 Course — Distance 5.8/10

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

1/2 Blue Bolt, 4/1 City Of Memphis, 14/1 Kon Tiki, 16/1 Calendar Girl, 20/1 Evolutionist, 12/1 Moon Target, 25/1 Secret Of Life

The Classic generation get their chance

Four of the seven runners are three-year-olds, who receive a 3lb allowance from their elders. The most accomplished of the quartet is Evolutionist. Karl Burke’s filly was second in the 1000 Guineas over this course and distance in May and has been a regular at the top table since, including when fourth to Blue Bolt in the Falmouth. Burke won this race 12 months ago with Fallen Angel, who has not been declared this time around.

Moon Target has been knocking on the door all season for Sir Mark Prescott. The filly was beaten just a neck when fourth at 33/1 in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, despite not getting a clear run, and was beaten the same margin in third in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown last time. David Probert takes the ride on Saturday.

That Sandown race also featured Secret Of Life and Calendar Girl. Ralph Beckett’s Secret Of Life was unbeaten in three starts, including the Listed Coral Distaff, before taking a keen hold in front and fading into fourth in the Atalanta. Owen Burrows’ Calendar Girl, a Group 3 winner here as a juvenile in the Oh So Sharp Stakes, won the Listed Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock in August before finishing sixth at Sandown. Saffie Osborne, who partnered the filly to a big-pot success at Doncaster last September, is back in the saddle.

Kon Tiki gets her quicker ground

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Kon Tiki is another who knows all about Blue Bolt, having been beaten three-quarters of a length by her at Goodwood in May. She was then fourth in the Duke Of Cambridge before winning the Group 3 Valiant Stakes at Ascot in July.

She was only ninth in the Atalanta last time, though her trainer reported she was unsuited by the good to soft ground there and would prefer a faster surface. She should get her wish on Saturday. The going on the Rowley Mile is good to firm, good in places, following watering, with a GoingStick reading of 6.8. Marco Ghiani rides.