The Flat season’s summer festivals are in full swing with the biggest of them all, Royal Ascot, having just taken place, this article was written just before the start of the Royal meeting and no doubt plenty of the horses mentioned throughout this will have run in one of the six two-year-old races.
Newmarket’s July course is the venue for the next major festival, three days from July 13th to 15th, with a Group race and a maiden for two-year-olds on each day. Charlie Appleby and Richard Hannon have trained the most two-year-old winners at the meeting with 13 apiece, seven of Hannon’s winners coming in the Group races from 24 runners. Appleby’s winners have been more evenly distributed with four in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes, six in the fillies maiden and three in the colt’s maiden.
Aside from the prize money there isn’t too much incentive for winners of the Coventry Stakes or Norfolk Stakes, both Group 2 races, to be aimed the July Stakes, also a Group 2, as they have to carry a penalty and only two Coventry Stakes winners since 2000 have attempted the Group 2 double with Rajasinghe in 2017 faring much better finishing third than Red Clubs had done in 2005 when he finished seventh.
Horses who finished second in the Coventry Stakes have a good record in the July Stakes, since 2016, three have gone one place better most recently when Persian Force won in 2022.
Like the Coventry Stakes, only two Norfolk Stakes winners have attempted to win the July Stakes as well, Winker Watson was successful in 2007 whilst Approve finished fourth in 2010.
Two horses who finished second in the Norfolk went one place better in the July Stakes, Cardsharp in 2017 the most recent.
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Racing Ahead.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Racing Ahead.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
SHARK'S GOT A BIT BETWEEN HIS TEETH
Alex Gifford reckons Hewick will be ready and refreshed for the National after his Gold Cup absence
THEY'RE BACKING LOSERS AND WE'LL PAY THE PRICE
Rolf Johnson blasts unelected officials meddling with gambling regulations while the 'impotent' BHA stand aside
THERE'S BOUNTI IN IT FOR BOUGHEY
Dave Youngman does the rounds on the gallops at headquarters and spotlights a promising new crop
SUMMER DAYS FOR ALL WEATHER TRIO
It's cash bonuses all round for the stars of rubber and sand, writes Ian Heitman
FOLLOW THE VAN
Paul Jacobs is keeping faith with Gavin Cromwell and last year's Grand National runner-up
IT'S SAFETY FIRST BUT NOBLE'S MY WINNER
Sky Racing frontman Robert Cooper casts a wistful eye back on old-school Nationals - but he's fixed on Yeats
GET SET FOR AN EASTER CRACKER!
Karl Hedley picks out runners and riders who can shine in the aftermath of Cheltenham
COR BLIMEY! WHAT A CRACKING CLIMAX
Ben Morgan looks to Cheltenham stars Slade Steel and Corach Rambler to star on Aintree's biggest day
BANBOU TAKES A BOW
Frero can top 'em in the Topham for Venetia Williams
DAWNING TO OPEN FOR IN-FORM DAN
Ben Morgan sees the Skelton brothers getting off to a winning start on Day 1