Fortuna Wins Big

Three days of quintessential Summer racing at Newmarket’s Summer house; the July course for the July Festival.

On Thursday, we kicked off with the Bahrain Trophy. Often seen as a St Leger trial, there was only a field of four over the one-mile-five-furlong trip.

Ancient Wisdom was coming off the back of Derby defeat and stepping up in trip, whilst main opposition Space Legend was looking to go one better than his second in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot. It was the former who prevailed, as Ancient Wisdom hugged the stand-side rail and made-all with no other rival landing a blow.

The Princess Of Wales’s Stakes was the highlight of Thursday, with the return of Hamish, who was looking to add another victory to his name after his second in the Coronation Cup. Giavellotto was coming off the back of a second Yorkshire Cup win.

As Arrest led the way, Hamish positioned himself at the rear of the field, with Giavellotto sitting a little more prominently. Entering the final stages, Hamish was a long way off making an impact as Arrest gunned for home, with Giavellotto gaining yard by yard and eventually going clear at the line.

Friday saw the first Group One of the week, with the Falmouth Stakes looking more competitive than in recent years.

Coronation Stakes winner and 1000 Guineas second Porta Fortuna was at the forefront of the market with Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Running Lion also featuring.

As they set off the straight mile, the main field stuck to the far side whilst Rogue Millennium stuck to her namesake and came down the centre of the course. Porta Fortuna raced down the far side and on entering the dip, led the field all the way to the line, pursued by Jabaara and the staying on Rogue Millennium.

Saturday saw one of the premier two-year-old races, the Superlative Stakes. A race which in recent years has produced two horses of great pedigree, Native Trail and, last year, City Of Troy.

This time around we were treated to another possible talent, Ancient Truth for Godolphin.

Restrained in the early stages, William Buick switched to the outside of the leading group and began to blaze a trail up the hill and win comfortably.

The feature of the whole week was the July Cup, with the Commonwealth Cup and Jubilee Stakes winners and runners reappearing in the same race. Inisherin was looking to follow in the footsteps of Muharaar and last year’s winner Shaquille by doing the Commonwealth/July Cup double.

Entering the final furlong five were spread right across the course, all each with a chance of victory. Swingalong was showing best in the centre, with Mill Stream on the far side keeping up the pace, and Vandeek rallying down the stand side of the course.

Swingalong and Mill Stream went clear up the hill, with Mill Stream pulling out by a neck, prevailing to win his first Group One and his second race this season. This was also another Group One for Jane Chapple-Hyam, and her first at the July course.