Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1)
September 28, 2024
A fascinating renewal of the Cheveley Park with two unbeaten Irish fillies heading the market, two French fillies adding intrigue, and a quality home team of four.
The Irish
Babouche, representing the sponsors Juddmonte, is trained by Ger Lyons and is the narrow favourite at 15/8 ahead of Aidan O’Briens Lake Victoria who is trading at 2/1. Both were impressive Maiden winners, next time out, both were impressive Group 3 winner’s, and last time out, both were impressive Group 1 winner’s.
Babouche winning the G1 Phoenix Stakes
The Glenburnie filly,the mount of Colin Keane was very taking in the G1 Phoenix Stakes when beating Whistlejacket over 6f and the Ballydoyle inmate, the mount of Ryan Moore was impressive when taking the Moyglare Stakes beating her more fancied stable companion Bedtime Story over 7f.
Lake Victoria retuning to the ring after winning the G1 Moyglare Stakes
The French
Of the two French fillies, it is Daylight who has the more experience. Trained by Patrice Cottier she’ll be having her fifth run. She was touted as a speedy type going into the G1 Prix Morny where she finished third behind Whistlejacket. Mickael Barzalona retains the ride.
Francis Henri Graffard’s Rayevka with Maxime Guyon in the plate has only had two outings. She was second in a conditions event, just held, beaten a short neck, and in her second run, another conditions event, she was a classy 5L winner.
The English
Ed Walker’s Celandine leads the home team. She’ll be ridden by regular pilot Tom Marquand. She was a neck winner of the G2 Lowther Stakes at York over 6f with Karl Burke’s Queen Mary winner, Leovanni, under James Doyle, 1¾L back in third.
The G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes winner is also here, Arabian Dust. She’s the partner of Oisin Murphy riding for Simon and Ed Crisford. After the Newmarket win she found the Morny too hot when well beaten back in tenth. Clive Cox throws Magic Mild under Rossa Ryan in at the deep end. Her last run was her best when third in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury.
The Ground
The ground will have a major say on the outcome of this. It was heavy at Newmarket yesterday and will likely ride soft today. The French connections will be happy as their form is all on soft or heavy. Of the English fillies, only Magic Mild has won with soft in the description. It’s also a question for the Irish fillies.
Class will have to prevail.
Babbouche displayed a lot of talent in winning a very good Phoenix. Whistlejacket franked the form winning the Morny the week after and he’s odds on to add The Middle Park today.
While there is uncertainty about how Babouche will handle the ground, it’s worth noting her full sister, Zarinsk, (also trained by Ger Lyons) won four times on a soft surface. Despite the question mark over the going, Babouche’s classy win in the Phoenix Stakes, combined with the form boost from Whistlejacket in the Morny gives her the edge over Lake Victoria and also the French and English fillies.
Whistlejacket can also take the Middle Park.
Whistlejacket on way out for the G1 Pheonix Stakes
Recommendation
Babouche 15/8 win
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