Dubai Future Champions Day Tips

The Flat season is slowly coming to a close but Newmarket’s Future Champions Festival provides us with eight Group races across the two days and this includes two Group 1 races - the Fillies’ Mile and the Dewhurst Stakes.

Day 1’s highlight is the Fillies’ Mile, where Charlie Appleby’s star filly Desert Flower will be looking to extend her unbeaten record. There’s a very strong supporting card as well which includes the Group 2 Challenge Stakes over 7f.

We’ve had a good look at every race on Newmarket's seven-race Friday card and picked out our strongest selection for each.

13:07 - Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies' Stakes (7f)

It’s always interesting when Aidan O’Brien runs one in a British maiden and Head To Head is no different here. This impeccably bred juvenile is out of Coolmore, who won a Group 3 at two, and by the excellent sire Wootton Bassett. There was lots to like about her second on debut at Dundalk last month and the yard’s juveniles usually improve plenty for their first runs. She should be up to winning races sooner rather than later and this could be the day. Charlie Appleby’s debutante Verse of Love is perhaps the biggest danger but Head To Head has the advantage of previous experience.

Selection: Head To Head @ 5/1

13:47 - Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3, 5f)

The Strikin Viking is a better horse than he was able to show when disappointing in the Gimcrack Stakes at York last time out. He was far too keen on the day and perhaps dropping down to 5f can help with that. Hamad Al Jehani’s colt has finished second in two Group 2s and with that in mind, winning in Group 3 company shouldn’t be beyond him. Both those pieces of form are by far the best on offer and reproduction of either effort would surely lead to a return to winning ways.

Selection: The Strikin Viking @ 9/2

14:25 - Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3, 7f)

This race looks like a very open affair and there are no fewer than four unbeaten horses in the field. That being said, it’s Ollie Sangster’s Flight that perhaps makes the most appeal. She was a wide margin winner of a decent maiden at Sandown and the second has boosted the form by winning its next start. It was a more than fair effort when third behind Desert Flower at Doncaster and she can run a huge race now back down to 7f.

Selection: Flight @ 7/2

15:00 - Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes (Group 2, 7f)

The favourite looks worth taking on here and Paul & Oliver Cole’s runner Royal Scotsman looks like a very solid alternative. Although he’s not quite the same horse he was at two, he returned to winning ways in Group 3 company last time out and should have his confidence back now. This son of Gleneagles was beaten a neck when second in the Dewhurst over course and distance in 2022 and followed that up with a valiant third in the 2000 Guineas last year. Jamie Spencer knows the horse well and he should be going close here.

Selection: Royal Scotsman @ 13/2

15:35 - bet365 Fillies' Mile (Group 1, 1m)

Desert Flower and January continue their rivalry here, after clashing in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month and the former is expected to confirm the form. Charlie Appleby’s filly has tons of ability and remains unbeaten in three starts thus far. An easy winner on the July course on debut, she then won even more impressively under a penalty over the same course and distance next time. As she brushed Aidan O’Brien’s January aside with ease at Doncaster, it’s hard to envisage a turning of the tables here.

Selection: Desert Flower @ 11/10

16:10 - bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap (1m4f)

This £100,000 heritage handicap looks ferociously competitive and there are five last time out winners amongst the 15-runner field. James Ferguson’s Kildare Legend isn’t generously treated but his lightly raced profile suggests he has the most scope for further improvement. He got off the mark in good style in a Southwell novice over 1m3f in July and a couple of wide margin winners have come out of the race since. Making no mistake on handicap debut at Doncaster next time, he can back that up with a big run now on a 6lb higher mark.

Selection: Kildare Legend @ 5/1

16:45 - Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes (Group 3, 1m2f)

Perhaps not the deepest of Group 3s, it might be sensible to stick with last year’s winner Novus here. Gary & Josh Moore’s game filly was a winner over this trip in Listed company when last seen and that was a warm race. Connections will be hoping the heavens will open and she may prove hard to pass if the ground ends up soft or worse. Oaks runner-up Dance Sequence is the class act but she has a bit to prove after flopping in the Prix de Diane and the reliable Novus is unlikely to let you down.

Selection: Novus @ 7/1