Racecards
15:15 Newbury
Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £102,300 added
- Winner: £58,014
- 2nd: £21,994
- 3rd: £11,007
- 4th: £5,483
- Form 135219
- Age 2
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 104
led near side, ridden and challenged 2f out, soon headed, no extra final 100 yards
- Form 2213
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, ran on well, always holding on
- Form 31512
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey H Crouch
mid-division on outside, pushed along and weakened 2f out
- Form 21
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton
- Jockey Charles Bishop
in rear, headway going well on outside over 1f out, ridden to press leader final 100 yards, could not go by, kept on
- Form 211132
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer George Scott
- Jockey Callum Shepherd
mid-division on inside, ridden tracking leaders over 1f out, bumped inside final furlong and outpaced, ran on well in 3rd
- Form 41869
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey James Doyle
held up, ridden off pace 2f out, stayed on strongly final 100 yards, never on terms
- Form 52101
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey Tom Marquand
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
MATTERS MOST only finished a neck ahead of Seven Questions when runner-up to better-fancied stablemate Task Force in a Listed race at Ripon last month but has come on a bundle since upped to 6f and should handle the going here. Haatem is proven in this grade but carries a small penalty and is more exposed than most. Red Zone Hero steps out of handicap company but Array looks a threat to all after a close third in a Group 3 at Kempton while Mister Sketch was very impressive at Salisbury and could be anything.
Formwatch
Haatem (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Lake Forest (9-2) at York 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Array (IRE) 11-8fav (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Starlust (9-3) at Kempton 6f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Sep.
Matters Most 8-1 (9-5) Went right start, soon led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Task Force (9-5) at Ripon 6f lst (1) gd in Aug.
Mister Sketch 8-13fav (9-7) Chased leader, headway travelling well over 2f out, soon joined leader and led, pushed along over 1f out, hung left final furlong, driven out, easily, won at Salisbury 6f stks (4) gd in Aug beating Sedgemoor (9-7) by 9 1/2l, 8 ran.
Seven Questions (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied well to join winner inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Starlust (9-3) at Kempton 6f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Sep.
Spanish Phoenix (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders out wide, weakened inside final 2f, last of 9, 8 1/2l behind Haatem (9-3) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Red Zone Hero (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) Made all, pressed for lead and ridden over 2f out, extended advantage approaching final furlong where 2 lengths clear, stayed on well inside final furlong, readily, won at Doncaster 6f (4) sft in Sep beating Kingswood Flyer (9-4) by 4 1/4l, 9 ran.
Roman Emperor 33-1 (9-7) Went right start, in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Son (9-7) at Newbury 6f mdn stks (4) gf in Jun.