Racecards
13:50 Newmarket
Weatherbys Superlative Stakes (Class A) (Group 3) (Class A)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Form 51
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey J Fortune
led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, soon headed, weakening when badly hampered over 1f out
- Form 01
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Richard Hughes
keen, led first furlong, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace
- Form 01
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
held up, ridden and headway and edged left over 1f out, one pace final furlong
Dubawi (IRE)
34- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey L Dettori
held up, headway from over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead close home
Fox
19- Form 21
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer C E Brittain
- Jockey D Holland
slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 14
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
tracked leaders, effort and every chance over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong
Henrik
50- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Ted Durcan
prominent, ridden and led over 1f out, driven and headed close home
- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey R Hills
with leader, ridden and led approaching 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
John Forbes
12- Form 01
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
chased leaders, not clear run 2f out, ridden and hampered over 1f out, not recover
- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
slowly into stride, held up mid-division, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, never nearer
Rowan Tree
12- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Wilko (USA)
19- Form 3013
- Age 2
- Weight 8-11
steadied start, held up, switched right and headway over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A very good line-up for the Superlative Stakes and Dubawi, Destinaite, Pivotal Flame and Jalamid all have to be considered, but our vote goes to Rowan Tree. Dubawi is highly rated by the Godolphin team and eventually won well on his debut after running green. Fox, who he beat into second that day, has since gone on to score over today's course and distance. Hearthstead Wings was fourth in the Chesham Stakes last time, while Henrik beat Qadar, who went on to be third to Dubawi at Goodwood, by a short head at Goodwood on his sole run to date. Country Rambler won well when stepped up to this distance last time, and should be capable of further improvement, while Destinaite beat subsequent Royal Ascot runner-up Juantarena when scoring over six on the Rowley Mile track in May. Jalamid scored by a head at Sandown over seven on his only run so far and looked promising in doing so, while Pivotal Flame beat the well-regarded Godolphin runner Crimson Sun at York on his debut. John Forbes has won since but was well beaten in the Chesham, a race in which the improving Wilko finished third. The last-named looks set to run well, even though he has a bit to find with Pivotal Flame on York form, but we will opt for Rowan Tree. Aidan O'Brien will have a good handle on juvenile form via his very useful Russian Blue, and this son of Singspiel, who is out of a half-sister to Lochsong, looked one to keep on the right side when scoring at The Curragh on his only run to date. That is just what we are going to do, and he gets the vote.