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Friday at Newmarket

Three days of the Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket keep us going as the Flat season slowly winds to a close in the UK. Jack Milner, @jjmsports, take a quick look at Friday's card...

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NEWMARKET Friday

The Oh So Sharp Stakes kicks off Newmarket’s Fillies Mile Day on Friday, on a card where the females are in the spotlight and with some prospective classic fillies for next year. Godolphin have a firm grip on many of the races, including the favourite in the Fillies mile, and they also have POWER OF LIGHT, an impressive maiden winner on debut, absolutely bolting up two weeks ago at Newcastle, winning by seven lengths. Exceptionally bred, there are questions surrounding all of her rivals, and with Mikael Barzalona in the plate on The Rowley Mile, and she looks to be a filly going places. She could turn out to be a prospective 1000 Guineas horse in the making.

The 1.45 Listed contest is the most competitive race on the card, with a host of improving fillies competing, many of whom that are running down in class. Thistle Bird was a good winner last time out, beating Fulbright, who beat another horse I fancy in Tazahum, at Sandown. Godolphin always have a strong hand, and have Irish History and Falls of Lora, but both seem to be going the wrong way, as opposed to progressive types. Dank won a Group Three impressively at Sandown last time out, beating Lady’s First and Moonies My Name. The most interesting runner looks to be CHIGUN, who was tipped up on the blog last time out when romping home in a strong Ascot handicap. The Oasis Dream filly made all to win by four lengths, and in doing so got a revised mark of 99. She is clearly progressing at a rate of knots, and there could be much more to come, and if able to dictate things, could nick the race from the front.

The Nayef Joel Stakes is an impressive gathering of milers, many of whom have either been dodging Frankel, or been battered and bruised by him, for the best part of a season and a half. Most Improved won an awful St James Palace Stakes, but the three year olds look a bad crop this year, and that would similarly rule out Stipulate, Trumpet Major, Saigon and Sovereign Debt too. Fanunalter is much travelled, but has flopped twice on the course, and the filly Joviality has yet to win on the course at three attempts. Premier Loco was a good second in this last year, and is respected after a good effort winning The Celebration Mile. He was last however when Side Glance was third in The York Stakes, and both have trouble with their consistency. An interesting runner is TAZAHUM for Paul Hanagan and Sir Michael Stoute, on the back of an unlucky second last time out at Sandown. He got bumped and checked by Fulbright, and was unlucky to not have The Stewards overturn the decision, and is quickly turned out again, so obviously in good heart at home. Fourth in the race last year, he has settled better, and travels much smoother than last year, and has been brought on a lot more patiently. The colt looks open to further improvement, and is a course and distance winner as well.

Certify looks a worthy favourite for The Fillies Mile, and it’s a race that Godolphin have an excellent record in. She is the only filly in the race to have won over a mile before, and beat subsequent Group One winner Sky Lantern over the course in The Sweet Solero Stakes, She will take all the beating, but one I like at the prices is WINSILI for William Buick and John Gosden. An impressively bred filly by Juddmonte Farms, she ran on well on debut to win over the course, staying well over seven furlongs. Stepped up to a mile, she a ridiculous amount of trouble in running. Godolphin had three runners that day, and each one did a number on the filly, forcing her to go widest of all, before staying on well towards the finish, under hands and heels. She will likely run a strong race at a price, and I expect her to if not win, finish second to Certify.

1.15 Newmarket – Power of Light
1.45 Newmarket – Chigun
2.20 Newmarket – Tazahum (N/R)
2.55 Newmarket – Winsili (N/R)

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner

Follow me on Twitter - @JJMSports

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