Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting reaches a crescendo on the third and final day, with the card featuring a trio of Group races and one of the biggest handicaps of the autumn months.
Attempting to unravel the 24-runner Cambridgeshire will occupy the minds of handicap fans. However, for those seeking an early sighting of a future superstar, the Middle Park Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes are the races to focus on. Both are run over 6f of the Rowley Mile course and restricted to juveniles – the Middle Park for colts and the Cheveley Park for fillies.
With the final fields confirmed, each event has attracted a raft of appealingly bred runners from the leading yards, with the fillies’ event, in particular, well worth keeping an eye on.
Punters Fixated on Walker Star
Ed Walker’s only previous domestic Group 1 success came when Starman landed the 2021 July Cup. Four years on, punters like the Lambourn handler’s chances of doubling that tally on the other Newmarket track.
By prolific Group 1 miler, Palace Pier, Royal Fixation has been almost flawless in three starts. Kicking off with a smooth win in a Thirsk maiden, she then failed by just a neck to reel in Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes. That form looked strong at the time and was franked when Venetian Sun travelled to Deauville to claim the Prix Morny. Last time out, Royal Fixation claimed a Group success of her own when producing an impressive finishing effort to land the Group 2 Lowther Stakes.
This contest was nominated in the aftermath of that York outing, with Walker stating:
“What’s exciting is that she still looked a bit green off the bridle. I think she’ll go for the Cheveley Park Stakes.”
At a general 5/2, Royal Fixation is the clearly fancied across the board.
Ballydoyle Due Lead Irish Assault
With five previous wins in the race, Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheveley Park Stakes. Having claimed the 2024 edition with the superstar juvenile and 2025 Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, Lake Victoria, the Ballydoyle maestro sends two into battle this year.
Jockey bookings suggest True Love is the yard number one, with Wayne Lordan taking the ride aboard the daughter of No Nay Never. However, the betting markets are finding it impossible to split True Love and stablemate Beautify.
True Love has achieved more at the track, with Group 2 wins in the Queen Mary Stakes and GAIN Railway Stakes. Stablemate Puerto Rico finished a five-length second in that latter contest, before going on to claim the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. Overall, the form looks solid, but True Love needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the Phoenix Stakes last time. Mild lameness provides a valid excuse for that defeat at odds of 1/4. If bouncing back to her best, she could go close.
With a mark of 109, Beautify is 6lb inferior to True Love, according to the official handicapper. However, with only three runs under her belt, as opposed to five for True Love, she is more open to improvement. A two-length verdict over Lady Iman in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes reads well, and she lost out by just ¾l in the Moyglare Stud Stakes over 7f in September. Back at 6f, she would be a poignant winner for her sire, Wootton Bassett, who sadly passed away this week.
Donnacha O’Brien’s Havana Ana completes the three-strong Irish team. Yet to finish outside the first three in five career starts, this Havana Grey filly scores top marks for consistency. The pick of those efforts saw her run out a 3½-length winner in the Listed Marwell Stakes.
High Hopes for Hughes Filly
Fourth best in most betting lists is the filly who finished a length behind Royal Fixation in the Lowther Stakes. Sharing a sire with Havana Ana, American Queen has been hailed as “the best filly I’ve had” by trainer Richard Hughes. Commenting on her progress since that York defeat, Hughes stated, “We think she’s improved a lot.” The proof will be found in her performance on Saturday afternoon, but, at a general 9/2, many may like her chances of turning the tables with Royal Fixation.
Hugo Palmer’s Fitzella is another to note, having finished a solid fourth in the Albany Stakes and posted an all-the-way success in the Princess Margaret Stakes. Of those available at bigger prices, Rod Millman’s Anthelia may be a little underestimated, having won five of seven starts, including a Group 3 event at Salisbury.