14:25 Newmarket

Saturday 14 October 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Masar Godolphin Autumn Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 1m 35.92s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Arbalet⁴²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 99

10/1

A big horse who has improved with every run. Third in the Solario last time with Purser just behind him and any further progress would make him a real contender. Stable took this with Gifted Master in 2015.

Form: 2213

(6)

Dream Today²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston

10/1

The form of his debut victory at York has worked out well and no surprise to see him well supported for the Champagne Stakes on Leger day. The ground may have been against him but that was the second time he had shown a tendency to hang.

Form: 15

(2)

Flag Of Honour¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

15/2

Impressive in landing a Naas maiden last week. Seamie Heffernan is his regular pilot so it would be unwise to read too much into riding arrangements. The yard's juveniles are improving with racing and it would be no surprise to see him step up.

Form: 91

(9)

Ghaiyyath^h¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| CD

11/4

€1,100,000 half-brother to Zhukova who benefited from a hood to score handsomely here two weeks ago. Beat little that day but held in high regard and expected to improve for quicker ground.

Form: 31

(1)

Petrus¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: B J Meehan| OR: 100

25/1

Stepped up from his Sandown win to finish fourth in the Royal Lodge. He is possibly just below the standard required to win this but looks a good yardstick to use in evaluating the form.

Form: 414

(4)

Purser⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100

9/4

Landed weak looking races at Newbury and Lingfield but did so handsomely. Got boxed in when fancied for the Solario and not unduly punished once his chances were compromised. Has a good turn of foot and his speed figures suggest he is very useful.

Form: 141

(8)

Wafy²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills

7/1

Dubawi colt, full-brother to Alnashama.; dam a 1,000 Guineas winner. Left the form of an inauspicious debut to land a race at Sandown in which the runner-up brought impressive form. The dam's progeny improve with racing and he looks exciting.

Form: 01

(5)

Zabriskie¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| D

8/1

Related to multiple Group One winners Bago and Maxios. Not the first Balydoyle juvenile to improve greatly between races. Upset two better fancied stablemates at Tipperary with a gutsy display. A lot more needed but hard to rule out that possibility

Form: 01

Non-Runners

(3)

Dark Acclaim³⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 2

T: M Botti J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Purser (9/4), Ghaiyyath (11/4), Wafy (7/1), Flag Of Honour (15/2), Zabriskie (8/1), Dream Today (10/1), Arbalet (10/1), Dark Acclaim (14/1), Petrus (25/1)

Ante-post favourite GHAIYYATH cost enough and has an outstanding pedigree. Entries in the Racing Post Trophy and Derby support the euphoria in the aftermath of his latest victory when scoring here by 5L. The Godolphin runner beat little but recorded a decent time and is expected to shine on better ground. Purser was short of daylight in the Solario Stakes when just behind Arbalet. That looked a sub-standard renewal and this looks a much better race. Balydoyle are strongly represented with two recent maiden winners, Zabriskie and Flag Of Honour. The former is well related whilst the latter was the more impressive last time. Both need to improve again but we know their trainer is more than adept at producing it. Wafy is another from a marvellous bloodline and looks an exciting prospect. There was a feeling the ground may have been slower than ideal for his two main rivals last time and he faces a sterner test here.