16:00 Newmarket

Saturday 12 July 2025

All13:4014:1214:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 1m 26.3s

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(5)

Bourbon Blues²⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: B J Meehan| OR: 96

33/1

Left debut effort behind when landing a 5f Brighton maiden in May and far from disgraced when eighth of 20 in the Coventry at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) since. Looks ready for the step up to this trip but, on the downside, he lacks the star potential of one or two of these rivals.

Form: 018

(6)

Italy⁵⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| D

4/6

200,000 gns Wootton Bassett colt who looked a colt of serious potential when making a winning start to his career in a Leopardstown maiden (7.2f, good), doing very well to reel in one that got first run. Open to any amount of improvement for his top connections.

Form: 1

(7)

Moonfall³⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 90| D

25/1

Pretty useful placed efforts in 5f novice events on the Rowley Mile here during the spring and duly made it third time lucky upped to 6.5f at Newbury (good to firm) last month. Should win more races, but it remains to be seen if he possesses the required ability to mix it at this level.

Form: 231

(4)

Raakeb²⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: S Hitchcott| T: R Hannon| OR: 97

50/1

Followed Ripon debut success with a couple creditable efforts in defeat, including when third in the Woodcote at Epsom last month. Like Bourbon Blues, he wasn't disgraced when mid-field in the Coventry at Royal Ascot since but, also like that rival, he seemingly lacks the potential of some of these.

Form: 1337

(2)

Saba Desert²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| D

6/1

All the rage in the betting ahead of his debut at Sandown (7f, good) and duly delivered in that 6-runner maiden. The placed horses haven't done much for the form since, but this colt represents powerful connections with a fine record in this race (5 wins since 2016) and he's an exciting prospect.

Form: 1

(3)

Wild Desert²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 94| BF| D

7/2

Good pedigree and wasn't hard pressed to make a winning debut at Haydock (7f, good to firm) in May. Turned over by a newcomer from the same yard when odds on for a C&D novice 3 weeks ago, but wasn't seen to best effect that day and he remains with potential. William Buick prefers Saba Desert.

Form: 12

(1)

Venetian Lace²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: C Johnston| OR: 92

14/1

Masar filly who made the perfect start in a 6f Chelmsford maiden at the beginning of last month. Improved when fourth upped to this trip in the Chesham at Royal Ascot (good to firm) next time and, with the promise of better to come, she should make her presence felt.

Form: 14

Forecasts

Italy (4/6), Wild Desert (7/2), Saba Desert (6/1), Venetian Lace (14/1), Moonfall (25/1), Bourbon Blues (33/1), Raakeb (50/1)

An intriguing clash between highly promising colts ITALY and Saba Desert, both of whom won their maidens in the manner of potentially pattern-class performers. The latter represents connections with a formidable recent record in this race, but Italy looked particularly good at Leopardstown and is taken to follow in the hoofprints of City of Troy, who won this for the yard in 2023. The sole filly in the line-up, Venetian Lace, is third choice ahead of Saba Desert's stablemate Wild Desert.