The signs of awakening from the National Hunt slumbers may be increasing by the day, but the Flat season isn't quite ready for consignment to the history books.
This weekend will prove that, with plenty of high-quality action and nowhere more so than at Newmarket, the 'Home of the Flat', where they stage the Dubai Future Champions Festival across Friday and Saturday.
They have Group 1 action on both afternoons and lots of quality support races. Enda McElhinney assesses the big races, including the Fillies' Mile on Friday and the Dewhurst on Saturday, as well as some of the key support contests at Newmarket.
Friday
4.10 - bet365 Fillies' Mile (Fillies' Group 1, 1m)
The big event on day one is the Fillies' Mile, as some of the smartest 2YO females in the land converge on the Rowley Mile. A field of eight are engaged, and the headline act is SHUWARI, second over C&D a fortnight ago in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes.
That was the first defeat in her career, but the daughter of New Bay emerged with lots of credit, having been caught much too far back in a race where the winner dominated from the front. Ollie Sangster's filly did well, all things considered, to come through for a clear second, with today's rival Ylang Ylang behind in third.
Tom Marquand is back on board Shuwari now, and she can likely atone for the defeat her last time.
Of the others, Ylang Ylang cannot be written off for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore, while the likes of Ambiente for Frankie Dettori and Michael Bell, as well as Ralph Beckett's pair Classical Song and Seaward all have potential for better.
Noel Meade sends over Curragh Group 3 winner Caught U Looking, the Harzand filly very much on the upgrade and possibly a lively outsider here.
1.50 - Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3, 5f)
ZOULU CHIEF was all the rage for a valuable auction race here last weekend over six furlongs, going off the even-money favourite in a field of 22, but he was too keen early in the hands of Gina Mangan and, having pulled clear of the field, faded into fifth late on.
If he can adapt his customary front-running tactics with a touch less bravado this time under the excellent steer of James Doyle, some handsome compensation might await on his first foray into this sort of company.
Inquisitively looked a useful performer when landing Listed honours at York in August on quick ground in his first outing for Kevin Philippart De Foy and only his third overall. He had the useful Purosangue behind and may have more to offer.
Flora Of Bermuda is one that may be aided by a fast pace early on, while Toca Madera is likely better than he showed in the Richmond at Glorious Goodwood and remains one to keep in mind alongside Alabama for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.
2.25 - Oh So Sharp Stakes (Fillies' Group 3, 7f)
The George Boughey-trained CHIC COLOMBINE is on a roll and bidding to complete a five-timer in the Oh So Sharp Stakes. She is well suited by 7f on soft ground, which she looks likely to get here, and she comes into this off the back of another personal best at Goodwood last time.
The front two pulled well clear in that contest, and the time was decent. This is her toughest test to date, but Chic Colombine may have the answers in the hands of Kevin Stott.
Once raced, Godolphin filly Dance Sequence landed a maiden on the other course here in July and could have plenty more to come, though she will need a step forward on that bare evidence.
Kingman filly Skellet represents Ralph Beckett in the Juddmonte silks, having been snapped up after beating two next-time-out winners in a maiden at Salisbury last month.
3.35 - Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap, 1m4f)
DENMARK was set a very tough challenge last month in the St Leger at Doncaster, and Aidan O'Brien-trained Camelot colt should appreciate being back in calmer waters.
His efforts in the Melrose at York in August and at Haydock in early September – the latter over this trip – were very promising, and he's still only a veteran of six starts. Ryan Moore is back in the plate now, and this represents a drop in class.
Shadow Dance – a son of Almanzor – made a winning start in handicaps at Haydock himself last month over a trip just shy of this for Roger Varian. It isn't the strongest form-line in the world, and he's up in the ratings now, but he surely has more to give. Hat-trick seeking Humanity for John & Thady Gosden and Andrew Balding's Alsakib are others to be noted.
Saturday
2.00 - Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1, 7f)
Going against CITY OF TROY in the Dewhurst seems futile. The Justify colt put up one of the best displays of the season in the Superlative Stakes here in July, and there's no reason to believe that seeing was not believing with that run. He is the ante-post 2000 Guineas favourite, and right now, the biggest danger to him on paper is Henry Longfellow – his Ballydoyle stablemate currently tucked up at home in Ireland this weekend.
Iberian won the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last month on soft ground and is a place player. However, his earlier Glorious Goodwood second to Haatem leaves him with a mountain to climb in facing City Of Troy on collateral form.
Frankie Dettori rides Henry Adams for the O'Brien juggernaut, the No Nay Never colt having won 2-2 before he was fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp recently. A Ballydoyle one-two in the Dewhurst will surprise very few.
2.40 - Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage Handicap, 2m2f)
The marathon Newmarket handicap that famously spans two counties, the Cesarewitch, is amongst the most famous of autumn handicaps run in Britain.
Willie Mullins now routinely loves to target this race, and Ireland's champion jumps trainer has a famous five in his quest for a fourth win in six years as Jackfinbar (Rachael Blackmore), M C Muldoon (Danny Tudhope), Lot Of Joy (William Buick), Zenon (Saffie Osborne) and Mr Escobar (Siobhan Rutledge) all represent the Closutton chief.
All have to command respect, but a hood goes on Mr Escobar for the first time now and could be a key aid for him. He has to prove his stamina, but he has a lightweight, further helped by his rider's claim, and he was eye-catching over two miles at Lingfield on Good Friday.
Ryan Moore often teams up with Mullins, but he instead sides with Pied Piper for Gordon Elliott this time as another behemoth of the jumps scene looks to muscle in at Newmarket. A mark of 96 is within his wheelhouse.
Jesse Evans for Noel Meade, The Very Man for Jessica Harrington and The Shunter for Emmet Mullins are other Irish raiders to note.
Andrew Balding's Aztec Empire ran a cracker at York in August over an extended two miles and likely had some excuse for a listless Haydock run since. He could rebound.
Vino Victrix for Hughie Morrison with Benoit de la Sayette on board is noted, but the leading British contender might be Glorious Goodwood winner TEMPORIZE for Syd Hosie.
The Postponed gelding beat the bang in-form Robert Johnson that afternoon over 2m4½f and should relish this race. The change of scenery appears to have aided him, and he is a very strong stayer, while a mark of 89 is not one he needs to fear working from.
3.15 - Zetland Stakes (Group 3, 1m2f)
Having very much looked like he was learning on the job when third in a Sandown novice on debut in July, the Charlie Appleby-trained ARABIAN CROWN hasn't looked back in a couple of wins since. He won his maiden back at Sandown soon after and then added the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury in August.
The Godolphin trainer has won the last two Zetland Stakes and looks to be holding the NAP hand once more with this already 105-rated son of Dubawi.
Aidan O'Brien sends over Gasper De Lemos, a Justify colt that won a Curragh maiden last month, while once-raced winners Dambuster for Andrew Balding and Meribella for Ralph Beckett have plenty of potential but will have to go some to thwart the jolly here.
