It's the first afternoon of the Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket on Friday and that of course brings with it the feature race of the day, the Group 1 Fillies' Mile.
The famous contest is routinely one of Britain's most valuable Flat Group 1s and this year carries a purse that totals close to £500,000 as the field of seven go in search of glory on the Rowley Mile.
Adrian Wall provides his analysis on the big race as well as some other selections on day one at Newmarket's top autumn meeting, where they race from 1.07-4.45, with the bet365 Fillies' Mile itself due off at 3.35.
3.35 - Fillies' Mile
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Godolphin's Desert Flower has been installed as a short enough favourite to land the contest. The unbeaten daughter of Night Of Thunder won here over 7f on her debut, before following up again here in a 7f fillies' novice. She was stepped up in class when last seen in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster over the mile and she certainly impressed when seeing off the reopposing January by a length and a half in the hands of William Buick.
January is next in the market but she's going to have to improve some to turn the tables with the favourite, and with that in mind the value might lie with Ralph Beckett's unbeaten filly, Tabiti.
The daughter of Kingman made all in the manner of a really smart horse when seeing off Zanzoun in a maiden fillies' here over 7f on her debut. The drop back to 6f wasn't ideal for her when last seen running in the Group 3 Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes at Salisbury, but she showed serious gears inside the final furlong and saw off the talented Miss Fascinator by half a length.
The step up to a mile should really suit her and I think she can beat the favourite.
I'm very surprised to see Anna Swan trading at double-figure prices and she might well chase the selection home. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the daughter of Almanzor created a huge impression when winning her maiden at Yarmouth by more than five lengths over the 7f, and she readily landed the odds when seeing off three rivals over 7f at Newbury last month.
Electrifarhh, who finished last of the four on the day, won at Kempton on Wednesday to give the form a nice boost, and Stoute is a master at improving these types with racing. Don't write off Anna Swan.
SELECTION: TABITI
NEXT BEST: ANNA SWAN
1.47 - Cornwallis Stakes
The drop back to 5f shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience for Charlie Appleby's Midnight Thunder and the son of Dubawi can rack up a third career win in the hands of William Buick.
Beaten on debut at Pontefract, he hasn't looked back since, bolting up in a 6f Windsor novice on soft ground in August before following up on fast ground at Yarmouth when eased down near the line.
James Tate's Kullazain might be the value at a good price. He didn't seem to handle rapid ground when third at Ripon on his debut, but he bolted up in a 5f Sandown maiden last time on soft ground. If there's enough juice in the ground and it doesn't dry out too much, he's a major player.
SELECTION: MIDNIGHT THUNDER
NEXT BEST: KULLAZAIN
2.25 - Sharp Stakes
Roger Varian's Miss Fascinator only found our Fillies' Mile fancy Tabiti too good in that Group 3 at Salisbury when last seen and that form might well be more than good enough to land this Group 3.
She stayed on powerfully when landing a handicap comfortably off a mark of 85 here on the July Course in August and the step back up to this trip should be in her favour.
Simon & Ed Crisford's Mandurah needed every yard when scoring over 6f here on her debut, and the form of her narrow fourth behind Simmering at Ascot in July has worked out very well. She should relish this trip and is right in the mix.
SELECTION: MISS FASCINATOR
NEXT BEST: MANDURAH
3.00 - Challenge Stakes
Noble Dynasty is a four-time winner at Newmarket. He had some issues which saw him miss all of 2023, but he won a course and distance handicap off a mark of 105 in May and followed up in a Group 3 over the same trip on the July Course in June. He was slowly away when disappointing at Goodwood last time but is worth another chance.
Royal Scotman might be the one to chase him home. He won't get it all his own way on the front end, but he's a classy sort who was third in last year's 2,000 Guineas and won a Group 3 at Epsom when last seen. Jamie Spencer is aboard again but he won't be held up on this boy.
SELECTION: NOBLE DYNASTY
NEXT BEST: ROYAL SCOTSMAN
4.10 - Old Rowley Cup Handicap
Fresh off his incredible Arc success last Sunday, Rossa Ryan will partner Brioni here for trainer Alan King and he should be well up to following up his recent win.
Narrowly denied at Goodwood, he was right at his best when winning a good 1m2f Ascot handicap by four lengths last month and a 7lb rise might not stop him in his tracks up in trip.
William Buick has an excellent record in the race, so Eve Johnson Houghton's Due To Henry is worth a mention too. This boy is a model of consistency, racking up three wins from his seven career starts. He narrowly scored at Newbury last time and the step up in trip might bring out more improvement.
SELECTION: BRIONI
NEXT BEST: DUE TO HENRY
