Black-Type Analysis: Ghostwriter Faces Godolphin Duo In Princess Of Wales’s Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, THE PRINCESS OF WALES'S STAKES-G2, £125,000, 3yo/up, 12fT

Field: Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko).

TDN Verdict: This should be easy pickings for Ghostwriter after his third in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, where he showed that the trip held no fears. William Buick has chosen El Cordobes of the Appleby pair which is probably a hint worth taking, especially as the stable do so well on their home terrain at this meeting. [Tom Frary].

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 14:25, THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN JULY STAKES-G2, £100,000, 2yo, 6fT

Field: Brussels (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Comical Point (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Do Or Do Not (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Jel Pepper (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Maximized (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Zavateri (Ire) (Without Parole {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Godolphin's unbeaten Woodcote winner Maximised is taken on by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Brussels in a fascinating encounter. They probably have it between them, but the surprise Coventry runner-up Do Or Do Not has the best form having got closest to Gstaad at Royal Ascot. [Tom Frary].

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 13:50, THE BAHRAIN TROPHY STAKES-G3, £200,000, 3yo, 13fT

Field: Further (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Hallelujah (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Nightime Dancer (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Scandinavia (Justify), Titanium Emperor (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: The second sighter for the St Leger after the Queen's Vase, with the runner-up and fifth from that Royal Ascot contest Furthur and Scandinavia set to re-oppose. There is very little between them on that form and with both stables in flying form this could boil down to a match, with the remaining trio a notch below. [Tom Frary].

Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 18:10, XIN GIN IRISH EBF BROWNSTOWN STAKES-G3, €39,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT

Field: Vera's Secret (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}), Bellaphina (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}), Bluedrum (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Dance Night Andday (Ire) (Buratino {Ire}), Duckadilly (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Chantez (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Easy Mover (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Temperance (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: The unbeaten Duckadilly beat some solid yardsticks over this trip at Fairyhouse last month and is tested against the impressive G3 Mutamakina Stakes winner Vera's Secret. Chantez was behind the latter in that contest and has not shown up so far in 2025, but she did beat Garden Of Eden in the course-and-distance Listed Ingabelle Stakes in September and deserves another chance. [Tom Frary].

Friday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, THE TATTERSALLS FALMOUTH STAKES-G1, £275,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT

Field: Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal), Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion), Atsila (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), Elwateen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Lady Ilze (GB) (Territories {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Back on a straight track, the impressive G2 Dahlia Stakes winner Cinderella's Dream may be able to exact revenge on her G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes conqueror Crimson Advocate but there is no guarantee given the rate of progress of that rival. Surprisingly, Aidan O'Brien hasn't won this since 2017 but January ran well enough when third in the G1 Coronation Stakes to hold a major chance of bringing it back home to Rosegreen. As with many of the main clashes of the generations in recent times, the power has shifted markedly to the 3-year-olds with six of the last nine winners from that age group. In a race that can throw up surprises, Elwateen is of interest after her fourth in the 1,000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile here. Truly on the rollercoaster this year, she was tried in the Oaks but is back at a mile with Saeed bin Suroor unsure of her trip. [Tom Frary].

Friday, Newmarket, post time: 14:25, THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES-G2, £100,000, 2yo, f, 6fT

Field: Argentine Tango (GB) (Mattmu {GB}), Mood Queen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Royal Fixation (GB) (Palace Pier {GB}), Shine On Me (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Spicy Marg (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Venetian Sun (Ire) (Starman {GB}).

TDN Verdict: All eyes on Venetian Sun after her Albany win and she looks to have scared off a few potential rivals, but not the course-and-distance Listed Empress Stakes winner Argentine Tango who is as tough as they come. Palace Pier's juveniles are going strong so far and Royal Fixation is an intriguing representative despite having just a Thirsk novice under her belt. [Tom Frary].

Friday, York, post time: 14:45, THE WILLIAM HILL SUMMER STAKES-G3, £85,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 6fT

Field: Electric Storm (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Nighteyes (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Rage Of Bamby (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Tiger Bay (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Beaujolais Nouveau (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}), Celandrine (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Enola Holmes (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), First Instinct (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Hold A Dream (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), Rogue Sensation (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Sayidah Dariyan {Fr}).

TDN Verdict: Fourth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, Sayidah Dariyan sets the standard in a renewal dominated by the 3-year-olds. Close in behind on form lines is First Instinct and the Sandy Lane third rates the biggest threat alongside Celandine, who beat Time For Sandals in last year's Lowther but hasn't been seen so far this term. [Tom Frary].

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 16:45, THE EDMONDSON HALL SOLICITORS SIR HENRY CECIL STAKES-Listed, £55,000, 3yo, 8fT

Field: Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Arabian Story (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Brian (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}), Elarak (GB) (Kingman {GB}), King Of Cities (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Royal Playwright (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Seagulls Eleven (Ire) (Galileo Gold {Ire}), Spectacular View (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Just about the most interesting race on the opening card, this Sussex prep graced by Baaeed in 2021 features Godolphin's exciting Opera Ballo, firmly back on track after his Craven flop when beating some smart types in Sandown's Listed Heron Stakes in May. Speaking of Baaeed, Shadwell's Elarak impressed in the same course-and-distance novice taken in by that luminary last month and while he may not be in the same bracket, he is on the same path at least. [Tom Frary].

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