Damson and Soar set for rematch

The prospect of an eagerly awaited rematch between Damson, unbeaten in 4 races for trainer David Wachman, and the James Fanshawe-trained Soar, whose only defeat in 4 races was at the hands of Damson at Royal Ascot, came a step closer when both stood their ground at the forfeit stage for the £180,000 Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday, September 30, the first Group 1 race of the British season for juveniles.

With the unbeaten and much-vaunted Suez also amongst the 30 fillies to remain engaged in the race, together with a host of other highly regarded fillies, like Jewel In The Sand, Clear Impression, Cherokee, Salsa Brava and Speciale, the Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes looks like being the two-year-old race of the year so far.

Damson beat Soar by 3 lengths in the Queen Mary (G.3) over 5 furlongs in June and went on to defeat the colts in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes (G.1) at The Curragh a month ago. Soar clearly relished the step up to 6 furlongs after her Royal Ascot defeat and impressively won the Princess Margaret Stakes (G.3) at Ascot and the Jaguar Lowther Stakes (G.2) at York. Both look to be fillies of the highest class and over the 6 furlongs of the Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes, Soar´s connections will have high hopes of reversing the form with the Irish filly.

Suez has looked very impressive in winning two out of two, starting with a smooth defeat of the highly regarded favourite, Clear Impression, when both made their debuts in a Goodwood maiden. Clear Impression has not been out since, but Suez went on to land a Listed Race very smoothly at Salisbury last week and trainer Michael Jarvis has made no secret of the regard in which he holds her.

Jewel In The Sand showed a great turn of foot when landing the Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes (G.2) at Newmaket´s July Meeting, narrowly holding the late run of Salsa Brava. She flopped in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G.1) at The Curragh at the weekend, but was never travelling that day and is much better judged on that previous Newmarket victory. Salsa Brava went on to finish a good second to Soar in the Jaguar Lowther.

Cherokee, who narrowly won the Go And Go Round Tower Stakes (G.3) on her only start to date, and Silk And Scarlet, the beaten favourite in the Moyglare after winning a Group 2 at The Curragh, look the pick of the 6 fillies left in by Aidan O´Brien, while Speciale, trained in France by Criquette Head-Maarek, also takes the eye. She won a Listed Race at Deauville on her only start to date.

'This race could be a cracker!' enthused Newmarket´s Managing Director, Lisa Hancock. 'A showdown between Damson, Soar and Suez would be a mouthwatering prospect and a tremendous way to start what should be fantastic three-day, million pound Cambridgeshire Meeting at the end of this month.'