Star Fillies Stand Their Ground

Fourteen fillies have stood their ground for what promises to be a top class renewal of the £200,000 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Group One) at Newmarket on Saturday.

Today´s confirmations include the last two 1000 Guineas winners in Attraction, who also won this race a year ago, and Virginia Waters; three high class fillies from Sir Michael Stoute´s stable in Chic, who was just denied by Attraction in Ireland last time, Favourable Terms and Peeress; this year´s Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up, Penkenna Princess; last year´s German 1000 Guineas winner Shapira, who was runner-up to Divine Proportions at Deauville in July; the ultra-consistent Summitville; Godolphin´s Dubai Surprise, who had high class form as a two-year-old last season but has not been seen out so far this year; and the fast improving Musicanna, who has won her last four races, but who would be stepping into Group company for the first time.

In the totesport Cambridgeshire, Saturday´s other big race on the Rowley Mile, 76 horses have stood their ground, headed by the William Jarvis-trained Momtic, while in the Listed Finnforest Oh So Sharp Stakes, a host of fillies who may be chasing classic glory next season have been entered, notably John Dunlop´s Mostaqeleh, Sir Mark Prescott´s Violette and the Aidan O´Brien-trained Race For The Stars.

'Attraction has a huge following and she should get a rousing send-off here on Saturday for what will be her last ever race in this country,' said Newmarket´s Managing Director, Lisa Hancock. 'It promises to be a fantastic race with so many high class fillies in opposition, while the totesport Cambridgeshire will provide its usual great spectacle as thirty horses charge up the Rowley Mile. Advance bookings for Saturday have been good and we are looking forward to a great day.'

Going Good - Rain Forecast

The going remains Good on the Rowley Mile, but rain is forecast for tonight and on both Wednesday and Thursday evenings. 'The days are forecast to be dry this week, but there are fronts due to pass through on three evenings, each of which could bring up to six millimetres of rain,' said Michael Prosser, Clerk of the Course. 'The ground is perfect out there at the moment and we´ll obviously have to wait and see how much rain actually materialises, but looking at the forecast you would have to say that some easing of the ground looks a possibility.'