The July Cup is always a summertime showpiece to enjoy and this year’s field brings both an international and top class field to Newmarket’s July course. Below is our chosen 1-2-3 for the race.
1. Artorius (Anthony & Sam Freedman, Jamie Spencer)
The Australian sprinters completely own the territory at the moment. While ARTORIUS did not get the job done in the Platinum Jubilee takes, he was probably unlucky not to.
He would not be fit to wear Nature Strip’s shoes back in his homeland, but over here, his talent ranks at least on par with all of his rivals. Jamie Spencer rode him cold from the back at Royal Ascot, but from that position in a 27-runner field, it only takes one gap to close to end your chances.
Unfortunately that happened to Artorius on his run through the field, but he was still beaten under a length. He tied for third with the very useful American filly Campanelle, but he probably would have made up the ground with a better passage.
Stall 12 does leave him hoping that one side of the track will ride quicker, but this could prove to be the stage on which he really demonstrates his talent.
2. Perfect Power (Richard Fahey, Christophe Soumillon)
The Classic generation have a good recent record in this race. Despite four-year-olds claiming the previous two, three-year-olds have still won four of the last seven.
PERFECT POWER could not arrive after better preparation. Dropped back to 6f after not staying in the 2000 Guineas, he ran on powerfully to win the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, the top level sprint for three-year-olds at Royal Ascot. He ultimately did so in authoritative style.
Overall, he has now won six of his nine career starts, three of which have been Group 1s. His only defeats have come when tried on the all-weather on debut, desperately unlucky in running at Goodwood and then fading in the opening Classic, Otherwise, he has maintained a very high level of performance.
This will be his first run against older generations, but he could well put it up to them. He is certainly very high on the shortlist.
3. Naval Crown (Charlie Appleby, James Doyle)
Stablemate Creative Force might be a shorter price than NAVAL CROWN again, but that goes against almost all the evidence from the Platinum Jubilee Stakes.
There was only a neck difference at the line, but Naval Crown was towards the front end of his group down the near side for much of the race, while Creative Force had a kinder run into the contest. However, of greater importance was the side of the track each was on.
For context, the second horse of the stands side group to finish was King’s Lynn, who was all the way down in 14th. Naval Crown overcame a massive draw and track bias to get up that day and it justified his trainer’s faith to keep him at 6f after a promising effort in Dubai.
Creative Force had the greater pedigree for the trip beforehand, but it is this boy who is favoured to go closest once again here.