September 28 / 15.00 Newmarket

15.00

Soft

Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) (Colts)

  • Prize money: £165355.02
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) (Colts)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 112 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
All starts over 6f on good going (withdrawn from the Mill Reef at Newbury last week due to heavy ground); solid effort in the Gimcrack (Group 2) at York took his form figures to 112; progressing well and is bred for this occasion, being closely related to 2019 Middle Park winner Earthlight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(5)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Shadow Of Light

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Appleby

Champion 2yo last season, having won the Middle Park and Dewhurst (both on soft ground), and he ran well in the 2,000 Guineas on reappearance; rather a disappointing favourite in the 6f Commonwealth Cup, then couldn't quite get the job done in the 7f Prix Jean Prat having held every chance; drops back from Group 1 level with leading claims on best form.

13/8

9

(19)

20th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Shadow Of Light

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Won two Group 1s at Newmarket last autumn (6f/7f, soft), namely the Middle Park and the Dewhurst; reappeared with excellent third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket (1m, good), where he was outstayed by the first two; unraced on fast ground; has the potential to be a top-class sprinter.

6/4

3rd

8

(2)

3rd May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Shadow Of Light

9st 2lb

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Charlie Appleby

Good-ground wins on first two runs before close second in Group 2 Gimcrack (6f, good), then enjoyed stellar autumn here with Group 1 wins in the Middle Park (6f, soft) and Dewhurst (7f, soft), becoming Champion Two-Year-Old; had a racecourse gallop here last month; stayed on well in the Dewhurst which provides optimism he'll see out 1m; a tongue-tie goes on; could have a big say, even though William Buick rides stablemate Ruling Court.

7/1

4/5

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 214121 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Versatile ground-wise; proving as precocious as his brother Little Big Bear and has followed a similar path to two of his trainer's seven Middle Park winners, having landed the Prix Morny (6f Group 1) at Deauville most recently; record is now 3-6; top rated and has excellent credentials.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

8

(7)

14th Sep 2025

Yielding

0m 5f 0y

15:15 Curragh

Whistlejacket

9st 5lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Won the July Stakes and Prix Morny last season; 6f Listed winner on reappearance; no luck in running on his way to sixth-place finish in the Commonwealth Cup; slowly away and never looked like making an impression in the July Cup; blinkered for the first time.

10/1

12th

15

(2)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:35 Newmarket (July)

Whistlejacket

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Busy 2yo campaign featured wins in the July Stakes (at this meeting) and Prix Morny; collared stablemate Ides Of March in Listed grade on reappearance and met traffic issues on his way to sixth-place finish in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot most recently; the forecast ground perhaps isn't ideal (0-5 on good/firmer) but otherwise he has possibilities for top trainer who has landed this prize five times, mostly with 3yos.

5/1

12

(11)

20th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Whistlejacket

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

3-8 in 2yo campaign, highlight his Group 1 Prix Morny win at Deauville (6f, good to soft) in August; ran well on fast ground at this meeting; returned with Listed win at Navan (6f, soft) and, while he was no match for Babouche when second in Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas (6f, good) latest, Ryan Moore reported that the colt banged his head on the gates; could give good account.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 31 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed promise at Pontefract without proving a match for the subsequent Mill Reef winner, then won well at Kempton (6f, AW); bottom of this pack on RPR but is open to further improvement; siblings include 2yo Group 1 scorer Sioux Nation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(10)

30th Apr 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:50 Ascot

Dash Dizzy

9st 3lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Charlie Johnston

Fair third on debut at Pontefract (6f, good to firm) last August then won at Kempton (6f, AW), before good third of six in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket (6f, soft; beaten just over 5l); this half-brother to Group 1 winner Sioux Nation is open to further improvement and is not discounted.

10/1

Form: 5114 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Yet to race on ground softer than good; below-par fourth in US Listed event most recently; has progressive form on Irish/British soil and, while he's a substandard winner of the Richmond Stakes (6f Group 2) at Goodwood, he may do better still.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(6)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

17:26 Naas

Black Forza

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: M D O’Callaghan

Winner of a Goodwood Group 2 in 2024; sparingly raced last year, well beaten in a Curragh Group 3 (6f, good); some better efforts twice at Dundalk but more needed here and lacks a run.

18/1

10th

2

(7)

24th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

19:15 Dundalk (AW)

Black Forza

10st 0lb

J: Jamie Powell

T: M D O’Callaghan

Won a Goodwood Group 2 last year before a 5.75l fourth of 6 in the Middle Park Stakes; sparingly raced this year, well beaten on return in a Curragh Group 3 in August; better effort over C&D latest (behind Songhai) but this demands more.

20/1

3

(5)

14th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

17:35 Dundalk (AW)

Black Forza

9st 8lb

J: Colin Keane

T: M D O’Callaghan

Won a Goodwood Group 2 last season; not disgraced on ground plenty soft for him in the Middle Park last September; failed to beat a rival on sole start since at the Curragh; talented but probably best watched on AW debut.

7/1

33/1

Form: 62172 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Unraced on softer than good; not beaten entirely by the 7f trip on penultimate start; progressive over 6f otherwise, most recently second in 6f AW Group 3 at Kempton where he wore first-time visor (retained); this is harder but he's well bred and may rate higher still.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

(5)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 2

15:45 Newcastle (AW)

Jouncy

8st 11lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Similar type to Native Warrior, with record 1-9, but has less going for him in terms of overall form; has failed to back up his AW Group 3 effort and performed below market expectations in Chester handicap most recently.

12/1

6th

2

(3)

14th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

15:20 Chester

Jouncy

9st 7lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Andrew Balding

Faced a tough task as the only 3yo against elders in a Listed race at Salisbury last time and contested three Group races last season after his maiden win; sights are now lowered on handicap debut with a visor (in which he ran well once last season) back on; has only once tried 7f but should stay on pedigree.

100/30

5th

8

(8)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

18:50 Salisbury

Jouncy

8st 12lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Fast-ground maiden win at Glorious Goodwood last summer; improved for the addition of a visor when finishing second of ten in an AW Group 3 last September; less good twice since and he's opposable on balance.

10/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
210,000euros breeze-up purchase; brings a 2-2 profile, having won 6f novice events at Newmarket (good) and Haydock (good to soft); withdrawn from the Mill Reef at Newbury last Saturday due to heavy ground; lot to find on ratings but has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

14

(1)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Defence Minister

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Low-mileage 4yo who was gelded prior to justifying favouritism with 1l success at Kempton (7f) on AW/seasonal debut, opening his handicap account and taking overall record to 3-9; this Wathnan Racing runner may well be capable of further improvement; ties in closely with Mudbir on Sandown running last July; major contender.

15/2

1st

2

(2)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

13:35 Kempton (AW)

Defence Minister

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Good efforts in 7f handicaps at Sandown and Goodwood last July; had excuses at Doncaster when last seen; been gelded since; on a good mark but this free-going sort could do with settling better.

4/1

9th

5

(3)

14th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 2

14:30 Doncaster

Defence Minister

9st 3lb

J: Faleh Bughenaim

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Last year's two wins were at 6f (one on good to soft) but this is looking his trip after competitive shows in strong handicaps at Sandown and Goodwood; it was a deep race last time and two of the three ahead of him dominated an Ascot handicap last weekend; firmly in the mix.

9/1

Non-runners

Ides Of March, Intrusively

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.70
Straight Forecast £4.99
Tricast £47.90
Trifecta £48.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Whistlejacket

SPOTLIGHT:

Shadow Of Light

NEWMARKET:

Defence Minister

Daily Record:

Ides Of March

The Times:

Shadow Of Light

TOPSPEED:

Whistlejacket

POSTDATA:

Whistlejacket

Telegraph:

Whistlejacket

The Guardian:

Whistlejacket

Daily Mail:

Whistlejacket

D Express:

Whistlejacket

Daily Mirror:

Whistlejacket

The Sun:

Whistlejacket

The Star:

Whistlejacket