DAY one of the QIPCO Guineas Festival 2023 has a very competitive card, with a classy Mile Group 2 featuring Native Trail and Light Infantry, whilst the opener, the Listed Newmarket Stakes, has a strong lineup in a race won by Mishriff and Nations Pride. The Nyetimber Handicap looks very tricky and the Jockey Club Stakes Group 2 features Hurricane Lane, who on his last two starts has shown little of his previous form so I will watch with interest here.
Infinite Cosmos is one of my horses to follow this season and I am looking forward to his second career appearance on a fascinating afternoon of racing.
Enjoy whether at Newmarket or #athome watching on ITV4 or Racing TV.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1.15 Newmarket – Newmarket Stakes Listed (1m 2f)
Salt Bay was due to run at the abandoned Sandown meeting last Friday for the inform Ralph Beckett team and has a strong chance here. Salt Bay won on debut last season and then really stepped up when going down by only two lengths to Proud And Regal in the Group 1 Criterium at Saint-Cloud in the heavy last October. This colt by Farhh is certain to improve again this year and this step up in distance can only be beneficial for Salt Bay, who has a Derby entry.
Waiporo couldn’t have been more impressive on his second career start at the Craven meeting when running on really strongly to win over this trip at 25/1. He doesn’t appear to have been fancied, yet the form looks good, as the second Liberty Lane, had previously looked very useful. There was lots to like about Waiporo’s attitude and this colt by Australia, who holds a Derby entry, looks sure to improve again.
Unibet 17/2 each way
Unibet are BOOSTING the price of the favourite in this race!
1.50 Newmarket – Mile Group 2 (1m)
Native Trail finished last season with a lacklustre effort at York behind Baaeed in the Juddmonte International, however he has had a wind operation since then and you can expect him to be sharp enough on seasonal debut. Native Trail was tried over longer trips in the Eclipse when third and the Juddmonte International, however his return to the Rowley Mile, where he won at the Craven meeting last season, ahead of finishing second to Corebus in the 2,000 Guineas must be in his favour against his main rival Light Infantry, who may just need the run in this classy Group 2.
Unibet 5/4
Unibet are BOOSTING the price of the favourite in this race!
2.25 Newmarket – King Charles II Stakes Listed Race (7f)
Shouldvebeenaring (nap) for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon keeps going the right way and did nothing wrong when third here last month to Once More For Luck when carrying top weight.
That run was over six furlongs and the way Shouldvebeenaring was staying on from off the pace he looks ready for another crack at seven furlongs (had two runs at this trip last season), with his dam winning over this trip. Whilst there may not be the improvement in him that there may be in others, he is top rated here and sets the standard right now.
Unibet 11/4
Unibet are BOOSTING the price of the favourite in this race!
4.45 Newmarket – Nyetimber Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (1m 2f)
Infinite Cosmos is beautifully bred, with the dam a half-sister to Crystal Ocean so she looks nailed-on to improve this season and has to be in your tracker. Infinite Cosmos performed with great credit on her only start so far, when caught out by the soft ground at Doncaster but then knuckled down to the task admirably to only go down by a short-head at the finish. The winner Sea Of Roses was second in a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud on her reappearance this year so the bare form looks solid and Infinite Cosmos can take this Maiden ahead of stepping up to a higher level.
