2.15pm Newmarket Tips & Betting Preview 03/10/2015

Race Time: 2.15pm Meeting: Newmarket Day: Saturday 3rd October Distance: 7f

Full Race Name:  £300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2yo Fillies’ Trophy (Plus 10 Race) Class Two

At the risk of upsetting owners and trainers alike, what a poor turn out when you look at a prize fund of £300,000 – some ought to be ashamed of themselves and a mere fifteen entries even at the four day stage is a bit of an embarrassment, with the two highest officially rated fillies off of 77 and one of those still a maiden? In our view, the best horse currently declared just has to be the Aiden O’Brien trained Alice Springs – though whether she will race again so quickly after her fourth last weekend has to be open to question. If they do choose to go pot hunting (and even her owners, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith can’t turn down what could be a very easy to win prize), then she is very clearly the one they all have to beat – if they can. Although her form may not look that hot at first glance, with just the one Curragh maiden victory, she has been competing in a higher class than anything else in this field with a second to Tanaza in a Group Three, a four lengths fifth to stable companion Ballydoyle in a Group Two, a third to Minding in a Group One, and a length and a half fourth to Lumiere, Illuminate, and Besharah over an inadequate six furlongs last weekend at Newmarket in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Group One), running on late and pretty much inviting the return to the seventh furlong here. A repeat of that run seems sure to see her successful here but naturally, there are others who could yet improve enough to at least make her break in to a sweat.

Sir Michael Stoute is well known for the top fillies he has looked after over the years, and the unbeaten Engage could be anything – or nothing. One run and one maiden win at Doncaster told us very little about the daughter of Pour Moi, but we are a little concerned that she wore headgear first time out and we have to wonder why, though she did run on strongly over the mile for a short head success, so it can’t be her will to win that is in question. The drop back in trip seems unlikely to inconvenience her even though she did look a little outpaced at one stage of the race, but it is noticeable that she doesn’t have any fancy Autumn entries, which makes us wonder just how good they think she is?

Ninetta represents Ann Duffield and is lightly enough raced that improvement is still likely and she could well run in to a place if all goes according to plan in the race. After finishing runner up to Zaina Rizeena first time out at Beverley, she ran away with a small Carlisle maiden by an easy four lengths, making all and quickening away when asked to win her race. She beat nothing impressively whatever that really means, but like every horse can only conquer those put in front of her, and it would be a real fillip to the northern stables if she could run a big race here against the wealthier southern yards.

As for the others, it may be best to mention the unraced entries with John Gosden and Charlie Hills both knowing the time of day with their charges and with some well bred fillies. Natural Beauty is a daughter of Oasis Dream out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and as such ought to be able to win a race of this nature, but has a lack of big race entries which sets punters alarm bells ringing, but then the same comment also applies to Chelabella who runs here for Newmarket handler Michael Bell. A daughter of Medicean out of a Timeless Times mare, she cost 70,000 Guineas at the sales so must look better than her breeding suggests, and is one to watch for future reference, but would surely be a shock winner first time, out if she can get to the front first this afternoon.