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One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch on Saturday

Trainer

Owen Burrows has enjoyed plenty of success on Saturday's Newbury card in the past and has the standout candidate for the Group 3 BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2.20).

Hukum landed the Geoffrey Freer last year before a tilt at the St Leger and while he has fallen just short at the top level, he returned to his best in the Silver Cup at York last time and is now a dual Group 3 winner.

Jockey

With Oisin Murphy sitting out Saturday due to suspension, William Buick has the chance to reduce the gap in the jockeys' championship title race with five rides at Newbury.

Buick was 13 winners behind runaway leader Murphy prior to Friday's action as he attempts to win the title for the first time and a host of his rides have strong chances to help him keep up his hopes of lifting the trophy.

William Buick: can the top jockey fight back in the jockeys' championship race?
William Buick: can the top jockey fight back in the jockeys' championship race?Credit: Francois Nel (Getty Images)

The pick of his rides looks to be Al Suhail (3.30), who arrives in good form having finished third in the Summer Mile last month.

Buick picks up a valuable spare for Murphy's former boss Andrew Balding aboard Superlative Stakes second Masekela in the Listed Denford Stud Stakes (1.45), while Auriferous (1.15), Sleeping Lion (2.20) and Camelot Tales (4.00) complete his afternoon.

Horse

Plenty of eyes will be on the final ever Arlington Million card at Arlington Park to see whether the highly regarded Santa Barbara can land a second Grade 1 in the Beverly D. Stakes (10.49).

The Camelot filly was fourth in the 1,000 Guineas before finishing a well-beaten fifth behind Snowfall in the Oaks, as well as going close behind Thundering Nights in the Pretty Polly Stakes.

However, she picked up her first-top level success when scorching to an unlikely victory in the Belmont Oaks on her first start in the US last month and is favourite to follow up for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

Race

The Hungerford Stakes (3.30) may not look as hot as some years, but it hosts a very open field with plenty of the runners looking to continue their progress in the Group 2.

Al Suhail brings form from the highest level having finished third in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan earlier in the year and made a pleasing return when third in the Summer Mile behind Tilsit last month. Along with D'bai, he is one of two representatives for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.

Shadwell Estates are triple-handed as they bid for a third win in the race in the last seven years, with International Stakes winner Danyah and dual Bunbury Cup hero Motakhayyel joined by Laneqash.

Useful fillies Sacred – not seen since finishing seventh in the 1,000 Guineas – and recent Ascot Group 3 winner Dreamloper also have solid claims.

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Matt RennieReporter

Published on 13 August 2021inNews

Last updated 09:23, 14 August 2021

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