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James Doyle replaces Frankie Dettori as Sunray Major chases Group 3 prize

James Doyle and John Gosden enjoyed great success with Kingman in 2014
James Doyle and John Gosden enjoyed great success with Kingman in 2014Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Saturday: 3.15 Newmarket
House Of Cavani Menswear Criterion Stakes (Group 3) | 7f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Four weeks on from Haydock's John of Gaunt Stakes we have the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket, the second of five major seven-furlong dances culminating in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc weekend, taking in the Lennox at Goodwood and Hungerford at Newbury en route.

Seven-furlong specialists are a rare breed and we could see rivalries emerging for the rest of the season as three of the four who contested the bunched finish to the John of Gaunt fill the first three positions in the Criterion market.

That is the race to focus on and Pogo was given an outstanding ride by Kieran Shoemark to make all that day. However, he was all out to hold on from reopposing pair Laneqash and Sunray Major.

You can be certain Jim Crowley and James Doyle will be alive to the dangers of Pogo establishing another easy lead, and a 3lb penalty could prove the winner's undoing.

Cases can be made that Laneqash and Sunray Major are essentially Group 2 winners running without penalties, as both could have won on another day.

Laneqash headed Pogo just after the winning line, while Sunray Major was slightly hampered in the run. The pair are difficult to separate but minor preference would be for Laneqash to uphold the form as that was his seasonal return and he should improve for it.

There may be a decent match bet among those at juicier odds. Watch the Surrey Stakes at Epsom in which Ever Given won and Bass Player ran third.

Bass Player made a winning debut in April and was appearing for only the second time but ran green throughout, failing to handle the track by hanging down the camber.

Ever Given proved a more straightforward conveyance on his 11th start and Bass Player, who is more than double the price, can reverse the form.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders


Kingman team reunite for Sunray Major

There will be no Frankie Dettori in Saturday's Group 3 feature at Newmarket with James Doyle called on to take over riding duties on his regular partner Sunray Major.

Only once in the eight-race career of Juddmonte's five-year-old has Dettori not been in the plate, but he is absent from all of the yard's rides this weekend.

Doyle, however, is no stranger to success for the Clarehaven team, particularly in these silks. He partnered Kingman to four Group 1 victories in a mesmerising 2014 campaign, has ridden half a century of winners in Britain for the team, and was the one being shortened in the betting on Friday to be named the stable's next retained rider.

His ride here is a live contender having gone down by only half-a-length when fourth in the John Of Gaunt Stakes.

Joint-trainer Thady Gosden said: "He got going a bit late at Haydock last time from a bad draw. He'll like the ground and the trip will suit."


What they say

Charlie Hills, trainer of Pogo
The ground's going to be nice and quick for him and he likes the track. He's got to take on the same horses he ran against last time but with a penalty, so we'll see what happens.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Art Du Val
He ran a nice race at York, when it looked as though trying this trip would suit.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Ever Given
I'll walk the track and make a call about whether or not we have a go on the ground. He doesn't want it firm and it's a long year with an improving horse. I'm very happy with him and I thought he was excellent at Epsom but these are much deeper waters, he'll need to improve.
Reporting by James Stevens


Saturday's race previews:

2.25 Newcastle: 'This has always been the plan' – quotes and analysis for the Chipchase Stakes

2.40 Newmarket: can last year's UAE Derby winner Rebel's Romance return to his best on turf?

3.05 Curragh: 'He's even better than before the Norfolk' – Crispy Cat seeks Ascot compensation

3.30 Newcastle: can Trueshan overcome a tricky draw and big weight to become a Plate legend?

3.45 Curragh: Colin Keane and Aidan O'Brien on Irish Derby hopes Westover and Tuesday

4.20 Curragh: Classic hero Mac Swiney out to fend off younger brigade in International Stakes


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James StevensWest Country correspondent

Published on 24 June 2022inPreviews

Last updated 17:35, 24 June 2022

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