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Cheveley Park fourth features in meeting of smart juveniles in Cornwallis Stakes

Tardis (blue): showed a wicked turn of foot to win the Listed St Hugh's Stakes earlier this season
Tardis (blue): showed a wicked turn of foot to win the Listed St Hugh's Stakes earlier this seasonCredit: Mark Cranham

Friday: 1.50 Newmarket
Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3) | 5f | 2yo | RTV/ITV4

Thursday's GoingStick reading indicated that the farside of the Rowley Mile was marginally quicker than other areas of the racecourse and given that five of the last seven Cornwallis winners have jumped from either stall one, two or three, there might be a mad dash to get across to the rail.

Battle-hardened colt Twilight Jet is the most likely leader and he couldn't have drawn better in gate two. Despite boasting a mediocre record (1-9), the Michael O'Callaghan-trained juvenile has showcased his talent in a selection of Group 1 and 2 races this term and was far from disgraced from the front in the Middle Park just 13 days ago.

That was a stiff test for Twilight Jet and he should relish the return to calmer waters. Should he be able to bowl along without going into the red early, he could be hard to catch. His chance may depend on the tactics employed on rank outsider Freyabella. She raced keenly to make every yard last time at Chelmsford but was ridden far more conservatively on her previous efforts.

Twilight Jet (right): was third in the Champagne Stakes (pictured) and a creditable fifth in the Middle Park
Twilight Jet (right): was third in the Champagne Stakes (pictured) and a creditable fifth in the Middle ParkCredit: Edward Whitaker

Tardis, who is well berthed in stall three, looked a filly on a sharp upward trajectory when she burst through with an impressive closing sectional to win the Listed St Hugh's Stakes over this trip in August. She touched a high of 110 in-running and was evidently suited by a minor pace collapse inside the final furlong.

She couldn't repeat that form in the Dick Poole last time, but was short of room for much of the final two furlongs and might be worth another chance.

Mill Reef runner-up Hierarchy brings the best piece of form into the race and commands plenty of respect for trainer Hugo Palmer, who has brought this Mehmas colt along nicely over the summer. His main asset is his high cruising speed and he appeared to have his rivals in trouble before being caught late on at Newbury last time.

On that evidence, sixth-placed finisher Manaccan will find it very hard to reverse the form, while the drop back in trip may help Hierarchy finish his race off on the rain-softened ground. Oisin Murphy's toughest job might be to get a decent early position from stall 13.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

'We expect this drop in trip and drying ground to suit her better'

Michael Bell's son and assistant trainer Nick was at the Tattersalls October Yearling sales on Thursday and was shrewd enough to purchase Tardis at Park Paddocks earlier this year for just 18,000gns.

The daughter of Time Test has already recouped her sale price with change after landing a Listed race at Newbury in August and was a bit unlucky at Salisbury last time.

Bell jnr said: "I'm very keen on Time Test as he is by Dubawi who has proven to be a successful sire of sires. Tardis breezed very well and when you receive the times afterwards her best time was on the gallop out which is always a good sign.

Tardis is led back in after winning the St Hugh's Stakes at Newbury
Tardis is led back in after winning the St Hugh's Stakes at NewburyCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"She looked a quick filly then and I was delighted to get her for owners Woodhall Stud for just 18,000gns. She's already rewarded them with a stakes race and hopefully she's not finished yet.

"Things didn't go her way over six furlongs at Salisbury last time but we expect this drop in trip and drying ground to suit her better."

What they say

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Hierarchy
The drop back to five furlongs should not inconvenience him after he was just run out of it over six at Newbury last time. We were going to run him in France but were worried about the soft ground so this drying surface should suit him.

Jamie Piggott, purchaser of Manaccan
He hated the soft ground at Newbury last time and we expect this drying surface to suit him better.

Karl Burke, trainer of Guilded and Illustrating
Guilded ran an exceptional race to be fourth in the Cheveley Park at the track last time and we expect her to be competitive back in trip. Whether we're running her back a bit soon we'll have to see, but she seems in good form. We had Illustrating all dressed up to go for the Lowther at York in August until she knocked herself at the last minute. She ran in France last month where she had little chance from a poor draw. Hopefully it doesn't dry out too much as she likes to get her toe in.

Sean Woods, trainer of Princess Shabnam
She's shown a lot of speed in winning twice over both five and six furlongs and hopefully the drop back in trip should suit her. She deserves another crack at a black type race.
Reporting by David Milnes


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David MilnesNewmarket correspondent

Published on 7 October 2021inPreviews

Last updated 18:43, 7 October 2021

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