Ahead of another fun Saturday of quality racing, the Weekend Winners team discussed their best bets for the Newmarket feature.
The panel of Kate Tracey, Callum Helliwell and Declan Rix paid particular attention to Newbury’s feature event, the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes.
Commonwealth Cup heroine Venetian Sun is among four 2026 Royal Ascot winners set to meet in a hot renewal of the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday with Satono Reve out for a first taste of success on British soil.
Attheraces.com’s Declan Rix…
“The bet for me is actually Big Mojo who was second in this race last year to No Half Measures and he was probably a little bit unlucky because they probably put a little too much water on overnight and that might have just found him out.
“He’s been in good order this year, on his season debut in the Minster Stakes, under a penalty, he ran a biscuit and shaped like he needed the race, and at Royal Ascot he was just a little bit overtaken, in top gear all the way, but he did all his best work late.
“His career-best effort was arguably in this race last year and we shouldn’t underplay how different the July course is to Ascot and it looks like [Big Mojo] is absolutely desperate for this step up in the trip.
If Quinault and Big Mojo get a little loose up front and the side rails of the stands are the place to be, I hope the latter can finally get his revenge when he was touched last year.”
Hosted by Kate Tracey…
“Venetian Sun for me. I tried to take her at Royal Ascot and she needed to recover but she always did just enough to hold off challengers including Spicy Marg and we know she doesn’t go down without a fight. I just feel Venetian Sun would have found more and continued to flow away.
“She’s now six from six in sprints and I wanted to see that at Royal Ascot and now that I have I’m willing to follow that form in here and the weight she’s getting from her rivals is part of that.”
Sky Sports Racing’s Callum Helliwell…
“I can’t wait Mission Central to absolutely gag in this race. He can’t go to the Abbaye, he can’t go to the sprint at York because none of them suit a hold-up horse, it will suit him down to the ground because they’re going to go like the clappers.
“I think Satono Reve ran below form from last year at Royal Ascot, I think if he ran to form he should have won that race. Joliestar turned out to be the jolly old boat. I just think that Mission Central was the most visually impressive performer at Royal Ascot. The concern is the form: I think I could run a little faster than Heavenly Heather, and she was pretty close, but I think this thing is a freak. I still think we’re underplaying him.”
See weekend winners in full on At The Race’s YouTube channel…