Rakti tops QEII field
Last year’s winner Rakti heads 53 entries for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket next month.
The six-year-old will bid to become the first horse since Rose Bowl (1975-76) to record back-to-back victories in the Group One feature over a mile, which has been moved this season because of major redevelopment work at Ascot.
Michael Jarvis’ star performer, who is having a break before returning for an autumn campaign, is likely to face stiff opposition in the September 24 race sponsored by Barclays Bank Plc.
Coral-Eclipse hero Oratorio is among nine entries from Aidan O’Brien’s powerful Irish stable.
Valixir, who beat Rakti in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at York, plus Godolphin’s Irish 2000 Guineas hero Dubawi and Maids Causeway, winner of the Coronation Stakes are all possibles.
Also among a high-quality entry are the first two home in last week’s Sussex Stakes, Proclamation and Soviet Song, as well as last year’s dual 1000 Guineas winner Attraction and another possible French challenger Whipper, successful in the 2004 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
Whipper’s trainer Robert Collet also has a leading contender for the £175,000 Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile in New Girlfriend, brilliant winner of the Group Two Prix Robert Papin.
Other two-year-old fillies to have shown decent form among the 97 entries include Ed Dunlop’s Cross Channel, impressive winner of a Newmarket maiden last week, and the Clive Brittain-trained Deveron, who created a good impression when opening her account at Glorious Goodwood.
The £70,000 totesport Royal Lodge Stakes has received 135 entries, including last week’s Group Two Vintage Stakes scorer Sir Percy, Richard Hannon’s Asset and Sir Michael Stoute’s City of Troy.
O’Brien has an abundance of talent to pick from with his 24 entries including George Washington, ante-post favourite for the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas, Ivan Denisovich and Horatio Nelson.
The Ballydoyle maestro has also put the same trio in the £170,000 Group One Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes on September 30 for which there were 60 entries.
The 70 entries for the £170,000 Group One Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes a day earlier include Cherry Hinton Stakes heroine Donna Blini, who could bid to give trainer Brian Meehan a second consecutive success in the contest following Magical Romance’s win in 2004.
Mick Channon also holds a powerful hand with unbeaten Queen Mary Stakes winner Flashy Wings and Silca’s Sister. New Girlfriend is also a possible, while O’Brien has entered seven, including Listed winner Rumpelstiltskin.
