Caroline & Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 9th August 2025

Caroline & Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from The Curragh, Newmarket & Haydock Park

The Curragh

FBD Hotels And Resorts Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Group 3) 3.25
Bucanero Fuerte
I’m thinking that Bucanero Fuerte is going to be winning this, before Adrian Murray sends him back out in the Flying Five here next month. He’s only been seen once this year, at Naas in May, where I think he looked just as good as ever, and this is a nice warm up for that Group One. Of course, track specialist Art Power is also here, but it’s a worry to me that he’s not been raced yet this season, and to be fair to Tim Easterby’s star sprinter, he’s not getting any younger at eight, so the lack of a run is a worry. Hope I’m not proved wrong on that! James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue hasn’t shown me much in two runs this year, so Ger Lyons Babouche looks a the big danger, with Vespertilio and My Mate Alfie also on my list. Bucanero Fuerte for me, in what is a cracking little race.

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) 4.00
True Love (nb)
Just the six of them, but a really hot Keeneland Phoenix renewal we’ve got here. That said, it’s Aidan O’Brien who has won this seventeen times since his breakthrough success in 1998, and it does look that Ryan Moore has chosen Gstaad as his chance to win the eighteenth for the Ballydoyle yard. But, I’m of the opinion that in True Love, we are seeing an exceptional talent, so that’s where my colours are nailed, and just watching the replay of the Group 2 Railway Stakes here the last day just confirms my thinking, so if Ryan Moore is going to win on Gstaad he’s going to have to be at his very best. A one-two for Aidan O’Brien, but it’s True Love for me.

Newmarket (July Course)

Tattersalls £40,000 EBF “Newcomers” Maiden Fillies’ Stakes 2.32
Al Qaysiyya
Well, this looks a three horse race to me, with the Frankel filly Proposal, the Sioux Nation filly Zanthos and Charlie Appleby’s Dubawi filly Al Qaysiyya all lining up. Although the Frankel fillies do come to hand quicker than the colts, I’m guessing Proposal will be one for next year, so my money’s on Al Qaysiyya from the Moulton Paddocks yard. Over the last five seasons, Charlie boy has been bringing the juveniles home at a strike rate of 36% on the July course, and that’s gotta stand up to scrutiny by anyone. Now I’ve said that, Simon & Ed Crisfords’ Zanthos went for a million Euros, so is obviously highly regarded, and with Oisin Murphy in the hot seat will be fancied by plenty. All in all though, the young superstar jockey Billy Loughnane measures up to the best of them, so Al Qaysiyya gets my vote.

Newsells Park Stud Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) 3.40
Midnight Tango
I like Midnight Tango for this Group 3, seeing as she’s just been running out of track in her last two runs over 6 furlongs, including here in the Empress Stakes. So, this step up in trip to 7 furlongs should be just the thing, and now getting Oishin Murphy on board – her fifth jockey in five runs! – does appeal to me, though Charlie Appleby’s Dance To The Music has also been getting plenty of support. Dance To The Music did win a pretty hot Novice Stakes here in May, but hasn’t been seen since, so Midnight Tango’s racing experience, with four runs already should count for plenty. Sapphire Steps ran with something in hand at Newbury, so I’ve got her on my list too, but it’s Midnight Tango to dance home for me!

Haydock Park

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes (Listed) 2.25
Suite Francaise
Right then, I’m kinda sticking my neck out here and saying that this one’s going to Suite Francaise for Charlie Johnston. She won a Class 4 race here back in May with plenty of running in her, and wasn’t far off in third in the Coral Distaff at Sandown Park last month, just failing to see that one out behind a decent looking Juddmonte, Blue Bolt. Ollie Sangster’s been in really hot form this season, so I can see why there’s been plenty going down on Shuwari, who should come on for the run at Kempton and returned to turf, while Arolla, Queen’s Reign and Sunfall all carry three- figure ratings, but I do think that Suite Francaise has every chance.

Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) 3.00
Haatem (nap)
I’ve got a lot of time for Haatem, and returned to this 10 furlong plus trip, he’s the one to beat. He was closing in on Point Lynas all the way through the final furlong in the Summer Mile at Ascot, although no one was catching Never So Brave in what turned out to be a cracker of a race. It seems to me that John & Thady Gosdens’ Detain has gone off the boil a bit since an excellent third in the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, but if she can regain some of that form would be a big threat, while Royal Dubai scoffed at his outsider odds when taking the Steventon Stakes at Newbury, and any repeat of that puts him in the picture. Haatem to go in now returned to his best trip, with Charlie Appleby’s Military Order to make a race of it alongside Royal Dubai.