Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 19th September 2026

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Newbury Park & Caroline’s Gowran Park Picks

Newbury Park

Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3) 1.02
Starlust
Starlust ain’t won since taking the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November of 2024, but this looks a great chance to get back on the scoresheet. To be fair to Ralph Beckett’s Zoustar mare, she’s been pitched in at the top level in quite a few runs since then, and I’d put her second in the Nunthorpe at York’s Ebor festival right up there, cos no one but no one was taking down American superstar Bacio then, so we know from that Starlust is back to her best, and a 2 length fourth to the exciting Comanche Brave at the Curragh last Sunday was another solid Group One attempt. She seems have to left Clive Cox’s Redorange behind a bit now, based on this season’s clashes, while Redorange’s stablemate Diligent Harry saves his best for the all-weather. Down into a Group 3, Starlust must have a cracking chance, with my York scorer Miss Yechance my each-way pick, for those of you that like that sort of thing!

Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap 1.37
Explode
Well kids, I’m gonna take a big big gamble on Faye Bramley’s Explode for this Autumn Cup Handicap. Now, I get it that I ain’t known for my each-way selections, despite chucking them in where I can, but Explode does have winning form at Newbury, and fresh from a spin over the sticks at Newton Abbot won’t be done for stamina over this 13 furlong trip. I guess that Hamad Al Jehani’s French Duke would be the big danger after going down by a nose in a big handicap at York’s Ebor meet, and Alan King has been plundering some of these handicaps recently, so his Nathaniel gelding Insanity has a good chance, while Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Primo Lara has won three of his last four, and has Ryan Moore booked for the trip. But, I reckon Explode can blow ’em all away in this Autumn Cup and land me my big gamble!

Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) 2.12
Nabati (nap)
Nabati and Arapaho Gold met in the Rose Bowl Stakes here in July, with Nabati going down by a neck to Michael Dods Arapaho Gold, but this time I’ve gotta go with Nabati. I thought Charlie Appleby’s Night Of Thunder colt was closing with every stride in that Listed contest, but it seems that Arapaho Gold is the one getting all the attention after making it four from four in the Gimcrack last month. But for me, Nabati looked really professional in the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster last week, and although undone by the trip and Oisin Murphy on the filly Forbidden Fire, I reckon this drop back to 6 furlongs is just the thing, and he has so much more to come. Hugo Palmer’s Adaay Of Scarlett has been going well all year, but his form has just dipped after eight starts since April, so Andrew Balding’s Lowther Stakes third, Jolivette, may be the one to make it a really hot Mill Reef. Nabati to win for in-form Charlie boy, and rise up the rankings for next season’s 2,000 Guineas, with Jolivette and Arapaho Gold to keep him honest in a cracking feature!! Nice anyway forecast if ya fancy it – just saying?

Dubai Duty Free Handicap 2.47
Boyfriend (nb)
It looks a pretty hot Handicap this, but Richard Hannon’s Boyfriend gets my vote. He’s sure a lot better at this 10 furlong trip, despite being tried plenty over a mile, and last time out at Salisbury was making some late progress passing the 2 pole, but couldn’t find a way through under Pat Dobbs until well into the final half furlong, securing third but most definitely nearest at the finish. Sean Levey takes up the reins, so this extra trip, plus the wider expanses of Newbury’s long finishing straight should sort out those issues, so I’m finding Boyfriend easy to take home, if ya get my drift? Sir Mark Prescott’s got his lot in good order just now, so consistent Almekarem gets a tick, while I saw Richard Hannon’s Stem at Sandown Park on the bosses birthday bash, and under Jamie Spencer has to get a mention, right? Yeah, gonna be shouting for my Boyfriend to come home on Saturday!

Pump Technology Metro Rod Partnership EBF Novice Stakes 3.20
Jassas
I’d be really confident about Jassas’s chances in this Novice Stakes, despite giving plenty of weight away to all of them. For me, he might have just done a little bit too much too soon under Will Buick when trying to serve it up to Avec Toi in the Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville last time out, but Marie-Francoise assures me he ran very well and that Avec Toi is one to note for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains next year, so should only come on for that Group 3 run. Charlie Appleby does very well with his Juveniles at the back end of every flat season, and this year is no exception, so I’d be pretty confident of Jassas to progress considering the current form of the Moulton Paddocks yard. Richard Hughes Kodiac City wasn’t knocked about when down the field in the Solario Stakes at Sandown Park last time, so rates the obvious threat, but Jassas should be winning this.

Gowran Park

Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden 3.15
Albany County
Albany County will be a very hot favourite to win this Maiden, and I cannot go against that view. Of course, Aidan O’Brien has such depth with his two year olds, but this is one I’m sure to be taking note of, being a Camelot colt and half-brother of 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth, so with some racing experience now must be high on the list. He was second at the Curragh the last day, but going down to stablemate Darkness Falls was no discredit after that Camelot colt took the Golden Fleece at Leopardstown last Saturday, so Albany County is hard to oppose on that line of form. Yet another Camelot is stablemate Pirate of Penzance, while Joseph O’Brien sends out a Baaeed colt, Mount Meru who I will closely watch, but Albany County must be my pick.

Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 3) 3.50
Faiyum
Oh yes, a little bit of a puzzler this one, as Joseph O’Brien’s Star Performer is proven on this track, but I do fancy Ger Lyons’ Faiyum to win this as she did last year. But, now I have said that, I do hope that Gary Carroll can keep Faiyum from doing too much early on, as she does like to be leading the way, and that did prove to be a little of her undoing the last day at the Curragh, so if that’s the case, then Star Performer can come through late, just as she did here the last day in the Harriet Hurry Stakes. Yes, a tantalising race for me, but to be sure this is Faiyum’s to lose if doing it all too soon, with Star Performer ready in the wings shall we say? to steal the show?