The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 14th October 2023

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Newmarket

Emirates Autumn Stakes (Group 3) 1.25
Chief Little Rock
The costly yearling Ancient Wisdom is sure to get plenty of backers after an impressive start to his career. That record reads 1,1,3 but he can be opposed with Irish raider Chief Little Rock. Second in the Beresford Stakes at The Curragh last time out, there’s every chance that Chief Little Rock will take to this softer going better than Charlie Appleby’s charge and Andrew Balding’s Arabic Legend. A good race for the opener, with Chief Little Rock taken to score for Aidan O’Brien

Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) 2.00
City Of Troy
It’s very hard to ignore the appeal of City Of Troy for this valuable Group 1. It is one of the most important Juvenile races in the European flat racing calendar, with a prize pot to much. City Of Troy has been heavily backed in the ante-post markets since storming home in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes here in July, and looks to have been laid out for this race since then. That six and a half length romp ahead of Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes winner, Haatem, is standout form for this, so City Of Troy is the one to beat

Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 2.40
Grand Providence
A typically hot renewal of the Cesarewitch, where it may pay to side with recent course winner Grand Providence. There’s plenty of likely types, including a strong party of Irish raiders who have such a good record in this in recent years, not least Gordon Elliott’s Pied Piper, Emmet Mullins’s The Shunter and Noel Meade’s Jesse Evans. The home team include the Hughie Morrison pair of Vino Victrix and race specialist Not So Sleepy, but Grand Providence goes to post on a feather-weight and has the excellent Hollie Doyle in the driving seat. Every chance, and super each-way value

Ghaiyyath Zetland Stakes (Group 3) 3.15
Arabian Crown (nap)
With Champion Trainer Charlie Appleby yet again in fine form as the British flat racing season draws to a close, more Black Type is on offer in the Zetland with Arabian Crown. He’s won his last two, including the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury last time out, and a maiden at Sandown Park on soft ground before that. He’s looked progressive with every run, and is one to keep on the watchlist for the 10 to 12 furlong division next season, which brings The Derby into the reckoning. One going the right way, and sure to be in the mix

Earthlight Darley Stakes (Group 3) 3.50
Knight (nb)
Simon & Ed Crisford will be hoping that their Mehmas gelding will finally break his season’s duck in this Group 3. With conditions looking just right, Knight can go one better than when a head runner-up to the smart Chindit at Sandown last time out. He still had plenty of running in him in that 1 mile Listed contest, so this step up in trip is a logical move. Knight to take the crown in the last of the Pattern races

Pinatubo British EBF Boadicea Stakes (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 5.00
Perdika
The chance is taken on George Boughey’s Perdika coping with this softer ground and scoring in the closer. Last seen making a fine effort in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp, to finish a length second to Highfield Princess, there’s no guarantee she’ll act on this ground with more of a top-of-the-ground action, but this is a marked drop in grade, so on balance has to top the shortlist. William Buick is booked for the trip, so Perdika gets the nod

The Mandarin