Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket day two best bets

Dubai Future Champions Saturday, as they like to call it, is a seven-race card with four Group races and a Listed heat including the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Plenty to enjoy.  

At 2.20 it is the Group Three 1m2f Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes. Godolphin 1,000,000 Guineas yearling Volkan Star won at the second attempt going clear in a novice event at Goodwood in August. I think the Charlie Appleby trained colt should have further improvement to come for the step up in distance and have the 100-30.

At 2.55 they face a mile for the Group Three Dubai Autumn Stakes. Al Suhail is one I have talked of and tipped in the pst. The colt has displayed plenty of ability, as well as a few quirks, including when when third in the 7f G.3 Solario Stakes behind Positive. He should have more to offer for the step up in trip and I have a bit of the 5-1.

The 7f Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes is the main event on Saturday at 3.30 and it's no surprise tI a talking about another Godolphin one. Pinatubo was 1-3 at the start of the week the Godolphin owned Charlie Appleby trained colt having looked head and shoulders above another other two-year-old this season. He has been in a different league quite frankly and from what we have seen should win hard held; sounds crazy to say about a Group One but he should. He is though basically un-backable at the price. Clive Cox hopes his charge Solario Stakes winner Positive can at least get closer to the colt that beat him by five lengths in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Talking earlier this week he said "Like everyone else I have been extremely taken with Pinatubo, there’s no disputing his quality, but I am hopeful that Positive can show the necessary improvement to close the gap with him on Saturday.” 

At 4.45 it’s the Listed 6f Dubai British EBF Boadicea Stakes. Farzeen is an improving daughter of Farhh (i know Godolphin in there again). She who won a couple of Novice heats before blowing her chance in the G.3 Sceptre Stakes running with the choke out. She is the one in the line-up with the potential to improve again if she settles better today. I will grab the best price I can when they chalk-up. 

Last on the card at 5.20 it’s the Group Three Darley Stakes over 1m1f. Matterhorn runs again, about his 100th outing this year, and though he best form is on the all-weather he ha been putting in some cracking efforts in defeat and was only beaten a neck at Leopardstown in the Group 2 Boomerang Stakes last time. At 3-1 I am on him to get a very well deserved win here.

Be lucky