A sun-soaked afternoon at Newmarket saw another memorable chapter unfold in the Debenhams July Festival as racing fans were treated to standout performances, emerging talent, and thrilling finishes. The star of the day was Saba Desert, a progressive Dubawi colt trained by Charlie Appleby, who continued his unbeaten run in a fiercely contested Group Two over seven furlongs. Ridden confidently by William Buick, he produced a powerful late surge that underlined his class and potential.
This latest win was a significant step forward from his previous outing at Sandown, and Appleby’s team will now plan his path towards some of the autumn’s key juvenile races. With options including the National Stakes or Champagne Stakes before a possible tilt at the Dewhurst, expectations are running high for this exciting colt. The team will give him a short break before mapping out his Group-level campaign.
In a thrilling sprint contest over seven furlongs, More Thunder showcased his fighting spirit with a last-gasp win under Tom Marquand. Despite a pace that didn’t play to his strengths, the Night Of Thunder colt dug deep to overcome last year’s winner Aalto by the narrowest of margins. Trainer William Haggas expressed admiration for the colt’s determination, suggesting his future likely lies in top-level sprint company over six furlongs, where his explosive turn of foot can be fully utilised.
The day also featured a surprise result in the Mile Handicap, where Fifth Column emerged victorious. Trained by John and Thady Gosden and guided by Ryan Moore, the lesser-fancied runner of Godolphin’s trio produced a well-timed finish to edge out stablemate Bedouin Prince. Gosden revealed that a careful late run had been the strategy, which worked to perfection. Looking ahead, connections are considering stepping the colt up in class, with a longer-term target being a prestigious autumn handicap.
Earlier in the day, the opening maiden for fillies saw a sparkling performance from Orion’s Belt. The promising filly, by former July Cup winner Starman, cruised to a dominant four-length victory on debut. Richard Hannon’s team, represented by senior head lad Tony Gorman, praised her professionalism and suggested she could soon be tested at Pattern level, given her potential and pedigree.
Royal Velvet also caught the eye with a smooth victory later in the card. Trained by William Knight and partnered by William Buick, the filly delivered a composed effort to secure a length’s win. Plans are now in motion to step her into Listed or Group company in pursuit of valuable Black Type, a natural progression for a filly with her consistency and quality.
With multiple wins for Godolphin and standout performances from both juveniles and seasoned runners, the Debenhams July Festival continues to live up to its reputation as one of British racing’s summer highlights. The mix of emerging stars and competitive racing has delivered for fans once again—and the excitement isn’t over yet.
