Britain’s historic Newmarket Racecourse will stage a competitive six-race programme on Saturday, 18 July, with the opening contest scheduled for 2:30pm and the concluding race due at 5:25pm. The fixture will offer more than £118,000 in total prize money and will feature races for juveniles, three-year-olds and older horses. The Listed RIC AND MARY HAMBRO APHRODITE FILLIES’ STAKES will headline the afternoon, while a series of competitive handicaps will provide further depth to the card.
The meeting will begin with THE EBF RESTRICTED MAIDEN FILLIES’ STAKES (CLASS 4) (GBB RACE) at 2:30pm. The opening contest will be run over seven furlongs for two-year-old fillies and will carry a prize fund of £11,000. A field of 10 runners will be expected, with Caravel, China In Your Hand, Flooding, Indian Lights, Kiah, Angel of Heaven and Lunar Blossom among those set to make their mark in an informative maiden event.
The feature race, THE RIC AND MARY HAMBRO APHRODITE FILLIES’ STAKES (CLASS 1) (GBBPLUS RACE), will follow at 3:05pm. Run over one mile and four furlongs, the Listed contest will offer £60,000 in prize money and has attracted nine runners. Brielle, Club Class, Little Dorrit, Naga, Orionis, Revoir and Fashion’s Fancy will feature among the contenders in a race that will provide an important test for progressive middle-distance fillies and mares.
The LETTERGOLD PLASTICS HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) will be staged at 3:42pm over seven furlongs. Worth £12,500, the handicap has drawn seven runners, including Jumby, Miletus, Flag of St George, I Still Have Faith, Warrior Mode, Bell Shot and Where’s Freddy. The contest will bring together experienced performers over one of Newmarket’s most competitive distances.
Speed will come to the fore in THE CLUB 26 AT ASCOT HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) at 4:17pm. The six-furlong handicap will also carry a prize fund of £12,500 and has attracted eight runners. Westmorian, Yes I’m Mali, Expert Agent, Fenlander, Dashing Dick, Lili Marleen, Spring Bloom and Generous Rascal will contest the straight-course sprint in another evenly matched race.
The penultimate contest will be THE NATIONAL STUD “CONFINED” HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 5) at 4:52pm. Run over one mile and two furlongs for three-year-olds, the race will offer £10,000 in prize money. Ziggy’s Avenger, Flag of Eva, Madjid, John Harrison, Pipily and Moon Warp will line up in the six-runner event as they seek another progressive performance.
The meeting will conclude with THE LODGE AT THE NATIONAL STUD HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) at 5:25pm over one mile. The closing handicap will be worth £12,500 and has attracted seven runners. Rogue Encore, Mythical Guest, Elan d’Or, Lady Mariko, Silca Bay, Dovey Moon and Astrazar will complete Saturday’s programme in what will be another competitive contest.
Saturday’s card will combine promising young talent with established handicap performers and quality fillies competing at Listed level. The Aphrodite Fillies’ Stakes will provide the feature attraction, while the supporting races will ensure a varied and competitive afternoon of Flat racing at one of Britain’s most celebrated venues.
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