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Juvenile Watch: horse to follow and July Festival tip
By Ross Millar
Last Updated: Thu 9 Jul 2026
There were a few taking performances in the last week. I’m sure many would be expecting one of Charlie Appleby’s two winners at Yarmouth on Thursday to feature here.
Indeed in a season that’s so far been below the standard you would expect from Moulton Paddocks, both debutant winner Nabati and Musical Times, who extended her unbeaten record to two wins, were visually impressive.
The form of both, however, is untested. Musical Times beat was chased home by Gracious Gift, a stable mate who was making her own debut, while the third-placed Attack Attack had only beaten one rival home in two previous starts.
The same is true of Nabati. A well-bred son of Night Of Thunder, he looked a thoroughly professional colt as he cruised through his six-furlong maiden before quickening up smartly under minimal effort from jockey William Buick.
Charlie Appleby: saddled a couple of winning juveniles at Yarmouth last week.
However, he was returned at odds of 2-9 and, while of course that will be largely down to the confidence that was behind him, it does also suggest that there was very little expected from his three rivals.
Runner-up Can't Stop was making his debut, while Sovereign Dawn and Shoof had both finished last on their previous starts. He was impressive and the promise is there for all to see, but maybe it’s been overplayed because, up until now, Godolphin have been some way off the pace with their juveniles?
Instead, I’ll opt for Nuit d’Eclair who shares her sire, Night Of Thunder, with Nabati. Making her debut over six furlongs at Newbury, she broke smartly and travelled well just in behind the leaders. She was last off the bridle and did momentarily flounder when asked to pick up, but once she found her stride, she drew alongside and showed a nice attitude to get to the front late on.
The runner-up Topaz had shown good form when second on her debut at Newmarket, before running poorly in the Albany at Ascot, though she did endure a troublesome passage through the race, so this form looks far more reliable.
Amo Racing have not hit the heights they’d have hoped to so far this season so this will have been a welcome winner, particularly for retained trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy, and the manner of victory suggests there could be plenty more to come she should make her presence felt in pattern races later this season.
Saturday
4.00 Newmarket: Superlative Stakes (7f, Group Two)
Aix La Chapelle is worth opposing should he line up in the Superlative Stakes on Saturday, says Ross Millar. (Pic: Healy Racing)
As with seemingly every race in this sphere this season, Aidan O’Brien appears to hold the trump cards, with unbeaten pair Abraham Lincoln and Aix La Chapelle at the head of the betting.
The market would suggest that as 5-6 favourite, the former is most likely to be the intended runner and, if that were the case, I would be reluctant to oppose him and would probably sit the race out as a punting medium.
Yet if Aix La Chapelle, currently priced at 3-1 was to be their representative, I’d be inclined to oppose him. Bull Shark, who finished second to him at the Curragh, is now a maiden from six starts having been comfortably beaten in both starts since, and at Ascot ahead of the Chesham, he got upset in the stalls and was withdrawn by the starter. Stepping into Group Two company, for all that it doesn’t look a vintage line-up, will demand more, and if he’s a short price, I’ll look elsewhere.
GREEN SOVEREIGN would look to be tempting, he bolted up by six-lengths on his second start and was one of the eye-catchers of the week when closing up into a never nearer eighth in the Chesham having failed to find racing room on more than one occasion. This trip should and track will suit him and he makes appeal at what I would envisage will be an each-way price.
Nursery watch
Avalon Queen – Roger Teal
A stoutly bred daughter of Masar she has been given an opening mark of 80 and on the balance of her form that looks more than workable.
On her debut at Newbury she finished well for a keeping on fourth, three lengths behind Aperoll, who is now rated 92, and Scommessa Sicura, now rated 87. She took a step forward on her latest start again at Newbury where she flew home for third having become badly unbalanced when asked to switch severely to her right when starting to hit top gear.
Both these starts have come over six furlongs and, off this mark, this distance looks acceptable, but she’ll find further progress when upped in distance and as a result could stay ahead of the handicapper.
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