Mighty Gurkha the one to beat but Tom Clover hoping to sprinkle some Fairy Dust

Mighty Gurkha leads a maximum field of 30 declared for the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

This competitive sprint at 1.40pm, which kicks off ITV's coverage, is open to two-year-olds purchased at either Book 3 or 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, or the Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale.

A dual winner this season, including in the first week following racing's resumption on June 1, the Archie Watson-trained Mighty Gurkha finished a promising second in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury before going on to win the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton last time.

The son of Sepoy looks the one to beat, and on Friday afternoon was a general 13-8 favourite, despite carrying a penalty for that recent all-weather success. Hollie Doyle takes the ride.

Mighty Gurkha is one of two declared for Lambourn based Watson, alongside Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale graduate Ocean Star. Purchased for £9,000 by Blandford Bloodstock from Ridge Manor Stud, Ocean Star showed an impressive turn of foot to win her maiden by 11 lengths at Chepstow last time out.

Fairy Dust, generally second favourite at 7-1 on Friday afternoon, finished runner-up in a 5f Listed contest at Newbury earlier this season.

The winning daughter of Gregorian was purchased at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 12,000gns by JS Bloodstock and trainer Tom Clover from Rathasker Stud in Ireland.

Clover said: “We ran a close third last year with Gypsy Spirit for some of the same connections and we’re hoping that we can go a couple better this time around.

“Fairy Dust was disappointing at Salisbury last time but her previous form was very good, and she has been training really well recently. I’ve been very happy with her.

“It’s going to be pretty hard work out there, with all the rain forecast, but being by Gregorian I hope she’ll handle it okay. She’s drawn 30, which is a nice draw for her, so hopefully she will run well.”

Other notable runners include Marcus Tregoning’s October Book 3 purchase Perotto, a dual winner this season bought by his trainer for 28,000gns, Hot Scoop, a triple-winning son of Hot Streak trained by Jamie Osborne and the mount of Nicola Currie, and Karl Burke’s Gift List, a 23,000gns October Book 3 purchase by owner John Fretwell from Manor House Farm Stud.

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