More Juddmonte juvenile joy, a value Champions Day pick and Knight on fire - three things we learned this week

Three key takeaways from this week . . .

Juddmonte juveniles continue to impress

Not content with an already powerful hand of juveniles headed by Cheveley Park Stakes favourite Babouche and Solario winner Field Of Gold, Juddmonte had another excellent week with its youngsters.

Within ten minutes of each other at Sandown and Yarmouth on Wednesday, two more colts displayed their promise, most notably Cosmic Year, who galloped six and a half lengths clear on his debut for Harry Charlton to earn quotes of 20-1 for the 2,000 Guineas.

Field Of Gold: form boost for the Solario winnerCredit: Alan Crowhurst

He has no upcoming entries so would require to be supplemented for any fancier targets, but the son of Kingman looks an obvious type to note for next year’s Classic trials.

At Yarmouth, Frankel colt Nightwalker provided an indirect and pleasing boost for the form of Field Of Gold when landing what looked a decent maiden. 

Nightwalker, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, had been beaten two and three-quarter lengths on his debut by Matauri Bay, who subsequently chased home Field Of Gold in the Solario. In third at Yarmouth was another Stoute performer in White Crown Star, who had been beaten out of sight behind Field Of Gold on his first start.
Sam Hendry

Metropolitan looks Champions Day value    

Qipco British Champions Day is fast approaching and this week trainer Mario Baratti confirmed that his stable star Metropolitan was heading to Ascot to contest the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Four of the last ten runnings of the QEII have gone to France, including last year when Big Rock led home a one-two ahead of Facteur Cheval.

Metropolitan, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp in May, will bid to emulate Big Rock and enhance his nation’s strong recent record in the QEII, and it’s a surprise to see him quoted as big as 12-1 for the mile contest.

The son of Zarak finished third in a top-class running of the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before chasing home Charyn in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville last time.

He has three lengths to find with Charyn on that Marois meeting, but Roger Varian’s colt has been on the go since March and could find this one race too many, while the prospect of testing ground should also help Metropolitan narrow the gap.

Metropolitan’s Racing Post Rating has improved run-to-run on each of his six career starts and the QEII looks like a race with the potential to cut up. With that in mind, the current price looks worth taking.
Joe Eccles

William Knight set for best-ever season

Newmarket trainer William Knight is rapidly closing in on the best season of his 19-year career.

His tally of 33 winners in Britain is only one shy of his highest total recorded in 2010 and 2021, while his domestic prize-money has surpassed £400,000 for only the second time. Backing his horses to a £1 stake would have yielded a healthy +22.17 profit too.

One of the stars of the show has been the ultra-progressive Atlantic Gamble, who provided the yard with a big Saturday winner at Newbury.

William Knight is enjoying a terrific campaignCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

After being beaten in a Windsor handicap in April, which saw him drop 2lb to an official mark of 56, Atlantic Gamble has since gone on a tear, winning six of his next seven starts.

In that time he has risen 25lb in the handicap, with the promise of more to come once the handicapper has assessed the weekend action.

His sole defeat in that time came on good ground, and the manner of his victory on heavy ground at Newbury hinted that his winning streak may be far from over with autumn in full swing.
Sam Hendry

Read these next:

Cosmic Year made 20-1 for 2,000 Guineas after stunning Sandown debut 

Cook Review: Lethal Levi does it his way in Ayr's big race on a weekend taken over by nicely timed swansongs 

Racing Post Ratings: Stiffer tasks await Powerful Glory but Richard Fahey's Mill Reef winner has considerable potential  

Ante-Post Angles: It could be Commonwealth Cup over a Classic for Powerful Glory - but this novice winner might be Epsom-bound  

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