By Chris Phillips, Press Association
Spirited Gesture puts her unbeaten record on the line when she steps into Group company for the Betway Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.
The Kingman filly is a full-sister to multiple Group winner Calyx and made an eyecatching racecourse debut on the July course at the beginning of August, coming home two and a quarter lengths clear of the field.
And she was just as impressive next time out on the all-weather at Newcastle, shaken up a furlong from home and soon putting the race to bed, galloping home to a three-length success.
This first crack at Pattern company is the obvious next step for the John and Thady Gosden-trained youngster and she can complete a hat-trick before a possible Group One tilt back at HQ in the Fillies’ Mile.
Without Prejudice is another filly who goes hat-trick hunting for the Gosdens in the Princess Royal Stakes.
The three-year-old was an impressive winner on debut over a mile and a quarter on Newmarket’s July course and followed that up with another dominating win at Windsor earlier this month.
She is now stepped up to a mile and a half for the first time which is almost certain to suit this half-sister to Emily Upjohn on what looks set to be good day for the Clarehaven team, starting with Gilding The Lily in the Listed Betway British EBF Rosemary Stakes.
She was only beaten a neck on debut at Wolverhampton and followed that up with a pair of straightforward wins at Newmarket and Kempton.
Charlie Appleby’s stable is in red-hot form and Talk Of New York can maintain that purple patch in the Betway Joel Stakes.
He made a straightforward return for the season at Newmarket in July, with William Buick hardly having to move a muscle as the pair cantered to a three-length victory.
Talk Of New York was even more impressive in the Heron Stakes when stepped up to a mile to earn a first shot at the top table.
He was far from disgraced at the highest level in the St James’s Palace Stakes, only a length and three-quarters adrift of Bow Echo and Gstaad in third.
The Wootton Bassett colt then found only Shayem half a length too good in Goodwood’s Thoroughbred Stakes and he sets a fair standard.
Fortitudine, a full-brother to Appleby’s globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance, is taken to further his education when keeping his own unbeaten record intact in the Betway Godolphin Stakes.
The Dubawi gelding made a remarkable debut on the all-weather in a Kempton novice when routing the field by 21 lengths in August.
His second outing at Sunbury was more workmanlike but he was never in danger in cruising to a two-and-a-quarter-length success. Stepped up in both trip and grade he can take another step forward.
New Year’s Eve was a 400,000 guineas buy at the Tattersalls Book 1 sale in October last year and the Lope De Vega filly can make a winning debut for William Haggas in the Pmj Capital EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Haydock.
Dan Skelton is closing in on 100 winners for the season before the campaign even gets into full swing and Down To Business is the pick to move him another step closer in the CopyBet Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Worcester.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
WORCESTER: Race 1: 13.55 Onehundredneighty, Race 2: 14.30 Turndlightsdownlow, Race 3: 15.05 Youdecide, Race 4: 15.40 Down To Business, Race 5: 16.15 Premier Tenor, Race 6: 16.50 That’s Nice, Race 7: 17.25 Mojo Ego.
NEWMARKET: Race 1: 14.15 Gilding The Lily, Race 2: 14.50 Without Prejudice, Race 3: 15.25 SPIRITED GESTURE (NAP), Race 4: 16.00 Talk Of New York, Race 5: 16.35 Fortitudine, Race 6: 17.10 Howzatt, Race 7: 17.45 Waterford Castle.
HAYDOCK: Race 1: 14.58 Sweet Kiss, Race 2: 15.33 Girl Scout, Race 3: 16.08 New Year’s Eve, Race 4: 16.43 Great Oak, Race 5: 17.18 Storm Free, Race 6: 17.50 Glory Of The Seas, Race 7: 18.23 Arrange.
NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 17.35 Rubellite, Race 2: 18.10 Rugby Union, Race 3: 18.45 One Of The Boys, Race 4: 19.15 Arenite, Race 5: 19.45 Invincible Crown, Race 6: 20.15 Bajan Bandit, Race 7: 20.45 Flowstate, Race 8: 21.15 Ridgemaster.
DOUBLE: Spirited Gesture and Talk Of New York (Newmarket, Races 3 and 4).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za
