Newmarket preview: Cheveley Park Stakes (14.35)
Published:
Lumiere lost little in defeat last time out and looks decent value to get back to winning ways in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket (14.35).
The Mark Johnston trained filly created a huge impression when scoring on debut on the July Course at this venue, turning eight-runner contest into a procession.
After breaking well, Lumiere made all and only had to be shaken-up entering the final furlong to quicken clear and beat Sharja Queen by six lengths.
Jockey William Buick was able to ease down before the line, and the daughter of Shamardal won with any amount in hand.
It was a scintillating performance which marked Lumiere out a a potential star in the making.
Lumiere was sent off the 9/4 favourite for the Group 2 Lowther Stakes on the back of it, and produced an excellent effort to finish a 2 1/2 length runner-up to Besharah.
The daughter of Shamardal showed distinct signs of inexperience throughout, hanging right and getting slightly outpaced when headed at the furlong marker before rallying strongly to be closing again at the line.
Lumiere will have learnt plenty from that having had nothing more than a workout on debut, and remains a very exciting prospect.
She is also a really scopey sort who is sure to improve with each run, and I fancy Lumiere to turn the tables on Besharah who went into the Lowther battle hardened with six runs under her belt.
Besharah sets the standard having won the Group 3 Princess Of Margaret Stakes at Ascot prior to landing the Lowther, but the William Haggas trained filly has had a hard season and doesn’t look open to as much progress as the selection.
A bigger danger to Lumiere may well be Illuminate who is unbeaten in three starts and has been given a break to freshen up since beating Besharah by a nose in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
The Richard Hannon trained filly had previously shown a good turn of foot to land the Group 2 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the daughter of Zoffany is a likeable type who looks sure to make a bold bid to provide the yard with back-to-back successes in the contest.
Coral’s top tip: Lumiere looks worth a wager to gain revenge on Besharah and confirm the immense promise of her spectacular debut win
