Sun Chariot Stakes: guide to all the possible runners

Frankie Dettori requires one more winner to reach 500 victories at Newmarket and, if out of luck in the first three races at Headquarters on Saturday, he will be hoping he can reach the landmark in style via Inspiral in the £275,000 Sun Chariot Stakes.

Plenty of water has flowed under the bridge since Dettori’s only previous win in the Group One feature, aboard the Luca Cumani-trained Red Slippers in the silks of Sheikh Mohammed in 1992. Red Slippers went off 6/4 favourite and prevailed by a head from a rival ridden by Lester Piggott.

Inspiral also seems certain to be the market leader and will face a maximum of eight rivals. Here’s a guide to the possible runners.

GOLDANA

Timeform rating: 117. Best odds: 25-1.

This three-time winner in Germany won the Group Three Gladness Stakes on her first start in Ireland but has since had her limitations exposed in better company at up to a mile and a quarter, including when sixth in the Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh in July. Faded to finish third to Jackie Oh in the 9f Rathbride Stakes at Gowran last time, but was trying to concede 12lb to the winner, who gave the form a timely boost when making Blue Rose Cen pull out all the stops in the Prix de l’Opera on Sunday. Unproven on quick ground but will be fresh after a ten-week absence.

HEREDIA

Timeform rating: 121. Best odds: 12-1.

She was supplemented on Monday at a cost of £20,000, and you cannot blame connections after successive wins over this trip at Haydock and Sandown. She was most impressive on the first occasion, romping home by almost four lengths in a competitive Listed event, and also won with something to spare in Group Three company at Sandown, swooping from off a steady pace. Heredia is in deeper waters her but she’s clearly at the top of her game, with her turn of foot being a potent weapon.

INSPIRAL

Timeform rating: 133. Best odds: Evens.

The four-time Group One winner stands out in this company, and it’s little she’s a short-priced favourite to add to her top-level triumphs. There’s been the odd hiccup for her along the way, but she was back at the top of her game when winning the Jacques Le Marois for the second successive year at Deauville last time and that form got a couple of boosts over the weekend. No other British challenger is rated within 10lb of her and Saturday will mark the two-year anniversary of her a commanding victory on the Rowley Mile in the Fillies’ Mile.

JUST BEAUTIFUL

Timeform rating: 123. Best odds: 6-1.

Fast ground is the key to this filly and her record is hard to fault if you strip away her runs on soft going. She was a taking all-the-way winner of the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes at The Curragh in May and was then off more than three months before finishing a fine third to Tahiyra in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. She’d also run well on her only previous outing at the highest level, when a close sixth in a hot renewal of the Falmouth Stakes two years ago. Everything is in place for Just Beautiful to give it another good go, with horses who raced up near the pace faring well, overall, at the Cambridgeshire meeting.

MQSE DE SEVIGNE

Timeform rating: 131. Best odds: 4-1.

There was a time, not so long ago, when French-trained runners routinely won the Sun Chariot. Between 2009 and 2015, Gallic raiders scooped five renewals, with Andre Fabre belatedly getting in on the act with Esoterique. He has another live contender this time in Mqse De Sevigne, with any commentator worth his salt calling her by her full name of Marquise De Sevigne (revered in France in the 17th century for her letter writing). The record of this four-year-old daughter of Siyouni stands close inspection and she will line up seeking a third successive Group One victory after wins in the Prix Rothschild (two subsequent Group One winners behind) and Prix Jean Romanet (by a nose from Via Sistina). She’s equally at home over ten furlongs but she travels well and that penultimate success shows a straight mile also shows her to maximum effect.

RANDOM HARVEST

Timeform rating: 117. Best odds: 20-1.

She’s been a grand servant to connections, winning Group Three races at home and abroad and often outrunning her odds, including when runner-up in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (at Epsom) and Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Royal Ascot). It’s easy enough to overlook her lacklustre run on heavy ground in the Celebration Mile last time, but she’s going to have to take her form to a new level to bustle up the principals.

ROMAN MIST

Timeform rating: 114. Best odds: 40-1.

The grey mare has come a long way since being beaten off marks in the 60s at the start of 2021 (including on the Rowley Mile) and put up a personal best, on her 30th start, when landing a Group Three contest in Germany on her latest start. Before that, she had been a creditable fifth to Heredia at Sandown, being beaten just over three lengths. This looks an ambitious effort to get a Group One placing on her page, but you cannot blame connections for giving her the opportunity.

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COPPICE

Timeform rating: 115. Best odds: 14-1.

The Kingman filly was having only her fourth race when winning the 29-runner Sandringham Stakes off a mark of 97 at Royal Ascot and she showed her effectiveness over course and distance when landing a Listed prize on the Rowley Mile last week, although the from looks nothing out of the ordinary with the first five home separated by about a length. Her connections suggested afterwards that she would be continuing her career in the USA, so must view this as a free roll of the dice before she exits. In between Ascot and her recent win, she had failed to make an impact in the Falmouth Stakes and the Sandown race won by Heredia, but she probably resented the heavy ground on the first occasion and her saddle slipped the second time.

MEDITATE

Timeform rating: 118. Best odds: 9-1.

Her career can almost be divided into two: races in which she’s bumped into Tahiyra (no wins from five) and races in in which she’s not faced Tahiyra (five wins from seven). There’s no Tahiyra to worry about on Saturday but, equally, she looks vulnerable, having been beaten in each of her five races this term. Aidan O’Brien does not often reach for headgear but Meditate wore first-time blinkers in the Matron Stakes last time, without them ever looking like making a significant difference. She stuck on at the one pace to be a one-paced fourth, adrift of Just Beautiful, who was third. I wouldn’t be surprised if front-running tactics are re-employed (hold-up tactics were used last time) but, whichever way you cut it, she needs to pull out more.

VERDICT:

To follow on Thursday after the final declarations.