Sun Chariot Stakes Tips 2023: Frankie Dettori to claim Group 1 glory at Newmarket
One of the final Group 1 races of the season will take place on Saturday afternoon at Newmarket as the Sun Chariot Stakes takes centre stage at 15:15 and the red-hot favourite will be John & Thady Gosden's Inspiral, who is aiming to hand Frankie Dettori another big-race success before his imminent retirement. Our man Steve Chambers is here to preview the race and picks out his best bet for the one-mile showpiece...
Frankie Dettori was unable to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last weekend in his last ride in the iconic race, but the soon-to-be-retiring Italian veteran can taste more Group 1 success at Newmarket as he can pilot INSPIRAL to victory in Sun Chariot Stakes, which is the highlight of a cracking card at Flat HQ. A red-hot Evens favourite for this event, Inspiral has shown to be a real class act on her day and whilst she has thrown in the odd poor run in her time if she can produce her best here then she should have far too much quality for her rivals.
A winner of the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket as a two-year-old, the daughter of Frankel will return to the track to try and replicate this success and she showed last time out when retaining her Prix Jacques Le Marois title at Deauville that she still has some sensational talent under the bonnet and should be too good here. Second in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at the start of the season she was then unable to deal with soft conditions at Glorious Goodwood as she was last of five behind Paddington in the Sussex Stakes.
But, returning to France on her last outing she stormed to a one-and-a-quarter length win over classy French performer Big Rock and if she can replicate that display then she should be able to bound to victory in this event and notch up another notable victory on her already glittering CV.
Andre Fabre won this race back in 2015 when Esoterique stormed to glory and the star French handler will aim to taste victory once again when he saddles Mqse De Sevigne, who heads into the contest on the back of two fine Group 1 successes on home soil. A sparkling winner of the Prix Rothschild two starts ago, the daughter of Siyouni then edged out Via Sistina in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville, and she will now look for a third Group 1 win in a row. In the form of her life, she's likely to have to deal with much quicker ground conditions on her first trip to Britain, but should Inspiral fluff her lines then Fabre's charge has to be the main danger.
Second in the Cheveley Park Stakes last season, Aidan O'Brien's Meditate then went and bagged Breeders' Cup glory at the end of last season, but the star juvenile has failed to kick on this season and was last seen finishing fourth in the Matron Stakes. A real class act on her day, she will receive significant weight from her older rivals here, but she's been struggling for any sort of form, so has to be ignored.
Richard Hannon's Sandringham Stakes heroine Heredia has progressed into Pattern company with aplomb this season and is another form runner here as having won at Listed level and Group 3 level will aim to star at the top table here. In the form of her life, she will need to continue improvement, but could be a solid each-way option, should the field of eight hold their places in the line-up.
Coppice won the Listed Rosemary Stakes last week and will make a quick turnaround and is the second shot fired by the Gosden gun here, but this looks beyond her, while Random Harvest, Goldana and Roman Mist will all be outclassed.
