Ten horses set to battle it out in big race

TEN horses are still in contention at the confirmations stage of the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday.

Worth an increased total prize fund of £125,000, the six-furlong contest is the feature race of the Dubai Duty Free International Weekend.

Currently headlining the confirmations is Into The Sky, who has been supplemented for the race by trainer Jim Boyle after the colt broke his maiden on the first time of asking at Newbury in August.

That win secured his eligibility for the £50,000 bonus – on top of the total prize fund – should he land the Group 2 contest on Saturday, courtesy of new incentives introduced by Newbury Racecourse.

Also eligible for the bonus is Wise Approach, trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin.

The son of Mehmas returns to Newbury following his impressive victory in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes in July, where he quickened clear in the closing stages to win with authority.

Appleby could be represented by two runners, with Words Of Truth joining Wise Approach among the Godolphin-owned confirmations.

Since undergoing a gelding operation earlier in the season, Words Of Truth has made notable progress, winning at Ascot in July before following up with a convincing success at Newmarket last month, where he defeated previous winner Watcha Snoop.

The Hugo Palmer-trained Watcha Snoop could reoppose on Saturday and both horses appear progressive types with scope for further improvement at this level.

Rock On Thunder, trained by Kevin Ryan for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, brings Group-race experience, having finished second in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury before taking the runners-up spot again in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York.

Meanwhile, slightly more exposed types such as Flying Comet, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, Rydale Frosty and Sands Of Spain remain open to improvement at this level.

Jack Channon’s Kilfrush Blue and Gold Queen Kindly complete the entries.

The Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes will be run in honour of Geoff Lewis, the legendary jockey who rode the race’s namesake, Mill Reef.

Tickets for Dubai Duty Free weekend – with BRIT Award-winner James Bay performing live after racing on Saturday – are available at www.newburyracecourse.co.uk