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Jersey Stakes Set to Run With Strong Field; Chesham With Inexperienced Runners

Author: Clint Goodman
Published: Thursday June 18, 2020
The Jersey Stakes (G3) is set to include a strong field of sophomores on Thursday, including names like Monarch of Egypt. 

Monarch of Egypt and Molatham

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, he is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) a week back. 

Also entered into the event is Molatham, who raced four times as a juvenile for Roger Varian. He is receiving a lot of attention, a result of his win in the Weatherbys Global Stallions App Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster in September. 

The runner-up in that race, Wichita, finished second to Kameko in the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1). Third place went to Berlin Tangol, who passed up Pyledriver on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton. 

On the opening day of Royal Ascot, Pyledriver took the King Edward VII Stakes (G1).

"He's in great form at home, although we don't want too much rain for him," Varian said of Molatham. "It's a great race to start him back in, and he should be competitive."

The Jersey Stakes is often won by horses with a sharp turn of foot, such as Molatham.

Other Contenders

King Leonidas is entered into the race for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. He is one of the two unbeaten 3-year-olds among the field of 15 sophomores.

"He's a progressive horse who has only won a maiden and a novice but should handle some cut in the ground," Gosden said. "He's like a lot of our horses, lacking experience, but he has plenty of promise."

The son of Kingman beat Eastern World by 2 1/4 lengths over a mile at Newmarket in June. He showed speed in that race and should not have too much trouble with seven furlongs. 

Repartee will run for Kevin Ryan, who has been aiming the horse toward the Jersey Stakes for a while. The son of Invincible Spirit won his five-length debut over six furlongs at York's Dante meeting in May. He also finished third to Threat in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (G2). 

Lord of The Lodge finished one place in front of Repartee on the Knavesmire. He started that race at three times his odds, and he has been training well from 2 to 3. 

All six of his starts have been over six furlongs, so he could progress further at the seven-furlong distance. 

Mystery Power was never really competitive in the Qatar Vintage Stakes (G2) at Goodwood and Darley Dewhurst (G1) at Newmarket. Still, he did finish second to Pierre Lapin in Newbury's Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (G2).

Juveniles in Chesham

The Chesham Stakes will also be testing a group of horses, which only has a field of eight horses this year compared to the average 13 for other years. 

The field is fairly inexperienced and includes names like Pinatubo. 

Kentucky-bred Battleground finished just fifth on his debut at Naas 10 days ago. However, he does have the benefit of being trained by O'Brien, who can often dramatically improve runners from their first to second.

Battleground is the first foal of 2016 Qatar Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Found. He is by War Front, which is one of Coolmore's top stallions for speed and precocity. 

Modern News is a narrow form pick. He won over six furlongs at Newmarket and has proved to be a contender going into the race.

The Jersey Stakes and the Chesham Stakes will highlight both strong and experienced horses and those without many previous starts.