Shamshon seeking Group race glory in Mill Reef Stakes

The Mill Reef Stakes is the feature event on a good quality card at Newbury on Saturday with nine two-year-olds competing for the Group 2 prize. Richard Hannon saddles two runners with Frankie Dettori teaming up with the unbeaten Shamshon.

The son of Invincible Spirit has won his only two starts impressively but steps up to six furlongs for the first time and connections will be hoping the conditions do not deteriorate. Richard Hughes rides Anticipated who has been on the go since April.

He appears closely to be matched with Supplicant on Goodwood form but the sixth furlong may find him out. Godolphin’s Figure Of Speech has been contesting some top races and was just denied by Hannon’s Brown Sugar at Kempton last time.

Trainer Richard Fahey is also doubly represented with Ripon scorer Supplicant joined by the promising Rufford. Supplicant has been admirably consistent, winning three of his six starts and being unlucky not to have won at Royal Ascot when just touched off in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

He was also denied a clear run at a crucial stage when contesting the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood and ran on strongly to finish fifth. He has since recorded two facile victories at Ripon, accounting for Riverboat Springs and Ventura Mist without coming under serious pressure last month.

Rufford is entitled to respect having been slowly away before powering home in a valuable sales race at York last time out. He is likely to be putting in his best work at the finish again here and could reach a place.

Cable Bay turns out quickly after finishing third in the Champagne Stakes behind the useful Outstrip at Doncaster. Whilst that was decent form, he appeared to be labouring inside the final furlong and may find this coming a little too soon.

Maiden winners Complicit and Trading Profit have plenty of scope for improvement whilst Hot Streak will have to improve to reverse Kempton form with Figure Of Speech.