Hanson: Spot Plays for Newmarket, Oct. 11

The English flat season, specifically the portion that includes Group stakes, will be winding down over the next several weekends. This week's focus is on Newmarket, which will host the Future Champions Festival on Friday and Saturday.

On a personal note, after showing flat-bet profits on my English wagering the last two years, it's been disappointing not to have gathered momentum with the periodic selections offered in this space this season. The hope, however, is to make a little headway through the remainder of October.

I'll begin with a couple plays on Friday's program. My bankroll stands at $417.90, and I will wager 5% of the outstanding balance to win on the following plays.

Race 3: Oh So Sharp (G3), 9:25 a.m. ET

#6 Mandurah (12-1) turned in an eye-catching debut over the Newmarket July Course in late June, scoring eased down by a half-length. Runner-up that day was returning rival #8 Miss Fascinator, most recently a half-length second in the Dick Poole (G3) to Tabiti, a contender in the Fillies' Mile (G1) later in this card.

Mandurah didn't show quite the staying power next out in the Princess Margaret (G3) at Ascot, weakening to fourth in a race won by Simmering. That rival later captured the Prix du Calvados (G2), ran second to Lake Victoria in the Moyglare Stud (G1), and last weekend finished fourth in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1).

Freshened since that late July test and remaining with upside, Mandurah seems worth a look at the price in a race with no apparent standouts.

Race 5: Fillies' Mile (G1), 10:35 a.m. ET

The Godolphin-owned #4 Desert Flower is the logical horse to beat at a short price following her recent win in the May Hill (G2), but the racing gods might give trainer Sir Michael Stoute one more serious shot at top-level success before his impending retirement.

#1 Anna Swan (10-1), campaigned by Stoute's long-time patron Cheveley Park Stud, doesn't yet have the Group-race experience of Desert Flower, but she has shown the look of being a potentially nice filly. Her debut in an Aug. 6 novice at Yarmouth stands out in particular.

There appears to be adequate pace in this race courtesy of #2 Ballet Slippers and #7 Tabiti, and though others share the tracking style she'll likely employ, Anna Swan is sure to appreciate the added ground and is a promising sort who can make her presence felt at a price.