Hanson: Newmarket Spot Plays for July 13

Newmarket (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

July 12th, 2024

The third and final day of Newmarket's July Festival on Saturday features two Group events, one that yielded eventual Epsom Derby (G1) winner City of Troy a year ago and the other one of the most significant sprints on the European calendar.

After cashing in two of four races on Day 4 of Royal Ascot last month, the English betting bankroll stands at $662 from an original starting point of $1,000. I'll bet 5% of the balance to win on the following plays.

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Race 4 — Superlative (G2, 10:25 a.m. ET)

City of Troy won this seven-furlong fixture for two-year-olds like a good thing as a heavy favorite 12 months ago. The hype level for this edition is very much down this time around, though that doesn't mean a potential star won't emerge.

Ancient Truth is a solid favorite in the market here for Godolphin after kicking off his career with a couple of wins, but more intriguing at the prices is #7 Seagulls Eleven (7-1).

The Hugo Palmer trainee has run twice, finishing a respectable second on debut over soft ground before bolting up to win by more than two lengths over a quicker surface. Both runs were at Haydock and over this distance.

Seagulls Eleven picked up nicely when called upon last time, moving like one that could be well suited to this stiffer course. There are things to like pedigree-wise, too, as he is by classic miler Galileo Gold and a half-brother to The Platinum Queen, who beat older horses in the Prix de l'Abbaye (G1) as a two-year-old.

Seagulls Eleven breaks his maiden tag under @daviesharry_ at @haydockraces.

Congratulations to Two Plus Three Two Plus Four.

The son of Galileo Gold was bred by @HoStud & purchased at @Tattersalls1766 by @SackvilleDonald.@Coral @HM3Legal @nafuk #TeamMHS pic.twitter.com/mcb6gIbqee
— Manor House Stables (@MHS_HorseRacing) June 7, 2024

Race 6 — July Cup (G1, 11:35 p.m. ET)

#10 Jasour (12-1) has a bit to find to reverse the two-plus length gap between he and July Cup favorite Inisherin from last month's Commonwealth Cup (G1), but perhaps the site of this race will help equalize his chances.

Jasour was off a tad slow in the Commonwealth Cup and simply wasn't good enough to get closer to Inisherin from that early position. If more alertly away here, he might be able to turn in an even stronger bid in the late stages.

One plus in his favor is that he has winning course and distance experience, courtesy of an explosive win in the July (G2) 12 months ago.