RACING: It has hardly been a vintage season for Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien but his Ad Valorem can carry off the spoils in the Group One Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket today.
Iceman will be hard to beat - if he gets the go-ahead to run from John Gosden, but the Newmarket trainer has concerns about the ground. Jamie Spencer has rejected Russian Blue to partner Ad Valorem who looked a good sprinter in the making when making a winning debut at the Curragh on Moyglare day. He then readily beat Indesatchel (a reliable yardstick) and Mark Prescott's Cupid's Glory in a six-furlong Listed race over the same course a fortnight later.
O'Brien can follow up in the Shadwell Stud Joel Stakes with the lightly-raced Troubadour. A recent success at the Curragh proved he is in good order for this Group Three contest.
Meanwhile, Robert Winston enjoyed an unexpected day when 40 to 1 chance Magical Romance dented some tall reputations in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket yesterday. David Wachman, trainer of third-placed favourite Damson, thought his filly might have been feeling the effects of a busy season.
"There are no excuses," he said. "She seemed to labour in the last furlong. She came to win her race and didn't seem to quite get home but I still hope she will stay a mile next year."
