The build up to Champions’ Day, which features the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, has begun at Newmarket with the feature race on Friday’s card, the G3 Georgia House Stud Darley Stakes, falling to Charlie Farnsbarns.
The four-year-old Cape Cross colt defied odds off 50/1 to cut down Bankable in the dying strides. A highly promising juvenile, Charlie Farnsbarns was runner-up to subsequent Derby winner Authorized in the G1 Racing Post Trophy of 2006. Bred by the Tinakill Partnership, he is out of the Grand Lodge mare La Fleur.
Later in the day, Ethaara, a three-year-old daughter of Green Desert, took the Listed EBF National Stud Boadicea Fillies’ Stakes, run over six furlongs. Bastakiya, by Dubai Destination took third and there was black type on the card for another Darley-sired filly when Fragrancy, a four-year-old by Singspiel, came with a storming run from the rear of the field to run second in the Listed Lanwades Stud Severals Stakes.
Russian Cross, a Group Two-winning son of Cape Cross, bids for Group One honours in the Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes on Saturday while Finjaan and Ouqba, colts by Royal Applause and Red Ransom, line up to challenge for the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes.
