Ancient wonders light up Newmarket’s July Course

Dubawi colts Ancient Wisdom and Ancient Truth set themselves up for significant G1 targets with impressive displays at Newmarket’s July Festival last week.

Ancient Wisdom posted his first win since last season’s Futurity Trophy when comfortably making all in the G3 Bahrain Trophy on Thursday, earning him a return to Doncaster for the St Leger in September.

Ancient Truth maintained his unbeaten record as he emulated his sire with victory in Saturday’s G2 Superlative Stakes, in which he quickened smartly off a slow pace. Dubawi went on to capture the National Stakes on his next start – a route followed by Quorto and Native Trail as well – and Ancient Truth will attempt to complete the same Newmarket-Curragh double.

Three Godolphin winners in total on Saturday’s card at Newmarket also included juvenile filly Desert Flower, who looks set for Group company following a striking debut, and handicap scorer First Conquest. Two-year-olds Mountain Breeze and Aomori City ran fine races in defeat at the meeting, placing in the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes and G2 July Stakes respectively.

Like Mountain Breeze, Star Of Mystery filled the runner-up spot in last year’s Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes and the speedy filly claimed her second Graded success of 2024 when easily winning the G3 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga on Sunday.

A good weekend also saw veteran campaigner Passion And Glory bravely take an Ascot handicap, while Maxfield’s half-brother Maxwell lost his maiden tag at the second time of asking when scoring at Ellis Park.