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Exosphere goes on recovery mission at Newmarket

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Exosphere2-360

Exosphere: a disappointing favourite in the Hardwicke Stakes

  PICTURE: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images  

 By Keith Melrose 11:24AM 5 JUL 2016 

EXOSPHERE, a disappointing favourite lost in the drama of Dartmouth’s Hardwicke Stakes victory, will bid to make amends in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Arqana Racing Club Stakes on the first day of Newmarket’s July festival on Thursday.

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A stablemate of Dartmouth, Exosphere had progressed from handicaps last year to win the Jockey Club Stakes on the Rowley Mile in April, but having been sent off the 6-4 favourite at Royal Ascot could finish only eighth of nine.

His main market rival in the Princess Of Wales’s, for which he was 9-4 favourite with Paddy Power immediately after declarations on Tuesday, is Second Step at 7-2.

He too is on a recovery mission after failing to justify favouritism in the Yorkshire Cup – where his stamina appeared to give out – and then was unable to live with Postponed in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Also among the contenders is Big Orange, last year’s winner. His trainer Michael Bell said: “Big Orange is a bigger and stronger horse than in 2015 and the recent dry weather means that the ground is finally coming in his favour.

“He’s a very easy horse to train because he is so clean-winded and runs well fresh. He’s in very good shape and acts well on the course,” Bell added.

Last year Big Orange was the outsider of the field but Bell expects the higher expectations this time won’t necessarily be in his favour.

“We are well aware that he is better over further and he is unlikely to get his own way out in front again,” said the trainer. “Last year the rest of the field possibly didn’t treat him with respect because he was a 25-1 chance.”

The field is completed by Battersea, Elite Army, Muntazah and Group 1-winner The Grey Gatsby, who will be partnered by Jamie Spencer.

Mehmas looks to go one better

The other Group 2 contest on Thursday’s Newmarket card is the Arqana July Stakes, in which Coventry Stakes runner-up Mehmas is favourite to go one better without Caravaggio standing in his path.

Mehmas left a good impression when winning at Chester and Newbury before second-placed finishes at Sandown and Royal Ascot.

Chief rival Ardad managed a win at Ascot last month, albeit in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over 5f. His convincing victory suggested that neither this grade nor stamina will prove his undoing and he is 11-4 second-favourite, with Mehmas 9-4 with Paddy Power.

Intelligence Cross, a 6-1 shot,  is Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative. 

The Group-race action on day one is completed by the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy, the first recognised trial for September’s St Leger.

The race contains a few narrowly defeated at Royal Ascot, including Prize Money – second to Eclipse winner Hawkbill in the Tercentenary Stakes – and Queen’s Vase runner-up Harbour Law.

 

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