Group Three Abernant Stakes Newmarket Guide 2023

Joe Glayshier | @joeglayshier

Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
4(5)
Ryan Moore

Garrus

J: Ryan Moore
T: Charles Hills
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 9-9
OR: 113
Days: 54

Garrus is an experienced runner, having won five of his 23 runs since making his flat racing debut back in 2018. A little inconsistent in this type of company last season, finishing second in this last year but 21st in Jubilee Stakes and fourth in 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes over 6f at York as well.

He finished 17th on his last start of 2022, in the Group One Champions Sprint before a run in Saudi Arabia a couple of months ago preparing him for this. Creative Force looks a tough favourite to beat but he could go well.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
27/08/23DEA6Sft9-42
29/06/23LON7GS9-62
27/05/23CUR6Gd9-54
20/04/23NMK6Gd9-91
25/02/23JAN7GF9-08
Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
1(2)
Connor Beasley

Commanche Falls

J: Connor Beasley
T: Michael Dods
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-9
OR: 111
Days: 19

Michael Dods has one in this contest, with six-year-old Commanche Falls, who was in very good form last term, winning 28-runner class two Goodwood contest as well as placing three times at Ascot, Ayr and York which includes third in group three behind Summerghand and Rohaan at Ascot.

Disappointing seventh on seasonal reappearance at Doncaster in the Listed Cammidge Trophy earlier this month and would be a somewhat surprising winner, regardless of a good 2022. Others are preferred.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
12/08/23CUR6Gd9-104
22/07/23NBY6GS9-91
02/07/23CUR6Gd9-71
17/05/23YOR6Gd9-103
13/05/23HAY6GS9-123
Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
2(4)
William Buick

Creative Force

J: William Buick
T: Charlie Appleby
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-9
OR: 117
Days: 166

Charlie Appleby’s Creative Force currently sits at the top of the market, and rightly so with the form that the five-year-old showed throughout 2022, despite not winning. Second in Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in another group one here in July came before third in Group One Champions Sprint Stakes behind Run To Freedom and Kinross confirmed him as one of the top sprinters.

Returns after 166 days off the track and in group three company, he has to be the one to beat on form. Would be surprising if he didn’t win.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
13/05/23HAY6GS9-81
20/04/23NMK6Gd9-93
05/11/22KEE5.5Fm9-03
15/10/22ASC6GS9-43
09/07/22NMK6GF9-84
Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
6(9)
David Egan

Saint Lawrence

J: David Egan
T: Roger Varian
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-9
OR: 103
Days: 264

Roger Varian’s Saint Lawrence is the current market outsider, at around 22’s, with the five-year-old arriving here on the back of a 264-day absence. He hasn’t won since winning Denford Stakes at Newbury back in 2020 and endured a tough 2022, finishing outside the top three on four of the five occasions he raced.

Struggled up in class last year and this is a tough ask with the 264-day break coming into play also. David Egan does the steering.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
06/08/23DEA6.5VSft9-43
24/06/23ASC6GF9-21
06/05/23NMK6GS9-818
20/04/23NMK6Gd9-96
30/07/22GOO6GF9-715
Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
5(6)
Oisin Murphy

Jumby

J: Oisin Murphy
T: Eve Johnson Houghton
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-9
OR: 110
Days: 195

Jumby heads to this race for the second year in a row, having finished third in this last time around, behind Garrus and Double Or Bubble. Failed to really build on that win apart from winning nine-runner Hungerford Stakes in group two company but struggled on last three runs of 2022 (ninth, sixth and fifth).

He wouldn’t be a bad each-way bet at around 9’s considering his ability to go well and his performance in this last year.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
26/08/23YOR7GF9-89
01/07/23NMK7Gd9-102
10/06/23HAY7GF9-21
20/05/23NBY8Gd9-211
20/04/23NMK6Gd9-95
Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
9(1)
NON-RUNNER

Fast Response

J: NON-RUNNER
T: K R Burke
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-6
OR: 103
Days: 19

Heavily raced throughout the 2022 season, winning three times at Doncaster (twice) and Nottingham. Landed listed Doncaster 6f race in November, two lengths ahead of Tarhib which was the highlight before second in the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster earlier this month on reappearance.

This requires more but shouldn’t be discounted on the basis of that.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
06/08/23CHS6Sft9-02
02/08/23GOO7Sft9-510
15/07/23CHS7Sft9-22
03/06/23MUS7GF9-64
21/04/23BAT5GS9-115
Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
3(7)

Ehraz

J:
T: Richard Hannon
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-9
OR: 105
Days: 19

Four-year-old Ehraz had an indifferent season last year, winning here over 6f in three-runner class three outing after ninth in group three contest won by Rohaan at Ascot. Did ok on reappearance at Doncaster in the Listed Cammidge Trophy over 6f, finishing third to Fast Response and Vadream before heading here.

Should be there or thereabouts and Jim Crowley is on board.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
26/08/23YOR6GF9-123
06/08/23CHS6Sft9-53
22/07/23NBY6GS9-95
01/04/23DON6Hy9-103
28/10/22NMK6GS9-121
Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
7(3)
Clifford Lee

Silky Wilkie

J: Clifford Lee
T: K R Burke
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-9
OR: 108
Days: 12

Karl Burke sends two for this contest in the form of Fast Response and Silky Wilkie. Silky Wilkie arrives here on the back of finishing first in class two handicap over 5f at Musselburgh earlier this month, beating Vintage Clarets by just under five lengths. Has done well at class two and three level this year, winning at Kempton and placing three times at Lingfield.

Steps up in class here, but cannot be dismissed on the back of some decent form already in 2023.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
17/09/23DON5GS9-133
02/09/23BEV5Gd9-42
31/08/23NCS5St9-124
04/08/23GOO5GS9-49
15/07/23YOR5GS9-12
Newmarket - April 19 2023
Newmarket 14:00
8(8)
Tom Marquand

Tiber Flow

J: Tom Marquand
T: William Haggas
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-9
OR: 106
Days: 201

William Haggas sends Tiber Flow to the Abernant Stakes having finished a decent fifth on his last outing, in the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot, which was one of his better efforts last term. Edged out Ehraz in listed Newbury event in May which would be the highlight but hasn’t challenged the leaders at this sort of level.

Would need a career-best if he was to claim victory here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
08/07/23SAN5Gd9-83
01/07/23NCS6St/Slw9-51
13/05/23HAY6GS9-82
20/04/23NMK6Gd9-94
01/10/22ASC6GS9-35