Group Two Dahlia Stakes Newmarket Guide 2023

Ed Walker has one in the Dahlia Stakes with his five-year-old Random Harvest making her first appearance in this race in her career. She had an indifferent year in 2022, winning once at Ascot in a class three handicap as well as finishing runner-up in listed event at Haydock in August.

She failed to figure on her last two runs of the season in a listed event and group three race and has to improve a lot if she is to give a better account of herself in this race, which looks a strong one. Would be a shock winner.

Trainer George Boughey sends one to this Newmarket contest with his mare Via Sistina, who was another runner who was lightly raced last season. She had just the three runs last term, finishing fourth at Windsor before second in a group three here behind Creative Flair. She managed to round off the year with a good victory in group three at Toulouse in November, edging out Winema by half a length to claim her third career win.

This will be tougher and she has been off the track for 177 days now, but another who needs considering after the form she showed towards the end of last year.

Ralph Beckett has one in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday, sending four-year-old Prosperous Voyage to this contest for her first run in this race. The filly had some good runs last term, finishing a narrow second in the 1000 Guineas here as well as winning Group One Falmouth Stakes here over 1m.

She finished the year not troubling the leaders on two group one outings but back in group two company, she could figure slightly up in trip. Frankie Dettori is onboard.

Charlie Appleby sends one to the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday with four-year-old With The Moonlight. The 114-rated filly has been in top form in recent times, winning twice at Meydan and also at Saratoga in the last eight months. Hasn’t managed to replicate the same form in the UK, despite winning here, at Chelmsford City and Wolverhampton but those grouped successes abroad bode well.

Good second in Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland last month and arrives here as the one to beat on form. William Buick does the steering.

Roger Varian has one in the Dahlia Stakes, sending his filly Al Husn here for her first step into this sort of company. The four-year-old won on all three occasions last term, winning at Kempton and twice at Newmarket in impressive fashion. She now makes her grouped debut in the Dahlia Stakes, and we will see if she is worth her place in this company.

She should have plenty of improvement to come and has been lightly raced so far. Tougher task here but shouldn’t be ruled out.

Andre Fabre sends a couple to this contest with Hidden Dimples and Life In Motion. The latter arrives here in good form, having won four of her last six starts on the flat at the likes of Chantilly, Saint-Cloud and ParisLongchamp. Her wins in France have all come in listed events, as she now makes her debut on British soil in group two company.

Has to step up in better company now but that form cannot be ignored, and Fabre must think she can compete at this level. One to consider, for sure.

John & Thady Gosden send one to the Dahlia Stakes in the form of four-year-old Shaara. The filly arrives here on the back of a decent season last year, winning three times at Haydock, Nottingham and Yarmouth, which was the most impressive of those victories (listed event over 1m 2f).

She ended the season with a sixth-place finish in a group three here in October, behind fellow runner Via Sistina, who finished runner-up. She has another tough ask here in group two company but shouldn’t be ruled out for a top yard. Would be an unlikely winner, though.

Andre Fabre sends two to this contest in the form of Life In Motion and four-year-old filly Hidden Dimples. She arrives here having had an inconsistent season in France last year, winning at Saint-Cloud and ParisLongchamp in a maiden and listed event before finishing outside the top three on three out of four runs towards the end of 2022.

She struggled a little when upped in company and only managed third in Longchamp listed contest 17 days ago, where fellow runner Life In Motion claimed victory. Tougher ask here.

Pam Sly sends her four-year-old Astral Beau to this Newmarket group two event with the filly in top form, winning four of her last five races, including career-best last time out when winning the Listed Doncaster Mile by four lengths to the experienced Brunch.

She has progressed nicely since her second career win here in August last year and now goes into grouped company for the first time.

Tougher test here but she has shown the ability to keep progressing and could be one to keep an eye on.