Group Two Joel Stakes Guide 2023

Mutasaabeq will be the ride of Jim Crowley in the Joel Stakes on Friday. The five-year-old returned to the track after a 67-day break in late August, as he finished seventh of eleven in the G2 City of York Stakes.

He steps back up to a mile this week, and his chances are certainly handed a boost based on the fact that he has won on each of his previous two starts over course and distance.

That includes a three-length victory over Native Trail earlier in the season in the G2 Bet365 Mile. Should go well once again at Newmarket.

Chindit is the runner for Richard Hannon in the Group Two at Newmarket this week. The five-year-old has been in excellent form in recent weeks, claiming two victories over a mile at Haydock and Sandown in September.

The latest of those came on September 20, as he finished a head clear of Knight to score in the Fortune Stakes on soft ground.

However, he is winless in three starts at Newmarket, and the fact that he has been busy throughout this month could also be a concern.

Tom Marquand will take the ride on Maljoom for trainer William Haggas this week. The four-year-old doesn’t have much to find on ratings, but he comes into the race after an extended break from the track.

He hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since finishing fourth of eleven over a mile in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot in June 2022. However, he has won three from four starts, including two victories over a mile.

The layoff is a massive concern, and a run in the Joel Stakes is likely being used to set up a strong bid in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October.

Oisin Murphy takes the ride on Mighty Ulysses for John & Thady Gosden at Newmarket this week. The four-year-old dead-heated with Embesto over a mile in the G3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury on his previous start.

That was an encouraging return to form after he had finished fifth of eight behind Master Of The Seas in the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot following a 329-day break from the track.

He holds strong form over course and distance, previously landing the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket in July 2022.

Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute join forces with Regal Reality this week. The eight-year-old has form to find on a number of re-appearing rivals, including Chindit.

He finished over two lengths behind his rival in the G3 Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock earlier this month, while he also finished third behind Mighty Ulysses in the G3 Sovereign Stakes in August.

Regal Reality is without a win in four career starts at Newmarket, including two efforts over a mile.

Epictetus will be the ride of Frankie Dettori this week. The John & Thady Gosden-runner receives weight from his rivals as the only three-year-old in the field, and that could be a crucial factor with little separating Epictetus and the rest of the field on ratings.

The three-year-old was last seen finishing fifth of seven on soft ground at Goodwood in the G2 Celebration Mile Stakes, but he did land victory over a mile at the same track in early August, beating Nostrum by a length in the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.

Epictetus won on debut at Newmarket, and was a good second behind Silver Knott in the G3 Autumn Stakes over course and distance last October. Solid chance.