By Zwan

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NEWMARKET – Eleven runners have been declared at the five-day stage for both the £275,000 (S$476,000) Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes (1,200m) and the £275,000 Group 1 Middle Park Stakes (1,200m) at Newmarket on Sept 27.

Open to promising juveniles – the Cheveley Park Stakes for fillies and the Middle Park Stakes for colts – the two feature races are on the third and last day of the Cambridgeshire meeting.

They are run down the Rowley Mile straight course and sponsored by Tattersalls, Europe’s leading bloodstock auctioneers.

The Cheveley Park Stakes has produced some exceptional fillies over the years, with the 2024 winner Lake Victoria going on to land the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas (1,600m) at Curragh on May 25 during her three-year-old campaign.

In the 2025 edition, the current market favourite is the Ed Walker-trained Royal Fixation at odds of 13-8.

A two-year-old filly by Palace Pier, Royal Fixation last won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes (1,200m) under William Buick during York’s Ebor Festival on Aug 21 at her third career start.

After biding his time in the early stages, Buick produced Royal Fixation to mount a challenge on America Queen (Ryan Moore) in the final furlong.

Although the latter did her best to battle back on the rails, the Richard Hughes-trained grey galloper was eventually no match for Walker’s filly, who drew clear late to score by a length.

Her British handler has planned for Royal Fixation to line up in the Cheveley Park Stakes after her first Group success.

The two-time winner’s only defeat came in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (1,200m) at Newmarket on July 11, when she was beaten by Group 1 Prix Morny (1,200m) heroine Venetian Sun.

However, Royal Fixation will be looking to repel the Aidan O’Brien challenge. The Irish master trainer is double-handed with True Love and Beautify, who have different profiles.

True Love, a daughter of No Nay Never, opened his account in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes (1,000m) at Royal Ascot on June 18.

She has since ran well over 1,200m, including a win in the Group 2 Railway Stakes (1,200m) at Curragh on July 19, and a commendable second in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes (1,200m) on the same track on Aug 9.

Beautify has placed in all her three starts, and her win in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes (1,200m) at Curragh on June 28 was a strong piece of form where she won by two lengths.

The Wootton Bassett filly was then beaten by less than a length in second by stablemate Precise, when she stepped up in trip for the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes (1,400m) on Sept 14.

Other contenders include trainer Hugo Palmer’s recent Group 2 Prix du Calvados (1,400m) first runner-up Fitzella, Lowther Stakes first runner-up America Queen and the Rod Millman-trained consistent filly, Anthelia.

In the Middle Park Stakes, which was won by European Two-Year-Old of the Year Shadow Of Light in 2024, global powerhouse outfit Godolphin are again represented by Wise Approach.

He was last seen storming home for third, just less than one length behind Venetian Sun in the Prix Morny on Aug 24.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Mehmas has a consistent record in Stakes company this season.

After winning on debut in a Class 2 race (1,000m) at Ascot on April 30, Wise Approach has gone on to record one other victory in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes (1,200m) at Newbury on July 18 from five starts.

He has also placed twice in Group races, including the Prix Morny and the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes (1,000m) at Royal Ascot on June 19.

The 7-4 market favourite will again meet O’Brien’s Gstaad, who finished second in the Prix Morny.

The Group 2 Coventry Stakes (1,200m) winner backs up quickly after a narrow head-second to Zavateri in the Group 1 National Stakes (1,400m) at Curragh on Sept 14.

The son of Starspangledbanner is returning to the 1,200m, and will aim for another good run after two wins and two seconds from four starts.

The Publican’s Son, trained by Joseph O’Brien, produced an exceptional performance at his only start at Curragh to finish runner-up to Mission Central in the Group 2 Round Tower Stakes (1,200m). The Beau Liam colt can improve with that first run under his belt.

Trainer Clive Cox’s Group 2 Richmond Stakes (1,200m) winner Coppull, Group 2 Champagne Stakes (1,400m) victor Puerto Rico and the improving Hilitany could also feature.

RACING AND SPORTSAdditional reporting by Sharon Zhang