On Thursday, Doncaster Racecourse will host a highly anticipated feature race featuring promising contenders Khafiz and Patricia R. The event marks an exciting day of racing, with attention shifting later to evening events at Newbury.
Doncaster Showdown: Khafiz vs. Patricia R
The 15:45 race at Doncaster will see Khafiz take on Patricia R in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Novice Stakes. Trained by Roger Varian, Khafiz arrives as an odds-on favorite after a successful outing where he defeated Spy Chief, who later finished as the runner-up in the Jersey Stakes at Kempton in May. Under the guidance of jockey Silvestre De Sousa, Khafiz is expected to deliver a strong performance, despite conceding weight to his rivals.
Patricia R, on the other hand, made an impressive debut at Thirsk, winning against Latynina. Her powerful finish showcased her potential, and with Ryan Sexton in the saddle, she poses a significant threat in this matchup. Other notable entries include Amidst The Chaos and the well-bred Monsieur Bondy, with jockey PJ McDonald riding the latter.
Additional Races at Doncaster and Newbury
Following the feature race, Raedwald aims to build on his recent success in the Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap at 16:20. This son of Saxon Warrior, trained by Richard Hannon, made an impressive handicap debut with a dead heat at Lingfield last month. With jockey Alec Voikhansky claiming a valuable 3 lbs, Raedwald appears poised for a strong showing.
In the same race, Salamanca City, who previously won at Haydock, is looking to regain form after struggling at Lingfield. Simon and Ed Crisford’s War Supremo has shown promise in maidens and may prove to be a contender after a disappointing transition to handicap racing. Additionally, Emery Down will step up to a mile for the first time at this event, as he has been dropped to a more manageable mark of 72.
As the day progresses, attention will turn to Newbury, where the 19:10 race will feature Comic Hero and Astrazar in the Juddmonte EBF Restricted Novice Stakes. Comic Hero demonstrated improvement in his second outing, finishing a narrow third at Salisbury, and will be seeking to refine his performance under Rob Hornby.
Astrazar, trained by Ed Walker, also showed potential in his last race, finishing behind Factual at Salisbury. Supported heavily by the betting public, he could make a strong challenge under Kieran Shoemark. Another contender, Shaman Champion, comes off a maiden win and a respectable performance at the Windsor Castle during the Royal meeting, which positions him well despite carrying a penalty.
Newbury’s program features several promising debutants, including King Victorious, a half-brother to Spycatcher, and Twilight Glow, who is partnered with jockey Trevor Whelan, the 2023 winner of this race aboard Spanish Blaze.
Earlier in the day at Doncaster, the 14:00 race will showcase Copperfield, a half-brother to the 2023 Commonwealth Cup winner Shaquille. Trained by Julie Camacho, this son of Iffraaj is expected to perform well on his debut. Additionally, Rupert Ritzik, related to John Porter Stakes winner Divina Grace, will also make his first appearance.
The 19:45 event at Newbury features Abundance, a popular choice for trainer Jonathan Portman. Juddmonte-owned Previse will also attract attention despite a lackluster last outing.
With an exciting lineup at both Doncaster and Newbury, racing enthusiasts can look forward to a thrilling day of competition as these skilled horses and their jockeys take to the tracks.
