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The Middle Park Stakes run at Newmarket on Saturday is the first of the juvenile majors for the English season.
It was taken out last year by none other than Ten Sovereigns and since then he's bolted in with a July Cup. Can the 2019 Middle Park Stakes (1207m) at Newmarket on Saturday be that good a guide?
2019 MIDDLE PARK STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Set Weight conditions for two year old colts at Newmarket conducted by the Jockey Club.
The Middle Park Stakes is run over six furlongs. It was first run in 1866 and was won by The Rake.
It is the first of the juvenile Group 1s of the season along with the Cheveley Park Stakes for the fillies on the same day.
Run down the Rowley Mile straight course on the last day of the Cambridgeshire meeting, it is named after the stud at Eltham.
When the Future Champions Day began at Newmarket, this was part of that but was brought forward to pattern into the Dewhurst Stakes.
Last horse to do the Middle Park/2000 Guineas double is Rodrigo de Triano in 1991.
Aidan O'Brien has six wins as leading trainer while most wins as a jockey is with Danny Maher, Sir Gordon Richards and Lester Piggott with six.
12 months on from his Middle Park and Dewhurst wins, US Navy Flag would win the July Cup and be slotted to head to Australia for The Everest.
The Middle Park Stakes is worth £275,000 in 2019.
Notable winners of the Middle Park Stakes include Ten Sovereigns (2018), U S Navy Flag (2017), Reckless Abandon (2012), Dream Ahead (2010), Ad Valorem (2004), Oasis Dream (2002), Johannesburg (2001), Royal Applause (1995), Rodrigo de Triano (1991), Diesis (1982), Brigadier Gerard (1970), Our Babu (1954), Nearula (1952), Abernant (1948), Dante (1944), Sun Chariot (1941), Djebel (1939), Scottish Union (1937), Felicitation (1932), Orwell (1931), Call Boy (1926), Tetratema (1919), Lemberg (1909), Bayardo (1908), Pretty Polly (1903), Galtee More (1896), St Frusquin (1895), Ladas (1893), Isinglass (1892), Orme (1891), Donovan (1888), Melton (1884), Busybody (1883) and Petrarch (1875).
The 2018 Middle Park Stakes was won by Ten Sovereigns from Jash and Rumble Inthejungle.