Autumn Blues

Newmarket stages the latest of several important juvenile staging posts today, with the G3 Autumn S. playing to next year’s Derby hopefuls headed by a pair of Godolphin representatives including Future Empire (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Beaten just a short head by Aktabantay (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G3 Solario S. over seven furlongs at Sandown last time Aug. 30, he is joined by the operation’s Strong Chemistry (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who was so impressive from the front when winning a seven-furlong Kempton maiden by six lengths Sept. 22. Saeed bin Suroor said of the former, “Future Empire is improving all of the time and always works well at home. He ran well at Sandown and this looks a nice race for him. The step up to a mile will be fine and he is in good form.” Charlie Appleby trains Strong Chemistry and commented, “He came out of his latest outing well and will appreciate stepping up in trip. As long as there is not too much rain, we will be happy with conditions.” From Ballydoyle is Michael Tabor’s Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was also dominant in his maiden when scoring by 8 1/2 lengths at Leopardstown Aug. 14, while two others who looked to have bright futures are Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Thirsk nursery scorer Mukhayyam (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Bartholomew Fair (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who opened his account at Yarmouth Sept. 18.