Babouche Heads Cheveley Park Stakes 2024 Market As Ireland Bids For Seventh Win Since 2016

The exciting Ger Lyons-trained Babouche could be next seen in Saturday’s Cheveley Park Stakes 2024, with the unbeaten filly heading the market for the big Newmarket Group One 2 year-old race.

Babouche To Put Unbeaten Record On The Line In 2024 Cheveley Park Stakes

Juddmonte’s Kodiac filly Babouche has made a big name for herself this season – winning all three starts – and next up for the Ger Lyons horse could be a tilt in Saturday’s Cheveley Park Stakes, which carries a £155k purse for the successful connections.

The final entries will be out on Thursday 26th September, but at this stage the best horse racing betting sites in the UK are taking no chances on Babouche – making her the clear favourite in the market.

Irish horse racing handler Ger Lyons is also no stranger to winning the Cheveley Park – taking the prize in 2011 with Lightening Pearl – while Juddmonte (Khalid Abdullah) last won the race in 2009 with Special Duty and prior to that in 1993 with Prophecy.

Babouche, who has won all three of her career starts, continued to enter many notebooks after lowering the colours of July Stakes winner Whistlejacket in the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August (watch below).

She’s since been freshened up with 49 days off ahead of Saturday’s Cheveley Park Stakes, which will also be shown live on ITV Racing.

Cheveley Park Stakes 2024 Time and Date

📅Date: Saturday 28th September 2024
⌚Time: 2:25pm
🏇Racecourse: Newmarket (6f)
💰Winning Purse: £155,953
📺 TV: ITV and Racing TV

The Last Cheveley Park Stakes Winner To Win The 1000 Guineas Was Special Duty

Saturday’s Cheveley Park Stakes, which is for 2 year-olds only, is often referred to as a decent guide for next season’s 1000 Guineas.

However, the last horse to win both races was the Criquette Head-Maarek-trained Special Duty in 2009. Another horse, however, that was owned by Babouche’s owners – Juddmonte (Khalid Abdullah).

That said, last year’s Cheveley Park Stakes winner Porta Fortuna went close to ending this run – after finishing a close neck runner-up in this season’s 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

Porta Fortuna has since gone onto win three Group One races this season – the Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes.

Irish-Trained Horses Have Dominated The Cheveley Park Stakes In Recent Years

Despite being run in the UK, Saturday’s Cheveley Park Stakes has been a happy hunting ground for the Irish in recent years – winning the pot six times since 2016.

During this eight year spell, only trainers Andrew Balding (Alcohol Free 2020 & Ralph Beckett 2022) have spoilt the Irish domination.

See below the recent Irish Cheveley Park Stakes winners, with Aidan O’Brien being responsible for four of these.

O’Brien is also the equal winning-most trainer in the Cheveley Park with four wins. He currently shares the spoils with Alec Taylor Jr and French trainer Criquette Head-Maarek, but you feel it won’t be long before he’s leading the way on his own.

We can expect another strong hand for the Irish in 2024, so the UK handlers might have to wait another year to try and add another success in this Group One.

Irish Cheveley Park Stakes Winners Since 2016

Cheveley Park Stakes Winner Could Also Head To The Breeders’ Cup

Last year’s Cheveley Park Stakes winner Porta Fortuna also jetted off to America after landing the race – when running in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at the start of November.

The filly was only beaten 1/2 a length that day on what was her first run over a mile. Don’t forget the Cheveley Park Stakes is run over 6f.

Therefore, all eyes will be on where the winner of the 2024 Cheveley Park Stakes goes next.

With a trip to the US sure to on the radar for connections.

Cheveley Park Stakes Recent Winners (Last 10 Years)

WATCH: Porta Fortuna Winning The 2023 Cheveley Park Stakes