The Criterion Stakes (Saturday 29 June) is run at Newmarket. It is a Group 3 Race that takes place over 7 furlongs and is open to horses aged three and older. The race was established in 1978 and its two most notable winners are Diktat and Cadeaux Genereux.
Criterion Stakes 10-Year-Trends
- All 10 winners have been aged between three and six
- Winners were drawn between stall-one and stall-nine
- Only two winners had won their previous race
- All 10 winners had run between eight and 63 days earlier
- Nine of the 10 winners were returned at single-figure SPs
- Richard Hannon has trained three winners in the last decade
Criterion Stakes 2019 Main Contenders
Glorious Journey
The bookies have installed this Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old as the early market leader, despite him being rated a few pounds lower than many of his rivals. It’s easy to see why, as he’s been beaten by two horses this season that ran excellent races at Royal Ascot. Despite that form, he still has something to prove but he is going the right way.
Limato
Former winner of the Group 1 July Cup here at Newmarket and though this seven-year-old is no longer that good, he’s also won two Group 2 Races over seven furlongs at Newmarket in the last two seasons. He has to carry a 5lb penalty for the second of those successes, but his seasonal debut run over six furlongs suggested he’s at least as good as he was last year.
Suedois
Eight-year-old that hasn’t won since October 2017 but continues to run well in a variety of Listed and Group Races. Interestingly, his best ever run came here at Newmarket when second to Limato in the July Cup, and he’s not been back to the track since. He’s 5lb better off with Limato for that two-length beating, and he comes out top on ratings.
Tabarrak
Richard Hannon often targets this race and this six-year-old is only rated 2lb below Sudeois. However, despite winning four Listed Races, he’s yet to win a Group Race, including when only fourth in the 2018 edition of this race.
Donjuan Triumphant
Respected six-year-old that has run well in many decent races, but he’s just one win from 11 starts at seven furlongs and has yet to run at Newmarket. He’d also prefer the ground to be a lot softer than is likely if the weather forecast is correct.
Criterion Stakes 2019 Summary
The best may still be to come from Glorious Journey, but there’s a good chance that he was flattered by finishing between two high-class sprinters last time in a slowly run race which the protagonists were using as a warm-up for Royal Ascot. Tabarrak and Dojuan Triumphant may also be outclassed.
That leaves us with Limato and Sudeois. Both are older than most winners of this race, but have shown a higher-class of form than most previous winners, and have also run well at Newmarket. Limato has to concede a 5lb penalty, so Suedois looks the sporting each-way selection.
Criterion Stakes 2019 Tip
- Suedois (Each-Way)