Creative Force

Creative Force was really well backed for the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday, but it was always possible that a fast six furlongs on fast ground would be sharper than ideal for him, and that is probably how things panned out. He did adopt a good position, close to the stands rail, and he didn’t have a lot of room when they quickened, but it appeared that he just didn’t have the speed that the proven sprinters had, he just got a little out-paced before keeping on well to take fifth place behind Starman.

The Godolphin colt did win his first three races this season over six furlongs, but he put up the best performance of his life when he stepped up in trip to seven furlongs and won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. He did really well to win that day too, he had to do a lot of running on his own out in the centre of the track, but he dug deep and got the better of his stable companion Naval Crown, who raced on the near side. Ascot’s seven furlongs is a stiff seven furlongs, and the ground was soft on Jersey Stakes day, and Creative Force saw it out well. You have to think that he will be seen to better effect when he steps back up to seven furlongs. The Lennox Stakes at Goodwood would be an ideal short-term target, and it wouldn’t be surprising if connections had one eye on the Prix de la Foret already.
Newmarket, 10^th July 2021