Shadow Of Light overturns Whistlejacket to win Group 1 Middle Park Stakes

Shadow Of Light won going away to overturn odds-on favourite Whistlejacket in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

William Buick’s mount travelled into the race in style to draw alongside the market leader and quickened impressively to take the spoils by four lengths.

The Lope De Vega colt was sent off the 11-4 second-favourite behind 4-5 Whistlejacket and showed an electric change of gear in the final stages.

Charlie Appleby’s two-year-old landed his first success in Group company after falling ¾ of a length short to Cool Hoof Luke in the Gimcrack Stakes at York last month.

Shadow Of Light was withdrawn on heavy ground in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury last weekend but today’s slower surface at HQ didn’t appear to cause any issue.

Shadow Of Light leaves them all behind 🌬️@godolphin hit back immediately in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes 🏆#ITVRacing | @NewmarketRace | @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/HFUbF0K3wn

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 28, 2024

Godolphin have a new Classic prospect on their hands heading into next season and as per the best horse racing betting sites, Shadow Of Light shortened from 33-1 to 16 for the 2000 Guineas next May.

Following the impressive performance, Buick sounded bullish about the horse’s chances for success in 2025:

“He really was (impressive). He’s really improved since the Gimcrack and I was really sure that he didn’t get the rub of the green that day at York.

“He’s really grown up mentally and he’s done nothing but improve. He’s a lovely stamp of a horse and I was really impressed by what he did there.

“He’s a quick horse. I don’t know whether he’s done enough for this year or not, it’s a lovely way to finish off the year going into the winter and there’s plenty to look forward to next year.”

“You’re never quite sure on this ground, it was the first time he’s ever ran on ground as soft as this but he was electric, he’s done today what he did for the last week at home.”

"Whether you look towards the Guineas or stick to a Commonwealth programme" 👀

Winning trainer, Charlie Appleby reflects on next steps for Shadow of Light 👇#ITVRacing | @NewmarketRace | @olibellracing pic.twitter.com/WYeyDzxliD

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 28, 2024