Europe: Musical Times stays undefeated with hard-fought Fillies' Mile win
Musical Times concluded her 2-year-old season on Friday with a hard-fought win in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket Racecourse in Britain, overcoming traffic issues in the final quarter-mile.
Trainer Charlie Appleby said after the race that Musical Times will not race again this year, and will have the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 2 as an early goal for 2027.
In the $661,000 Fillies’ Mile, Musical Times, who paid $2.80 in American pools, was ridden by William Buick and won by a length over 20-1 Haven, trained by Aidan O’Brien. Haven was part of a line of three that fought for the lead in the Fillies’ Mile on a straightaway course.
Haven was joined on the front by the O’Brien-trained Exceptionally and Dancing Destiny, trained by Aidan’s son Joseph.
Musical Times was short of room behind those three until space emerged with more than a furlong remaining. Musical Times quickened to take the lead a sixteenth of a mile from the finish.
“Will was just trying to find those gaps where possible and thankfully got them at the right time,” Appleby said. “She picked up smartly. She had to work hard there, and she had a bit of traffic to get through as well. She will have learned plenty.”
Haven finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of 8-1 Forbidden Fire in the field of eight. Rogue Passion, the 5-1 second choice, finished seventh. Trainer Edward Bethell told the stewards that Rogue Passion was not comfortable in her first start on the undulating course at Newmarket.
Musical Times, who is by Lope de Vega, races for owner and breeder Godolphin Racing and has won four races. On Sept. 10, Musical Times won her stakes debut in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at a mile at Doncaster Racecourse on Sept. 10.
Earlier on the Newmarket program, Mussab ($18.20) closed from off the pace to win the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs in 56.98 seconds, a course record for a juvenile.
Mussab finished a nose in front of 5-1 In The Black, who closed well.
After the race, Peter Fahey, who trains Mussab with his father, Richard, said the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 30 is a goal.
Mussab, who has won 3 of 6 starts, won his first group stakes in the Cornwallis.
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