Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes |
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| Group 3, Newbury 13:50 £90,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 5f 61y, Class 1  |
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1 Furthur 13/2
2
Epic Poet 3/1C
3
Candleford 7/1
6 ran Distances: 3l, nk, 3l
Time: 2m 51.96s (slow by 3.46s)
Furthur runs out a ready winner of the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes! 🏆@NewburyRacing | @AndrewBalding2 | @oismurphy pic.twitter.com/0AtHMR4au4
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 16, 2025
Furthur thrust himself firmly into the Betfred St Leger conversation with a commanding display on his Newbury return.
Already a winner at the Berkshire track earlier in the campaign, Andrew Balding’s colt had shown plenty of mettle in higher company since—fifth behind dual Derby hero Lambourn in the Chester Vase before chasing home with credit in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. A lacklustre effort at Newmarket’s July Festival threatened to stall that progress, but this was the re-emergence connections had been waiting for.
Oisin Murphy judged it perfectly, biding his time before seizing on a gap up the inside rail, and once Furthur was asked to go about his business, the 13-2 chance surged clear—three lengths to the good over David O’Meara’s 3-1 joint-favourite Epic Poet at the line.
The bookmakers were swift to react, Coral trimming him to 14-1 for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster on September 13. That, confirmed Balding, is the next port of call.
“That was much more like it and for whatever reason he was really disappointing in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last time. I think it’s because I probably ran him back too soon after Ascot, but that was pleasing to see him settle nicely and then quicken like he did.
“We’re hoping we’ll be heading towards the Leger now, that seems the logical next step and he’s proved he’s worthy of his place there. The nice thing is he seems to handle any ground and we’ll hopefully be in good shape at Doncaster.”
Geoffrey Freer Stakes
£90,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 5f 61y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (4) Furthur 3 8-12 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 13/2
2 (6) 3 Epic Poet 6 9-7 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 3/1C
3 (1) nk Candleford 7 9-7 William Haggas Tom Marquand 7/1
4 (3) 3 Nightime Dancer 3 8-12 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 3/1C
5 (5) nse Pinhole 3 8-12 Ralph Beckett Colin Keane 3/1C
6 (2) 19 Ambiente Friendly 4 9-7 James Owen Sean D Bowen 9/1
