Horsebetting.com experts give their 2018 Rockfel Stakes betting tips for the 7f juvenile fillies’ Group 2 contest at Newmarket. Main Edition is a July course winner, so is taken to land the spoils for record-breaking trainer Mark Johnston on the Rowley Mile track on Friday, 28 September. The improving Yourtimeisnow is feared most now stepped up in trip by Roger Varian. Canton Queen, meanwhile, looks decent each-way value for this two-year-olds only event. For more on these fancied fillies and why we’re against Irish raider Just Wonderful, read our 2018 Rockfel Stakes betting tips preview.Main Edition ready for Rockfel challengeCrack Italian jockey Frankie Dettori has ridden four winners of the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes for juvenile fillies at Newmarket, including the last two renewals. That means his mount this year, Main Edition, commands the utmost respect in this 7f contest at Newmarket on Friday (15:00).
Trained by Mark Johnston, this daughter of Zoffany looks to have leading claims of landing the spoils having gone in twice at Group 3 level. Main Edition won her first three starts, finding plenty for pressure in the last of those at Royal Ascot when holding La Pelosa by a neck in the 6f Albany Stakes.
Her unbeaten record was lost in the most unfortunate fashion next time up in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at this venue on the July Course. That race was ruined when a rival cannoned into another seriously hampering Main Edition in the process and it put paid to her chances.
Considering those circumstances, a line can be put through that contest as she came out and confirmed the Royal Ascot for with La Pelosa when making all and scoring by 1 1/4 lengths in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes when stepping up to 7f for the first time at headquarters.
That confirmed Main Edition was everything connections thought of her and she was pitched into Group 1 company last time out during Irish Champions Weekend. Although a five-length fifth there to Skitter Scatter, she had the re-opposing Just Wonderful a further five lengths in-behind which suggests there is nothing to fear from that one.
It makes little sense for some bookmakers to have both Main Edition and Just Wonderful as joint-favourites based upon their meeting and previous Royal Ascot form. They met off level weights both there and across the Irish Sea, and there were no excuses for the Aidan O’Brien filly on home turf.
Main Edition is a typical Johnston type that goes from the front and tries to make races a test of stamina. This is much easier than that hot Group 1 assignment last time out; so, if allowed to dictate things from the front, she could be tough to peg back and appeals most at the odds on offer.Fast filly Yourtimeisnow feared mostIn-form trainer Roger Varian steps Yourtimeisnow up in trip to the 7f of this for the first time and, in light of the superiority Main Edition has over Just Wonderful, this improving sort is the one that should give our main selection most to think about.
Yourtimeisnow has won her last two starts, making all to land the Group 3 Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes when previously in action. Given the turn of foot she has demonstrated in landing that from the front and the similar trailblazing exploits of Main Edition, there is plenty of pace in the race.
There is always the danger that this pair might cut each others’ throats and that sets things up for a closer, but there is clearly more still to come from Yourtimeisnow. Her previous exploits have earned her an official rating of 102 – the only filly anywhere close to the joint top-rated pair of Just Wonderful and Main Edition (107) in the line-up.
As the others have so much to find on official figures, Yourtimeisnow should be involved in the finish or it’ll be a major disappointment. However, as there’s still the matter of 5lb to find herself on Main Edition we are opposing champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa’s mount in our 2018 Rockfel Stakes betting tips.Canton Queen appeals each-wayRichard Hannon is double-handed in this year’s renewal, but the pick of his pair looks to be the unexposed Canton Queen after showing improved form from his debut last time out. She is therefore worth considering each-way in a race where many outside the first three in the betting have shouts of making the frame.
Although just eighth here at headquarters on her bow, the daughter of Shamardal stayed on really well to land a 7f novice event at Leicester by 2 1/4 lengths earlier this month. There was lots to like about Canton Queen’s success despite running green at times.
It highlights her obvious potential. This demands much more, but stablemate Ajrar needs to find plenty more to get competitive here. With the assessor yet to have his say, Canton Queen gets the each-way vote in these 2018 Rockfel Stakes betting tips as there’s clearly better to come from her.Your Next Bet
