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Hey Gaman brings strong form credentials into Newbury's Listed Denford Stakes

Dan Abraham

Newbury maidens are always worth watching and Saturday's is no exception.

The president of Turkey, the MEP for South East England and the cast of The Only Way is Essex are probably odds against to be tuning into the Betfred Proud To Work With Simpson Group EBF Maiden Stakes (4.05) but the contest features Erdogan, Farage and Towie, with all three making their debuts.

And just for good measure they will be competing against an Otis Redding classic in Dock Of The Bay, and a legendary US comedy series inSeinfeld.

John Gosden saddlesErdogan, a fascinating unraced Frankel colt out of Dar Re Mi, in the 1m4f racefor three-year-olds, which has drawn a field of 12.

The Al Shaqab Racing-owned runner, who made 750,000gns as a yearling, is a half-brother to talented stablemate So Mi Dar, so has plenty to live up to on his belated debut under Jimmy Fortune.

However, Harry Herbert, racing manager to Erdogans owner, offered a word of caution ahead of this long-awaited debut.

John says he'll come on for the race, Herbert reported. Erdogan has had various little setbacks and it'll be good to get him going at Newbury.

Hes a big, strapping, good-looking horse and we hope hes one for the end of the year and next season too.

Erdogan and the Hughie Morrison-trained Towie, out of a mare called Epping, mustconcede 5lb to the filly Farage, trained in County Kilkenny by Pat Shanahan and whose dam is Advertising Space.

Among those to have run, Godolphins Gold Star was an encouraging third at Newmarket on his debut last month.

Drying ground is James Tates one fear ahead of Newburys Denford Stakes (1.50), a race thathas been landed by subsequent Classic winners Rodrigo De Triano, Lammtarra and Haafhd in its more familiar guise as the Washington Singer.

The trainer pitches New Approach colt Hey Gaman, who sets a decent standard on form, into the Listed event hoping some of the forecast showers materialise.

He needs the ground to be easier than good to put his best foot forward, Tate explained. We were always pretty confident he was a good horse based on his homework, but he's left us scratching our heads a couple of times.

Its become clear, though, he just cant perform on fast ground. I know he won on officially good to firm at Yarmouth, but it poured down that day.

He won nicely at Newmarket last time on good to soft and it'll take a good one to beat him if he gets his ground.

Charlie Hills expects his Fillies Mile entry Ripley to take a step forward from her eyecatching debut at Goodwood this month.

The daughter of Declaration Of War got to within a neck of hot favourite Roulette, promising much for the future, and Hills believes she is a nice filly in the making.

He added: She ran encouragingly at Goodwood in the most horrible conditions and I couldnt be more pleased with how she's come out of it."

Serena Brotherton has won the Betfred Ladies Derby Handicap (5.15) six times in the last ten years, including four of the last five.

But it's someone else's turnasBrothertondoes not have a ride, and Carol Bartley, who partners the likely favourite MamSelle for trainer William Haggas and owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, is one of nine femaleamateurs hoping to take full advantage.

Weve got a chance now Serena isnt there! she quipped. Ive got a good ride in MamSelle. They say shes an improving type who goes to Newbury in good form.

I won the race for William ten years ago on Tifernati and have a good record for the stable. Lets hope it continues on Saturday.

Betfred Proud To Work With Simpson Group Maiden Stakes, cared form and betting

Denford Stakes, card, form and betting

Betfred Ladies Derby Handicap, card, form and betting

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Original post:
Farage takes on Erdogan it's the only way at Newbury - Racing Post