One of the final 2-year-old 6f Group races of the season is stacked with runners looking to make a big step in their early careers.

All but one of the 10 runners has tasted victory, and the Gimcrack form may well have the final say here today.

Now, let’s take a look at all 10 runners and see who fits the bill to take home the 2024 Mill Reef Stakes.

The runners are lined up, and so are the best horse racing bookmakers to help make your Mill Reef Stakes bet a winning one.

Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes: Runner by runner guide

Now it’s time to take a in-dept looking into all 8 runners of the Mill Reef Stakes and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

6 – Powerful Glory (8)

Runner: Powerful Glory

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 1

OR: –

Jockey: Oisin Orr

Trainer: Richard Fahey

Betting Odds: 11/4

An impressive winner on debut (with the 3rd place finisher having won since), Powerful Glory has certainly left a strong visual impression heading into the Mill Reef Stakes.

Trainer Richard Fahey knows what it takes to win this race, having claimed victory in 2015 with the hugely talented Ribchester.

That said, I’d exercise caution with Powerful Glory today. We’ve seen two highly-hyped 2-year-olds, Estrange and Jonquil, win impressively on debut, only to fail to replicate that performance a few weeks later. This could be due to them not fully recovering from their first runs or a lack of race knoweledge after winning too easily first time out.

For these reasons, I’m inclined to go against Powerful Glory today.

Visually impressive on debut
Trainer has won this with a superstar before

This could be too much too soon

Star Rating:

Bet on Powerful Glory with talkSPORT BET

8 – Shadow Of Light (7)

Runner: Shadow Of Light

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 112

OR: 108

Jockey: William Buick

Trainer: Charlie Appleby

Betting Odds: 11/4

A head separated Shadow of Light and Symbol of Strength in their clash at the Gimcrack at York, and there shouldn’t be much to separate them again today.

The form of that race has worked out well, with 4th place Big Evs and 6th place Camille Pissarro narrowly missing out on wins in their next starts.

I like that Shadow of Light has already been off the bridle in a competitive race and has battled through. That kind of experience could be the key difference between winning and losing, especially against horses with only one run under their belts.

Shadow of Light ticks a lot of boxes here.

We already know that he is up to this level
Even more improvement to come

Has already been beaten 

Star Rating:

Bet on Shadow Of Light with BetMGM

10 – Symbol Of Strength (4)

Runner: Symbol Of Strength

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 5131

OR: 107

Jockey: Tom Marquand

Trainer: Adrian Keatley

Betting Odds: 8/1

Since his close 3rd behind Shadow of Light (2nd) at York, Symbol of Strength has gone on to defy a considerable drift in the market (5/4 out to 5/2) to win the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton.

He’s a horse with proven form, and based on his latest win, there could well be more improvement to come.

His current price of 8/1 looks a bit big, considering he only has to make up a head on Shadow of Light, who is priced at 11/4.

There’s no reason why he can’t be right there at the finish once more, and he rates as a solid each-way selection.

Group 3 winner
Has the form to go close

May not have as much improvement in him as some
Already beaten by Shadow Of Light

Star Rating:

Bet on Symbol Of Strength with Spreadex

4 – Defence Minister (2)

Runner: Defence Minister

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 11

OR: 90

Jockey: James Doyle

Trainer: Hamad Al Jehani

Betting Odds: 9/1

Defence Minister may have a modest rating for a horse with a perfect 2-from-2 record, but he could only do what was asked of him on both occasions.

He won nicely on his second start, especially considering he was still quite green, rolling around when James Doyle changed his hands at the 1-furlong marker. But once he gathered himself, he won with ease.

It would be foolish to underestimate him here. He looks like a lively outsider at the current prices.

A perfect 2 from 2 record

Has it to find on ratings

Star Rating:

Bet on Defence Minister with VBET

3 – Brian (1)

Runner: Brian

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 231413

OR: 98

Jockey: Liam Keniry

Trainer: Sylvester Kirk

Betting Odds: 10/1

The most experienced runner in the field, and one who has the potential to spring a surprise.

He won comfortably on his penultimate start, and to be honest, he was given a poor ride when finishing 3rd behind Symbol of Hope at Kempton.

Back on turf, there’s every chance he can take another step forward and continue his progress.

The faster the pace up front, the better it will be for Brian.

Bags of experience and still improving 

Should find one or two too good

Star Rating:

Bet on Brian with Copybet

7 – Sarab Star (3)

Runner: Sarab Star

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 1

OR: –

Jockey: David Probert

Trainer: Jack Channon

Betting Odds: 16/1

They knew what they had with Sarab Star when he was sent off as a well-backed 8/11 favorite in a restricted novice stakes at Salisbury. Admittedly, he only just scraped home to beat Good Banter.

His Racing Post Rating (RPR) isn’t anything remarkable, and he’ll need a significant amount of improvement from that debut run to get involved here.

This might be a step too far for him at the moment.

A winner on debut

Needs a huge leap of improvement

Star Rating:

Bet on Sarab Star with SBK

1 – Andesite (6)

Runner: Andesite

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 17

OR: 91

Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Trainer: Karl Burke

Betting Odds: 20/1

This is the one in the field that for me, is totally the wrong price.

After a debut win over Yah Mo Be There (who has won since), Andesite was sent off 7/1 for the Gimcrack in which Shadow Of Light and Symbol Of Strength finished 2nd and 3rd.

He didn’t get the cleanest of runs and was hampered between the 2 and 1 pole. That didn’t have a bearing on him winning or losing, but he will have learned a lot from the hustle and bustle of that experience.

For one at such a big price, I give him a massive each-way chance here.

Would have gained considerable experience last time out

Has 5 lengths to find with Shadow Of Light and Symbol Of Strength

Star Rating:

Bet on Andesite with Betfred

5 – La Bellota (10)

Runner: La Bellota

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 225

OR: 95

Jockey: Darragh Keenan

Trainer: John Ryan

Betting Odds: 28/1

The only horse in the field yet to secure a victory.

He’s been running at a respectable level, but this is an entirely different challenge. It would be a major surprise if he were to break his duck today.

Has run to a decent level so far

Yet to win a race in 3 starts

Star Rating:

Bet on La Bellota with talkSPORT BET

2 – Billboard Star (5)

Runner: Billboard Star

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 31240

OR: 103

Jockey: Charles Bishop

Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton

Betting Odds: 33/1

This gelding made a bright start to his career.

After a 3rd-place finish on debut, he went on to win comfortably at Newmarket’s July course and followed that up with a 2nd to now Group 1 winner Whistlejacket in the Group 2 July Stakes.

He backed that up with another good run in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, where he would have finished closer than 4th if not for being carried wide and squeezed out in the closing stages.

He also competed in the Gimcrack, but he ran no sort of race, finishing last of the 10.

There’s every chance he can leave that run behind him and produce another big performance at these odds.

Not fully ruled out.

Has some good Group placed form already

Needs to bounce back from a below par run.

Star Rating:

Bet on Billboard Star with BetMGM

9 – Star Anthem (9)

Runner: Star Anthem

Weight: 9st 3lb

Age: 2

Form: 218

OR: 99

Jockey: Richard Kingscote

Trainer: Clive Cox

Betting Odds: 33/1

Star Anthem has not been seen since finishing 8th in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, but an improvement on that run could give him an outside place chance.

That was his first attempt over 6f, following a 2nd and a 1st over the minimum trip.

The way he finished at Royal Ascot suggests that this distance could bring more out of him.

Another who could cause a surprise at a big price.

Ran a promising race at Royal Ascot

Hasn’t been seen since June

Star Rating:

Bet on Star Anthem with SBK

Mill Reef Stakes verdict

This race features many lightly raced 2-year-olds with chances, but I’m siding with one of the more experienced runners, SHADOW OF LIGHT.

Having run a big race to finish 2nd, ahead of some of today’s rivals in the Gimcrack, this could be a great opportunity for Shadow of Light to go one place better.

From the others with chances, Andesite and Billboard Star seem overpriced and could sneak into the places.

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