Early October at Newmarket brings the Future Champions Festival, a two-day meeting running Friday to Saturday.
There are a number of important races for two-year-olds across the two days, none more so than the only two Group 1 races at the meeting, the Fillies Mile and the Dewhurst Stakes. The Fillies Mile is run on the Friday with the Dewhurst run in the Saturday. Both provide key look at next season’s Classic generation of runners.
There are a further seven Group races amongst the 15 on both cards but for many the highlight will be Saturday’s Cesarewitch. This 2m2f handicap is the second part of the Autumn Double, following from the earlier Cambridgeshire Handicap, though horses rarely compete in both these days.
Friday 9th October 2026
The festival begins with two Group 3 races for two-year-olds in the Cornwallis Stakes over 5f and the Oh So Sharp Stakes over 7f. Next is the Group 2 Challenge Stakes over 7f before the most valuable race of the day, the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile.
The Old Rowley Cup is race five on the card, a handicap over 1m4f. The day closes with the Listed Boadicea Stakes for fillies and mares over 6f, the Group 3 Pride Stakes over 1m2f and a 7f Class 4 handicap.
- 1:15pm: Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes
Group 3, 5f, 2yo, £75,000 - 1:50pm: Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes
Group 3, 7f, 2yo, £75,000 - 2:25pm: Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes
Group 2, 7f, 3yo+, £165,000 - 2:57pm: bet365 Fillies’ Mile
Group 1, 1m, 2yo, £500,000 - 3:30pm: bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap
Class 2, 1m4f, 3yo, £100,000 - 4:10pm: Godolphin Under Starters Orders EBF Boadicea Stakes
Listed, 6f, 3yo+, £70,000 - 4:45pm: Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes
Group 3, 1m2f, 3yo+, £95,000 - 5:20pm: HKJC World Pool Handicap
Class 4, 7f, 3yo+, £30,000
Saturday 10th October 2026
Saturday opens with three Group 3 races in the 1m1f Darley Stakes, 1m2f Zetland Stakes and the 1m Autumn Stakes. The Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes follows, a 7f race for colts.
The historic 2m2f Cesarewitch Handicap follows the Dewhurst, with a maiden fillies stakes and nursery handicap, both run over 7f closing the meeting.
- 1:15pm: Modern Games Darley Stakes
Group 3, 1m1f, 3yo+, £95,000 - 1:50pm: Native Trail Zetland Stakes
Group 3, 1m2f, 2yo, £75,000 - 2:25pm: Emirates Autumn Stakes
Group 3, 1m, 2yo, £75,000 - 3:00pm: Darley Dewhurst Stakes
Group 1, 7f, 2yo, £500,000 - 3:40pm: Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap
Class 2, 2m2f, 3yo+, £175,000 - 4:15pm: Triple Time Maiden Fillies’ Stakes
Class 2, 7f, 2yo, £20,000 - 4:50pm: Dubai Racing Club Nursery Handicap
Class 3, 7f, 2yo, £20,000
