Trainer Michael Dods is optimistic that Arapaho Gold can maintain his unbeaten streak in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. The gelded son of Bayside Boy, purchased for €42,000 as a yearling, has won all four of his starts, including a determined victory in the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York last month.

Following his recent success in York, where Arapaho Gold narrowly held off Final Objective, who himself enhanced his credentials by winning the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, Dods has confirmed that the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes remains the horse’s next target. The gelding, owned by Dods’ wife Carole and pork pie magnate Doug Graham, recently completed a six-furlong gallop under jockey Connor Beasley, showing signs of physical development.

“Arapaho Gold looks well and has muscled up,” Dods remarked. “He went steady for a bit after York and we’ve gone back to full speed in the last week. There is some pressure as he is unbeaten but we hope the horse can do the talking.” The colt will carry a 3-pound penalty for traveling approximately 520 miles to race in Berkshire.

Among Arapaho Gold’s possible eight opponents is Charlie Appleby’s Nabati, a competitor he outperformed by a neck over the same course and distance in July. Additionally, Andrew Balding’s stable may be represented by Jolivette. The race honors Ian Balding, Andrew’s late father, who notably managed the career of the celebrated 1970s racehorse Mill Reef.

Dods noted that Jolivette would need to improve to challenge in the race. “We will give him one more blow on Wednesday and then it should be all systems go,” he said.

Separately, Balding confirmed that Blue Bolt, who secured an impressive victory in the Group One Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, is likely to run next in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Open to fillies and mares, this race marks the beginning of a sequence culminating with Blue Bolt’s anticipated appearance at the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland scheduled for October 30-31.