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Salisbury Fancies

Good morning all,

The nights are drawing in, the leaves are changing colour and about to fall and the kids are heading back to school. It can mean only one thing were heading into autumn.

Who knows what’s going to happen on the virus front? What we do know though is that we’re about enter one of the most interesting parts of the flat season. Over the next six weeks or so there are going to be plenty of top 2-year-old races. Great races to enjoy but which also offer tantalising hints about next seasons classics.  

Last Thursday I looked at this season’s juvenile colts. This week I have turned my attention to the fillies. Inside today’s main piece you’ll find the ones that I like going forward.  Plus, I put a couple of today’s Salisbury’s races under the microscope  

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The juvenile filles

Apart from Inspiral not many juvenile fillies had got me excited this season. Then like buses, three come along to pique my interest.

Prior to York’s Ebor Festival the best 2-year-old fillies in Britain we had seen were the Andrew Balding trained Sandrine and the John & Thady Gosden trained Inspiral.

Don’t underestimate Zain Claudette

Sandrine a winner of her first three starts had her unbeaten run came to end. When she was beaten a length by Zain Claudette in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York. She was giving the winner 3lb due to her success in a Group 2 at Newmarket so it was still a good effort in defeat.

Sandrine’s connections will be hopeful that they can reverse placings with the winner back on level terms in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. I wouldn’t be too sure that will happen. Zain Claudette did the runner-up for speed at York and although Newmarket’s stiffer 6f will suit Sandrine. Zain Claudette wasn’t stopping when winning over a stiff 6f at Ascot on her previous start either.

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Paddy Power have Sandrine at 7/2 for the Cheveley Park Stakes and Zain Claudette at 4/1 for the same race. I would have the latter as favourite and think she would be, if she was with a more fashionable trainer.

Sacred Bridge

Whist Zain Claudette is the best of the British trained juvenile fillies. The best of the Irish looks to be Sacred Bridge. The daughter of Bated Breath took her unbeaten run to four. When landing the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh last Friday. She had far too much speed for her 11 rivals and more in hand than the 3 ¾ length margin of victory suggests.

I think she the best juvenile filly either side of the Irish Sea at present. Although that may change after the Moyglare Stakes.

Trainer Ger Lyons won the Cheveley Park Stakes in 2011 with Lightening Pearl. Who also won the Round Tower before going to Newmarket. Sacred Bridge looks to set to give him another one. Paddy Power have her as the 7/2 joint favourite with Sandrine for Cheveley Park. I know which filly I prefer at those prices.

The Cheveley Park is looking a good race should Sacred Bridge, Zain Claudette and Sandrine all show up.

Inspiral remains a smart prospect

Moving onto the more staying type juvenile fillies. We haven’t seen Inspiral since the daughter of Frankel won a Sandown Listed race over 7f in July.  Unbeaten on both her starts she was made the ante post favourite for next year’s 1,000 Guineas on the back of that success. It seems likely we shall see her next the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. A race the yard won last season. If she goes well there a tilt at the Fillies Mile seems likely.

Inspiral remains the ante post favourite for the 1,000 Guineas. Only 8/1 with Paddy Power, she’s a more realistic 12/1 with Bet365 for next year’s first fillies’ classic. I wouldn’t put anyone off the 12/1 as she will be much shorter if she goes on to win the May Hill and the Fillies Mile.

Mise En Scene

Mise En Scene made it 2-2 when winning Saturday’s Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood. In the process giving trainer James Ferguson his first Group success.  The filly took a bit of time to hit top gear but once she did, she got the better of the useful Daneh close home. The step up to a mile should bring out even more improvement in the daughter of Siyouni.

The May Hill Stakes at Doncaster could be on the agenda for this exciting filly but I’m hoping connections will aim her at the Fillies Mile. She’s 14/1 with Sky Bet for the Newmarket race but only 8/1 with Paddy Power. I have had dabble at those Sky Bet odds. Her 1,000 Guineas credentials will be tested in the coming month but she could well be up to that level next season.

Magical Lagoon

Whilst I think Mise En Scene is a strong contender for the Fillies Mile. I was also taken with the performance of Magical Lagoon in winning the Group 3 Flame Of Tara Stakes at the Curragh on Friday.  The daughter of Galileo built on the promise of her Naas racecourse debut 4th showing a good change of gear to pass Albula in the final half furlong, before staying on strongly to win by ¾ length.

A half-sister to three-time 1m 4f Group 1 winner Novellist. She’s bred for middle distances so whether she will be sharp enough to win a Fillies Mile against the likes of Inspiral, I’m not sure. However, she’s been aimed at the race and the 50/1 with Sky Bet is a bit of an insult to the Jessica Harrington trained filly, as she should be much shorter.

Ballydoyle yet to fire

I haven’t even mentioned an Aidan O’Brien trained filly yet. Lullaby was an encouraging 4th behind Magical Lagoon on her racecourse debut at the Curragh. She could be useful and should improve plenty with that run her belt. We haven’t seen Minding’s sister Tuesday since she finished runner-up in a Curragh maiden on her racecourse debut on Irish Derby Weekend but she remains a useful prospect for next year and has an entry in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes.

As with the Cheveley Park. The Fillies Mile is shaping up into a competitive race should some of the leading fancies make the race.

Thursday racing

There’s some Group action in Britain today as Salisbury hosts the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes (2.35). Last year’s race saw Happy Romance get the better of Alcohol Free. This year’s race has attracted a field of 12 juvenile fillies and looks an up to standard renewal.

It's the first day of Haydock’s three-day Betfair Sprint Cup meeting and there also jumps action at Sedgefield and all-weather action at Dundalk.

The evening’s action sees the final round of the Racing League at Newcastle and there are also meetings at Chelmsford and Clonmel.

Salisbury
2:35 – Ire Incentive Scheme Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes (Group 3) – 6f

There are seven last time out winners among the 12 declared runners. They include Listed winner Tardis, Dubai Jewel, Pearl Glory, and the Queen’s unbeaten filly Intelligentsia.

There was plenty to like about Tardis’ victory in the 5f Listed St Hugh Stakes at Newbury last time. She’s a very speedy filly, goes well on quick ground and if she get’s today’s extra furlong it will take a useful filly to lower her colours.

Dubai Jewel finished runner-up to Zain Claudette three starts back but has since improved to win her last two starts.  This will be tougher and she needs to improve again to win.

Pearl Glory has won both starts. Showing a good attitude to prevail against the colts & geldings over C&D 13-days ago. There should be more to come from the daughter of Cotai Glory who holds a Cheveley Park entry. Must have a good chance of giving her young trainer a first pattern success.

Intelligentsia made all win to win on her racecourse debut at Newbury last month getting the better of Majestic Glory who has gone onto win her next two starts including the Group 3 Sweet Solera at Newmarket. Quick ground and 6f look ideal for the daughter of Exceed And Excel who looks a smart juvenile with more progress to come.

3:05 – European Bloodstock News EBF “Lochsong” Fillies' Handicap (Class 2) – 6f

Quckstep Lady took advantage of a drop in the weights to win at Windsor two weeks ago. That was only her second start over 6f in handicap company and she remains unexposed over the distance. Today’s slightly stiffer 6f should also be in the 4-year-old’s favour.

Improvised just failed to land the four timer when a ¾ length 2nd of 12 at York last time. That was still a career best on RPR’s from the 3-year-old. Given her keenness in the early stages at York. The drop back to 6f isn’t necessarily negative and she remains one to be interested in.

Thursday selection:

Salisbury

3:05 – Quickstep Lady – 4/1 @ Bet365

Good luck with your Thursday bets.

John

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