Our ambassador previews a busy Thursday on Town Moor which features the Group Two Park Hill Stakes – live on Sky Sports Racing from 1.15pm Our ambassador Hollie Doyle gives her verdict on the action from Town Moor, providing her take on the Park Hill, May Hill and Sales Race. The race they call the Fillies’ Leger, the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (3.00), is one of the highlights of the opening day of the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster on Thursday and I expect a competitive renewal to go the way of the Owen Burrows-trained Waardah. She has run two big races in a light campaign in pattern company this year, including in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, only to pay the price for a touch of freshness early in the race – her first since May. With a hood fitted for the first time, she can prove too good for some classy types including Fairy Glen who shone out in Meydan in the spring when taking the Dubai Gold Cup over two miles from Friday’s probable Doncaster Cup favourite Caballo De Mar.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s mare has proven form on the back of a break so shouldn’t be troubled by a four-month absence and her stamina beyond this extended mile-and-three-quarter trip is assured. Godolphin’s filly Musical Times brings a burgeoning reputation to the other Group Two on the opening day at Doncaster, the Betfred May Hill Stakes (3.35) for the two-year-olds. Unbeaten in novice races at Newmarket and Yarmouth and on course for a possible crack at the Group One Fillies’ Mile, this exciting daughter of Lope De Vega is a fascinating runner in this recognised Classic trial. However, she hasn’t beaten a lot at this stage so I’m taking her on with Irish raider Sea Of Rain, who has already proven herself at a high level with victory in a Group Three at the Curragh last time.
Jim Bolger’s filly has plenty of experience and won’t mind a bit of cut in the ground. I just can’t see past the likely favourite Night In Vegas in the big juvenile cavalry charge on the opening day, the Weatherbys £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (1.50). Eve Johnson Houghton’s colt boasts a lofty rating of 102 yet gets a considerable amount of weight from many of his closest rivals under the terms of this race. His credentials are impeccable with a valuable auction race success at Newmarket last time coming on the back of a creditable third in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at the Goodwood Festival.
I’m hoping to see my husband Tom (Marquand) go well on William Haggas’s God Given Talent who was unlucky in running when fourth in a hot nursery at York’s Ebor Festival on his first start for the yards since leaving James Ferguson. Satellite Of Love, who like God Given Talent has a rating of 91, can also play a part. Clive Cox’s colt was unbeaten in his first two starts before finishing a well beaten fifth behind the thrown-in Group One winner Sun Goddess in that York sales race. Art Of Life is yet to get her head in front but can make a winning debut out of novice company in the British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (1.15) on Thursday.
Cox’s filly has been unlucky to bump into a couple of promising types at Newbury, including when a shade too keen behind Tom’s hot favourite Sweetwonderfulyou last time. I marginally prefer her to Richard Spencer’s likely favourite Speed Of Sound, a lovely Sioux Nation filly who ran a stormer at the weights behind Sun Goddess in that valuable sales race at York. At a much bigger price, Richard Hannon’s Rollthedicebaby has the talent to get back on track off an easing mark after finishing in the pack behind Speed Of Sound on the Knavesmire. Tom and his boss William have the one they all have to beat in the mile and a quarter Pertemps Network Handicap (2.25) on the opening day.
King Of Earth impressed me when taking a valuable Curragh handicap in the summer in first time cheekpieces and can be forgiven his effort last time in Group Three company at York. Back in a handicap with the ground and a good draw in his favour, he can get quickly back on track at the possible expense of John and Thady Gosden’s Runman. It’s early days for the son of Frankel who put a two-month break behind him to win over this trip at Newbury last time. He looks very well treated off just a three-pound higher mark and will enjoy conditions on Town Moor.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft. Watch every race of the Betfred St Leger Festival live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 512) from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th September.
