Decent prize money for this fillies' maiden over 7f.
A high draw and experience is a good starting point as being forced to run wide round the bend makes life very difficult here.
Water Biscuit has run well on both starts and a narrow loser on each occasion. This bay filly by Bertolini clearly has ability and will be many people's ideas of a good bet. Certainly one of the most consistent in the field, she will travel well and from a high draw should hold a favourable position. The step up to 7f is a slight unknown as Meehan's juvenile doesn't lack for speed over 6f and it will be interesting to see if this extra furlong helps or hinders her cause.
Laureldean Spirit was quite well backed on debut and ran a great race. Fahey often sends his better juveniles to the York and she looked to hold a winning advantage leading into the final furlong only to tire in the closing stages. This brown filly by Whipper is quite lightly built and could improve with time. I can see this two-year-old running well here. The form of the race has been boosted with the fourth running an encouraging race at Newcastle. The plus side with Laureldean Spirit is that she has run at 7f and can be guaranteed to get the distance.
Ghazwah finished a good few lengths behind Water Biscuit over 6f on debut and although likely to improve needs to. A lovely, strong filly she isn't without a hope if needing the run that day although being relatively short in the betting would suggest she was fitter than not. This extra furlong will be a positive too. On balance I would rather watch and learn a little more about her today.
Of the unraced Pink Symphony catches the eye. With Group entries and a price tag of 400,000gns it doesn't take too much working out that this filly has potential to be a talent. The betting will indicate this ones chances as Cole has a poor strike rate on debut with juveniles priced over 8/1. If relatively short in the betting a big run can be expected although not ideally drawn and inexperience on a turning track will make this a stiff task. It would be a very good effort to win this on debut and I wouldn't fancy betting on this two-year-old.
In a big field with many well bred juveniles making their debut and healthy prize money up for grabs there is always the chance of a surprise or two. The betting will indicate the chances of most of the unraced and I would side with proven ability and experience here.
Water Buscuit has guaranteed form and would be a great bet at 6f. She may be just as well suited by 7f although being unproven always gives concern. Laureldean Spirit looks a capable sort and certainly has no concerns about this trip although her form looks decent it is still unproven to the extent of Water Biscuit. I would be more interested in backing her at an each way price if that is possible although I can see bookmakers resisting such a price.
I wouldn't be looking beyond these two juveniles for this race although I wouldn't think there will be too much value on offer in such a large field.
A watching race.
Theladyinquestion (NR)
Silent Secret (NR)
Race review: 'A competitive event and a good few winners will come from this. Water Biscuit didn't have any problems with the extra furlong and gained a deserved win. Held up a few lengths off the lead, she ran on well and showed a good turn of foot. Ghazwah ran much better today and narrowed the gap between herself and Water Biscuit. Gosden's juveniles are running into form and this two-year-old has scope to improve with racing. Whipperway done well to take third place. Laureldean Spirit ran her race but wasn't quite the class of some of these without being too far afield. She ran on again under pressure and will have little worry winning a race. Pink Symphony was the eye catcher. A big, robust filly, she will undoubtedly improve for the run and will be much wiser next time. Clearly this is a talented juvenile. Quite well backed, Cole's two-year-old wasn't ideally drawn, had trouble in running and showed inexperience. You could quite imagine she is potentially the best in this race.'
Full result: