An EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over 5f on good to firm going. An interesting contest with one or two well regarded juveniles. Five two-year-olds with form - the majority unraced.
Copacobana has ability but been unlucky to have found a couple of stiff races. Her fourth over course and distance has worked out very well. After a few runs there is a chance this bay filly is regressing. After showing pace over 6f in nursery company, she weakened out of contention. Could have a claims but would need to be a big price and I have a feeling one or two debutantes will steal the show.
Girl In A Bentley has tremendous speed over three furlong and looks the type to lay at shorter odds in running.
Baby Ballerina is clearly held in some regard by Brian Ellison but she is likely to be outpaced and running on at the finish. Much bigger odds will be available mid race.
John Quinn knows his horses and Al Zubarah cost £120,000 at the yearling sales racing in the familiar silks of Al Shaqab Racing. The betting will be the best guide. If priced 13/2 & less has respectable win and place claims.
Three over debutantes are worthy of note - all have been given significant entries as detailed on Group Horse.
Ann Duffield have been in good form with her two-year-olds and they can go well on debut although you get a mixed bag. Harmonic Wave is a daughter of Zebedee and cost £40,000 at the breeze-up sales for long-standing owner John Dance. A wide draw isn't ideal. This bay filly has been given a stakes race entry which may be a sign of confidence.
Karl Burke is a superb trainer of juveniles and Ontoawinner syndicate have excelled with their string of horses. *Quiet Reflection catches the eye and I would be surprised if this daughter of Showcasing out of a winning mare doesn't have ability. She was purchased by the trainer for £44,000 at the breeze-up sales and interestingly given a stakes and Lowther stakes (Group 2) entry of late. The stable have three debutantes entered at this stage. Spigot Lodge can ready a juvenile for its racecourse bow and they can win at odds of 10/1 & less. This February foal could well be backed and it may pay to get your bets on early. Will appreciate an extra furlong in time but a live hope. *NR
David Barron is very selective with his lofty entries and Lady Clair has been noted at the first entry stake of the Lowther stakes (Group 2). This daughter of Canford Cliffs is out of an unraced mare. Another breeze-up purchase at 55,000euro, in the ownership of White Rose Racing. Well drawn in stall four, this bay filly would have claims if priced 10/1 & less on debut.
Summary: An intriguing race - particularly interested in Quiet Reflection for Karl Burke and the Ontoawinner syndicate. I've detailed this race early so readers can take note of the betting for this horse. I have a feeling she will be substantially backed. Lady Clair could well have ability and if seriously backed will go well. With Quiet Reflection being a non runner I would give Lady Clair a big shout.
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Well, we have a race to savour. The EBF Marygate Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race) over 5f on good going. By class of race, this is the best two-year-old contest of the season thus far. Excellent win prize money over £22,000. Eleven juveniles take part: ten raced, including six winners, four unbeaten, and solitary newcomer. On balance, a competitive race with fillies of abundant potential.
One of the major fancies is Irish raider Athas An Bhean, trained by Adrian Paul Keatley. He hails from Dunlavin, County Kildare. This daughter of Royal Applause is out of a group-raced mare. A bargain buy, she was sold for just 1,500GNS at the yearling sales. She won in comfortable fashion on debut at Cork, in testing conditions, by four lengths.
Mark Johnston has been in tremendous form with a powerful string of juveniles. Delizia put up a professional display when victorious on debut at Wolverhampton. This daughter of Dark Angel was sent off a well-backed favourite, beating a couple of talented horses. It is difficult to limit a winning horse. Kingsley House Stables have such a wealth of horses that Delizia must be respected.
I've always rooted for the underdog and in many respects Mel Brittain fits that bill as a relatively small trainer. French is owned, trained and bred by the handler. She impressed on debut when sauntering past her rivals. This chestnut filly was bought-in by Brittain at the yearling sales for a paltry £800. Sired by Monsieur Bond, she is a good-looking horse with size and scope to progress with racing. The style of that first race favoured her, where rivals battled for the lead, as she finished with zeal winning by one-and-a-half lengths. There is a chance this March foal was flattered although I would give her the benefit of the doubt. There was something about that debut which gives hope.
Tony Coyle is a canny trainer and there is little doubt New Road Side left the stable with big expectations first start. This bay daughter of Paco Boy is another bargain buy at just £11,000. She was purchased by the trainer for Morecool Racing & Partner. The form of that debut effort is nothing to talk about but she trounced the field. In additional, this youngster is good looking with size and strength. Coyle has taken his time, waiting for this Listed contest, and clearly has her future planned. If going close connections will be heading to Royal Ascot.
Silk Bow showed good pace on debut in the Brocklesby Stakes, but tired rapidly at the furlong maker, finishing down the field in eighth. James Givens had two horses in that race for owners The Cool Silk Partnership. It would seem likely this daughter of Elusive City was second string that day and in need of the run. The way she won on her second start at Chelmsford City gives evidence to that opinion. That was a taking performance, travelling well and easing clear to win by two-and-a-half lengths. The second horse, Fashionable Spirit, was placed in the Lily Agnes Stakes, to bolster the form. The third, Anwar, is capable, while the fourth, Princess Kodia, showed good speed in a hot race at Ascot. I was impressed with this filly and left with the impression there's more to come.
Since Noel Quinlan gave up the ghost on his training aspirations, Lil's Joy has changed stables and now housed with Giles Bravery. This filly was fancied on debut - what turned out to be a strong contest. This daughter of Lilbourne Lad ran well next start at Nottingham and somewhat unlucky to fall prey to another Fahey talent in Kept Under Wraps. Lil's Joy isn't the biggest of fillies and may find one or two better class.
Richard Fahey has been in exceptional form with his two year olds this season detailing a win strike rate that would be the envy of all trainers. Considering he has a strong hand it is interesting to see Sadie Babes comes here after a nice introduction. The winner, Furiant, is held in high regard. The form of that race is difficult to assess. However, it must be an endorsement for her trainer to race at this level.
Abberley Dancer & Sakhee's Jem finished first and third, respectively, at Chelmsford City. The winner, trained by Stan Moore, has size and scope but this looks a step up in class and I would take a watching brief on both.
It's interesting that Brian Ellison sends Baby Ballerina here after a disappointing effort at Beverley. I was surprised this daughter of Kheleyf was such a big price that day, which implied she has limitations. In truth, I don't think the tactics employed favoured this bay filly because she was on the back foot at Musselburgh. Perhaps connections expected more that day. Her chances would be improved if held up off the pace to finish the race. I have doubts at this class.
The only debutante in the field is White Bullet. This daughter of Exceed And Excel is a recent Breeze-up purchase for £30,000 [45,000GNS yearling]. Kevin Ryan does well with his juveniles but it would be a superb effort to win this contest on her racecourse bow. A horse that is likely to win this season but would have to be a watching brief.
Conclusion: A difficult race to be too dogmatic. Connections will have their sights set on Royal Ascot. Four unbeaten fillies make this a difficult race to assess. Many have the potential to shine. Mark Johnston has a good string of juveniles so that speaks well for Delizia. French would be a dream come true for Mel Brittain. New Road Side beat little on debut but is a good-looking filly who could hold claims. Sadie Babes has to be respected simply because Richard Fahey has a lot of winners in his stable to make a fair judgement. Silk Bow showed a touch of class to win on her second start and at the double-figure odds would be a tentative each-way selection.
A Maiden Auction Stakes over 5f on soft ground. This is a restricted race type which can limit the standard of individuals although this shouldn't be taken as fact. Five runners: two colts and three fillies.
Zephyr Breeze is the only two-year-old with form. This son of Piccolo finished a respectable 4th when competing in the Scottish Brocklesby over course and distance. Considering Noel Wilson's bay raced on Friday it is unlikely he will take this engagement.
Four debutantes hail from talented trainers.
Richard Fahey has been quiet this early part of the season but known as a handler who not only trains a large string of juveniles but someone who can train them to win on their racecourse bow. Powerallied is a son of Camacho out of a twice-winning mare. This bay colt isn't two until the end of the month. He was purchased as a yearling for £16,000 at the Doncaster Silver Sale 2014.The stable have one of the better strike rates from all trainers and deserves respect. It is worth noting that this was one of three horses Fahey entered for the Brocklesby Stakes (Doncaster). This could well prove to be a sign of confidence. On breeding this horse may appreciate further so testing ground may be a plus although soft ground is never good news when betting at short odds unless you know it favours. Obviously with no form, it is best to take a watching brief.
Arize hails from David Brown's stable, who introduced a potentially smart two-year-old to win the Scottish Brocklesby in Tribesman owned by John Fretwell. This bay filly is sired by Approve out of an unraced mare. She was purchased at the yearling sales for 12,000GNS by Peter Onslow (breeder). Owner Mrs Sandra Brown hasn't had a horse in training since 1992. David Brown can train debut winners, especially when priced 13/2 & less. However, with such a small field this betting guide is open to question.
Bryan Smart has his first two-year-old runner of the season. Ayresome Angel is an Irish bred chestnut filly sired by Captain Gerard out of an unraced mare. She was purchased by the trainer as a yearling for 10,000GNS. Smart can win with debutantes although most go better on their second start.
The oldest horse in the field is Baby Ballerina, a February foal. This daughter of Kheleyf is out of a poor mare and purchased by Brian Ellison Racing Ltd for 7,000GNS at the yearling sales. Ellison can train debut winners although compared with the likes of Fahey, Brown & Smart less so. I would take a watching brief.
Conclusion: This race type means most horses here are cheap buys. There are no hard and fast rules, but generally these restricted races feature limited two-year-olds. Zephyr Breeze would hold the aces if racing but that look very unlikely after such a short time since racing over course and distance. The debutantes hail from stables who can win with juveniles on their racecourse bow. On statistics Powerallied is most likely and being entered for the Brocklesby Stakes could well be a significant pointer. However, Arize and Ayresome Angel will be in their best betting guides simply because this is a small field which is rather conflicting. Baby Ballerina is most likely to need the race. The combination of debutantes on soft ground I'd have to take a watching brief.
