By Tom Frary
Having extended her unbeaten sequence in Doncaster's G2 May Hill Stakes, Godolphin's Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) has to do it all over again in Friday's G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket. On the face of it, the TDN Rising Star may only have to repeat last month's form, with Ballydoyle's number one looking to be the runner-up January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) if jockey bookings are the guide. Ryan Moore has opted for the Listed Churchill Stakes scorer, who has 1 1/2 lengths to find on Desert Flower, with Tom Marquand booked for the G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes winner Dreamy (Ire) (American Pharoah) and Wayne Lordan on the Ascot novice scorer Ballet Slippers (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Charlie Appleby said of Desert Flower, “She has done nothing but improve with each of her three starts. She proved herself over this trip in the May Hill Stakes and I couldn't be happier with her.”
Also in the mix is Juddmonte's Tabiti (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who captured Salisbury's G3 Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes, and Cheveley Park Stud's Anna Swan (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) who went two-for-two in an often-informative Newbury conditions event last month.
Marquand is looking forward to the prospect of riding for Ballydoyle and said, “It's probably quite an open race and there are some talented fillies in there. Dreamy has looked very good on both starts and I just hope she can continue that line of progression from her last start. It's that time of year where you never know with fillies what is still on the boil or off it, she is a great ride to pick up and I've been really impressed with her in her first two starts and I'm just pleased to be on board.”
Ryan Moore may have surprised a few people when picking January over her less-exposed stablemates, especially as he passed her over in the May Hill, but the rider usually gets these decisions right. “January is a filly I've always liked and her win in the Churchill Stakes at Tipperary showed her potential. We obviously have to overturn a defeat to Desert Flower in the May Hill, that will be hard, but my filly is tough and will give the favourite plenty to think about.”
Tabiti's rider Rossa Ryan is on a roll at present and said, “She's in good form and the Dick Poole seemed a strong race. She's very unfurnished and there's still plenty more potential to come out of her, so we're hoping for a good run. Time will tell how good she is, but we have to find one to replace Bluestocking if she doesn't stay in training next year and she's doing the right things so far.”
Can She Take Flight In The Oh So Sharp?
Third behind Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the May Hill, Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) takes a diversion away from them on Friday with Ollie Sangster opting for the G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. Dropping back to seven furlongs, Cornthrop Bloodstock's talented filly sets the standard. “She ran very well in the May Hill and travelled very strongly, she just didn't see out the race as she got left out in front for quite a while,” her trainer explained. “I think it looks like a nice spot for her, there's a filly of Ralph Beckett's in there who could be a very talented filly, but we're happy with how our filly is doing.”
The Ralph Beckett-trained filly in question is Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who sports the colours of the most talked-about operation in world racing this week in Amo Racing. Impressive on her sole start at Lingfield last month, she is one of four unbeaten runners in the line-up alongside Godolphin's Magical Trail (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Dunchurch Lodge Stud's First Instinct (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). Ballydoyle's duo include TDN Rising Star Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Ryan Moore's pick in the May Hill who may have found the ground too easy when fifth.
Other notables on the card are Godolphin's Oaks runner-up Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes, making her first start since a disappointing show in the G1 Prix de Diane, and their speedy juvenile Midnight Thunder (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G3 Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes. “Dance Sequence disappointed in the Prix de Diane and we gave her a nice break afterwards. She goes into this in great shape,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. Saeed bin Suroor said of the latter, “He is a horse who prefers softer conditions, so we are hoping there is some rain for him to be able to take his chance. Dropping down to five will be fine on a softer surface, but the ground is important to him.”
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