RACE SUMMARY
 

    Deja Vu. At the meeting on the Easter Monday at Warwick two weeks prior to this race the fillies' maiden looked a moderate event in profile with only La Roca having prospects to be a better type. As soon as she walked into the pre-parade this hope evaporated with an audible pop. She was as small and limited as the others and ran accordingly. That race has lived down to expectations with the fillies from it competing poorly since, including Peppins Gold here, and the only win being from Mrs Crossy at poor claimer level.

    This race looked better in profile with Isobel Rose, Donna Blini, Frisky Talk & Samahir all having prospects to be better than any runner in the race from a fortnight previously. Isobel Rose had a good profile - solid 2yo pedigree, a good third in what looked a tough maiden on debut for a non-FTO trainer, the fourth from her race had won since, etc. Now, while the bread-and-butter of Paddock review is sorting through moderate horses looking for usable types at a low level you are always hoping to see that better horse. The first two fillies into the pre-parade were Tiara Boom De Ay & Isobel Rose - try looking at the two pictures and does Isobel Rose really look like a 6/4f compared to a 16/1 shot with TBDA? In short, another disappointment of the La Roca type - Isobel Rose was just an average size in a moderate to average group, qite powerful behind and very fit but an average, early maiden winner and not the better type hoped for. (The good side to this was that she immediately got marked down as poor value on the day and a bet on any combination from Donna Blini, Frisky Talk & Samahir was sensible given that they were equivalent physical types but at much longer prices.)

    Nina Blini was notable for her heavy build and fitted well with her trainer's preference for buying heavy, strong horses and putting up with smaller size and compactness. She travelled ok with the pace, got a little outpaced towards the final furlong before staying on again. An average type that that can rate around 70 but limited by the size and compactness for development from mid-seasons.

    Frisky Talk had finished behind Isobel Rose on debut but had pressed the pace after a slowish break and had got tired late on. She had been rated 69 at the sales and a similar type here. Capable of rating around 70 and ought to win an average maiden but not to develop to higher levels.

    Samahir was withdrawn at the start. She was just the best type in the field, well muscled and powerful behind although lacking some size and on the sort side. Less fit than many of the trainer's early runners which dampened thoughts of a bet on her. Ought to be an average maiden winner although likely to struggle in higher grade after that.

    The rest of the field looked as moderate as expected and difficult to recommend following any of them at average level. Check Tou showed pace and professionalism but faded back to the expected rating level and looked a moderate type. A minor word for Going Straight who looked to have prospects to be competitive at a low level and to improve with racing (her trainer typically gets winnersfrom 4TO onwards). Her poor performance on the day is a good thing in the context of her being able to do better over further.