The fillies' equivalent to the Coventry Stakes and introduced as a new,
Listed level, event in 2002. Uplifted to Group3 status in 2005 and part
of a general widening of the amount of Group and Listed races to no obvious
purpose apart from increasing the amount of marketable 'product'. Having
said that last year's race was a good standard (2006
Result) with the first three home all winning at Group level afterwards
and the 4th/6th Listed races. The quality behind that dirfted off into
a long tail with the eight, for example, eventually winning a maiden at
the umpteenth go as a 3yo.
This year's field has a similar feel to it and already includes two 5f
Listed winners (Janina & Loch Jipp) and an Irish Group 3 victress).
The Class Ladder is in the table below :-
Has Aiden O'Brien had a good Ascot so far with his 2yos? His record between
2002-5 was 13 runners for 1 win (Coventry in 2002), and two places including
the runner-up in this race in 2005 with Rumpelstiltskin. He has run 5 in
the four previous races with one narrow win (Henrythenavigator's Coventry
success) and 4 unplaced with the two 5f colts notably disappointing. Which
brings his total to 2 from 18 wins with two placed and not a record to
be intimidated by.
You'resothrilling is likely to be modest value given her background (full
sister to Giant's Causeway, etc) and the fact she represents the Irish
form which has shown up well in parts so far. On debut she was beaten by
Pencil Hill (Coventry 4th) but with the unplaced Royal Ascot runners Achilles
Of Try & Tuscan Evening close behind. Stepped up to 6f in a Group 3
next time she comfortably with Richard Hannon's maiden May Day Queen just
over two lengths away. The Queen Mary 3rd (The Loan Express) was back in
5th and failing to get a clear run and not quite lasting out the distance.
Having seen her on her Windsor debut the proximity of May Day Queen seems
to limit the level of the form of that Group 3. Another good question is
how strong the Queen Mary form actually is which the two Irish fillies
whose form ties in with Pencil Hill et al finished 1st & 3rd in. Assuming
it was just average then there are enough niggles about supporting You'resothrilling
at a shorter price to look for an alternative.
Fortunately there is one in Baffled who runs for the trainer who has won
the race for the last two years. They were both expensive 2yo breeze-up
purchases for Robert Ogden who had one run before coming to Ascot. They
both stepped up greatly from debut to put up strong performances STO. The
equivalent filly this year for Mr Ogden flunked her debut badly at Nottingham
but was a staying on fourth in the Queen Mary at longer odds. The hype
and short price surrounding Baffled on her Lingfield debut suggested she
was a 'real thing' better type and she responded to being overtaken by
Bastakiya in the straight to get up late. SHe looked a good enough physical
type to improve from that promising debut and bigger and with more substance
than either of the last two winners of this event (La
Chunga & Sander
Camillo). Her trainer's record of bringing his runners to peak for
Royal Ascot over the last three years has been very good and Baffled presents
a slightly stronger profile that the O'Brien runner overall.
