by Jack Milner
The G2 Park Hill Stakes is the feature on Day Two of Doncaster‘s St Leger meeting with an excellent field of 13 fillies’ heading to post. Godolphin’s Hidden Gold looks the most likely winner on paper after she followed her second in the Lillie Langtry Stakes with an excellent third in the Lonsdale Cup at York’s Ebor meeting. The well-bred daughter of Shamardal will have no problem staying the trip but looks short enough at her current price of 7/2 with BetVictor.
John Gosden’s Gretchen boasts an excellent pedigree and should likewise have no problem staying over a mile and three quarters but preference lay with Koora (3.05) under Jamie Spencer. Connections’ won the corresponding race last term with Silk Sari and Luca Cumani‘s filly is similarly well-bred and has improved on all three visits to a racecourse. Spencer rode her to success at the track last month and partnered her to finish second when pitched in at the deep end in a Fillies’ Listed contest last month on the Knavesmire. With plenty of improvement yet to come she is a confident selection to reward each-way support.
Spencer partners Charlie Fellows’ Salvo in the opener who drops back in grade after disappointing in the Princess Margaret last time out at Ascot and she is a fascinating contender from an opening mark of 88 but she is overlooked for Our Joy (1.55) under Dane O’Neill. Clive Cox’s speedily-bred daughter of Kodiac built on an impressive debut at Sandown when finishing down the field at Royal Ascot and, despite disappointing due to a poor draw last time out on the all-weather, remains unexposed and open to further improvement from an opening mark of 77.
Qatar Racing’s filly Kiyoshi should go well again in the G3 Sceptre Stakes after winning the corresponding race last term but 3-y-o’s have won the last eight renewals, and 12 of the last 13, and Barry Hills’ Fadhayyil (2.30) should continue that trend under Paul Hanagan. The selection was an excellent fifth when failing to stay a mile in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and, after bouncing back to winning ways over the 7f trip last time out at York, is a confident selection to follow-up this afternoon.
Bond’s Girl gave trainer Richard Fahey further success in the big sales race on last year’s card and after landing similar pots at Redcar, Newbury and York already this term is well-represented with no less than six of the 22 strong field. Locally-based trainers Mark Johnston and Kevin Ryan are both double-handed but Dean Ivory’s Twin Sails (3.40) can bounce back from his disappointing effort at Newbury. The colt was narrowly beaten in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and although coming unstuck in a muddling four-runner affair last time out remains the one to beat under Robert Winston.
John Gosden’s California (4.15) made a favourable impression when making a winning debut at Wetherby and looks well-treated from an opening mark of 81 for the Fillies’ Handicap over ten furlongs. The well-bred daughter of Mastercraftsman is open to much further improvement and can maintain her unbeaten record under Rab Havlin.
Godolphin often run some of their strongest juveniles at the meeting and after placing in warm maidens at Goodwood and York Very Talented (5.25) can make it third time lucky under James Doyle. Saeed Bin Suroor’s yard remain in good form and with some exciting entries to his name can score en-route to a tilt at the top level thereafter.
Making Shapes (4.25) ran too bad to be true when last of five last month at Goodwood and can bounce back under regular partner Oisin Murphy at Epsom. Peter Chapple-Hyam’s well-bred colt shed the maiden tag at Newcastle in May and has been well-supported in the market for his subsequent starts in handicap company at Pontefract, Haydock and Goodwood thereafter. The selection was eased after failing to stay a mile and a half last time out but the combination of a return to ten furlongs and the application of first-time headgear should see him in a much better light.
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