10 declarations have been received for the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (G2) worth £145,000 at Doncaster on Thursday ran over the Betfred St Leger trip of 1m6f.
One Evening represents the John & Thady Gosden stable who have won this contest in each of the last two years courtesy of Free Wind and Mimikyu. No trainer has ever won three consecutive renewals of the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes. The daughter of Galileo warmed up for this contest with a fine effort when beaten just a head in the British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed). The team at Clarehaven Stables will be doubly represented in their bid to make history with Frankel filly Lmay also declared.
Night Sparkle is set to have her first start for the Andrew Balding yard since leaving Michael O’Callaghan as she goes in search of a fifth consecutive victory. This represents the daughter of Postponed’s first effort in group company. The Kirsten Rausing-owned Ching Shih is the highest-rated filly in the field and produced a promising effort when runner-up in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (G3) on her first run at 1m5½f. This extra half furlong could yet yield further improvement.
The Paul and Oliver Cole-trained Sumo Sam produced a relentless performance on heavy ground to win the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (G2) over this trip at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Divine Jewel is an interesting contender after she returned to form when second in the Caa Stellar Chester Stakes (Listed) at the beginning of the month.
Another filly stepping up to this trip for the first time is Golden Lyra whose trainer William Haggas has never won this race before. Somerville Lodge Stables are doubly represented with the Anthony Oppenheimer-owned Crack Of Light declared.
Aidan O’Brien and son Joseph O’Brien have declared one runner each. Boogie Woogie will be ridden by Ryan Moore for Ballydoyle after a disappointing effort in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes (G3). Meanwhile, Shamwari will look to give Joseph O’Brien another winner in this event after he won it with another three-year-old in Pista in 2020.
Latest Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes odds:
7-2 Sumo Sam, 6 Boogie Woogie, Golden Lyra, 13-2 Ching Shih, 7 One Evening, 15/2 Night Sparkle, 8 Divine Jewel, 11 Crack Of Light, Shamwari, 16 Lmay.
Elsewhere on the card, the £120,000 Betfred May Hill Stakes (G2) has attracted a competitive field of nine runners, including the exciting Karl Burke-trained Darnation. The Prestige Fillies’ Stakes winner is just one of a number of exciting young fillies the Spigot Lodge has on his hands at present.
Also among the declared runners are the once-raced and unbeaten trio of Hala Abrar, Meribella and See The Fire. Zenjabeela has obliged at odds-on the last twice and goes in search of a hat-trick on her first start at 1m, while Romanova adds further intrigue to this Group 2 after she broke her maiden in blistering style by 7½-lengths at Salisbury last time out.
The most valuable race on the card is the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes in which there is a fascinating clash in store between the Aidan O’Brien trained Gimcrack Stakes runner-up Johannes Brahms and Dragon Leader who was deeply impressive in the Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes at York.
Latest Betfred May Hill Stakes odds:
9-4 Darnation, 6 Romanova, Meribella, 7 See The Fire, Hard To Resist, Zenjabeela, 9 Les Bleus, 14 Francophone, 20 Hala Abrar
Mark Pearson, Head of Media at Betfred, said:
“Day one of the Betfred St Leger meeting has thrown up a very competitive card across all eight races.
“The Betfred May Hill Stakes has attracted its usual array of classy and unexposed juvenile fillies. The last two winners were priced at different ends of the spectrum, 40/1 and 2/9f and I doubt we will see anything that short, or maybe even that long this year with a tightly knit nine set to go to post. Karl Burke’s impressive Prestige Stakes winner Darnation heads the market at 9/4f while Hard to Resist will bid to get the Desert Hero team off to the best start for His Majesty The King, William Haggas and Tom Marquand. She is 7/1 for this Group 2 contest.
“Thirty five minutes later, The Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes over the Betfred St Leger course and distance has attracted a field of ten. Sumo Sam dictated the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood in atrocious conditions and is 7/2f to follow up here. John & Thady Gosden are doubly represented in their hat-trick bid in this race courtesy of York Galtres Stakes runner-up and fifth home, One Evening at 7/1 and Lmay at 20/1. Night Sparkle, having her first start for Andrew Balding since coming from Ireland is interesting at 15/2”.
The first day of the Betfred St Leger Festival kicks off at 1:15pm, with the eight-race card drawing to a close at 5:20pm.
