Hollie Doyle, our resident racing ambassador, shares her insights on the action at Town Moor, offering her perspective on the Park Hill, May Hill and Sales races. The event known as the Fillies' Leger – officially the Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (3.00) – is one of the marquee contests on the opening day of the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster on Thursday.
Doyle believes the race is set to be fiercely contested and that the likely victor will be the Owen Burrows‑trained mare Waardah. Waardah has already contested two major races this season in a relatively light campaign, stepping up against pattern‑level opposition. Her most recent appearance was in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, where she was caught out by a touch of freshness early on – her first run since May.
This experience, however, should serve her well as she returns with a new hood for the first time, a piece of equipment that could help her settle and unleash her full potential. Doyle points out that Waardah possesses the class to outstay rivals such as Fairy Glen, a horse that impressed at Meydan in the spring by winning the Dubai Gold Cup over two miles, beating Friday’s probable Doncaster Cup favourite Caballo De Mar. The Simon and Ed Crisford‑owned filly has demonstrated that she can thrive after a break, and a four‑month lay‑off is unlikely to unsettle her.
Her stamina over the extended mile‑and‑three‑quarter distance of the Park Hill is well‑proven, making her a strong candidate for the win. Turning to the other Group Two contest on the opening card, the Betfred May Hill Stakes (3.35) for two‑year‑old fillies, Doyle highlights Godolphin’s Musical Times. The filly has been building a solid reputation after unbeaten runs in novice events at Newmarket and Yarmouth, and she is now poised for a possible step up to the Group One Fillies' Mile. As a daughter of Lope De Vega, Musical Times brings both pedigree and promise to this recognised classic trial.
Still, she has yet to face top‑class competition, so Doyle also backs the Irish‑trained Sea Of Rain, who recently secured a Group Three victory at the Curragh. Trained by Jim Bolger, Sea Of Rain brings experience and a proven ability to handle softer ground, making her a credible challenger.
In the juvenile division, the Weatherbys £300,000 2‑Year‑Old Stakes (1.50) is expected to be dominated by favourite Night In Vegas. The colt, owned by Eve Johnson Houghton, carries a high rating of 102 but will also carry a significant weight penalty relative to his peers. His credentials are impressive, highlighted by a valuable auction race win at Newmarket and a respectable third place in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. Doyle hopes to see her husband Tom Marquand ride William Haggas’s God Given Talent, who was unlucky in his fourth‑place finish in a hot nursery at York’s Ebor Festival – his first start for Haggas after moving from James Ferguson’s yard.
Another contender with a rating of 91, Satellite Of Love, trained by Clive Cox, could also make an impact. The colt was unbeaten in his first two starts before finishing well behind the Group One winner Sun Goddess in a York sales race. In the British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies' Nursery Handicap (1.15) on Thursday, Art Of Life is yet to break her duck but could claim a debut win in novice company.
Cox’s filly has been unlucky in the past, bumping into promising rivals at Newbury, including a close finish behind Tom’s favourite Sweetwonderfulyou. Doyle slightly favours Art Of Life over Richard Spencer’s likely favourite Speed Of Sound, a Sioux Nation‑bred filly who ran a strong race behind Sun Goddess in the same York sales contest.
At a higher price level, Richard Hannon’s Rollthedicebaby possesses the talent to bounce back after finishing behind Speed Of Sound on the Knavesmire. In the mile‑and‑quarter Pertemps Network Handicap (2.25) on opening day, Tom Marquand and trainer William Haggas have a strong contender in King Of Earth. The son of Frankel impressed in a valuable Curragh handicap over the summer, winning with cheekpieces for the first time, and showed resilience in Group Three company at York.
Returning to a handicap with favourable ground and a good draw, King Of Earth could quickly regain his form, potentially at the expense of John and Thady Gosden’s Runman. Runman, a son of Frankel, has a two‑month break behind him and previously won over this distance at Newbury. He appears well‑conditioned and, carrying only three pounds more than his rivals, should relish the Town Moor conditions.
Doyle’s comments were captured in an interview with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft. Fans can watch every race of the Betfred St Leger Festival live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 512) from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th September.