Hollie Doyle, our resident racing ambassador, shares her insights on the action unfolding at Town Moor, offering a detailed 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), stands out as one of the marquee contests on the opening day of the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster this Thursday.
Doyle anticipates a fiercely contested renewal and believes the race will likely be won by the Owen Burrows‑trained mare Waardah. Waardah has only two pattern starts this season, both in high‑profile races, including a recent appearance in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
In that outing she showed a flash of brilliance before a slight bout of freshness in the early stages cost her the win – it was her first run since May, and she was still shaking off a long lay‑off. This time she will wear a hood for the first time, a piece of equipment that could help her settle and unleash her true ability. Doyle thinks she can outclass several classy rivals, notably Fairy Glen, who impressed on the synthetic surface at Meydan in the spring when she captured the Dubai Gold Cup over two miles, beating the likely Doncaster Cup favourite Caballo De Mar. The Simon and Ed Crisford‑trained filly has demonstrated that she can return from a spell without losing her edge, and the four‑month break should not be a problem.
Her stamina over the extended mile‑and‑three‑quarter distance is well established, and she should be able to stay on strongly in the closing stages. Turning to the other Group Two contest on opening day, the Betfred May Hill Stakes (3.35) for two‑year‑olds, Doyle highlights Godolphin’s filly Musical Times. The daughter of Lope De Vega has built a growing reputation after unbeaten runs in novice company at Newmarket and Yarmouth. She is now being positioned as a potential challenger for the Group One Fillies' Mile later in the season, making her a fascinating prospect in this recognised Classic trial.
Although Musical Times has yet to face top‑class opposition, Doyle backs her up against the Irish contender Sea Of Rain, who already proved her mettle by winning a Group Three at the Curragh. Trainer Jim Bolger’s filly brings valuable experience and should handle the soft ground without difficulty. In the juvenile division, Doyle sees the clear favourite Night In Vegas taking the lead in the Weatherbys £300,000 2‑Year‑Old Stakes (1.50). The colt, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, carries a lofty rating of 102 but will be carrying a significant weight penalty relative to his nearest rivals.
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 the Goodwood Festival. Doyle also expects a strong showing from Tom Marquand aboard William Haggas’s God Given Talent. The horse was unlucky in his first start for Haggas after finishing fourth in a competitive nursery at York’s Ebor Festival, having previously been trained by James Ferguson.
Another contender with a rating of 91, Satellite Of Love, could also influence the outcome. Trained by Clive Cox, the colt was unbeaten in his first two starts before being beaten into fifth place behind the eventual 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 still seeking her first win.
The Cox‑trained filly has been unlucky to encounter strong opposition at Newbury, including a narrow defeat when she was slightly too keen behind Tom’s favourite Sweetwonderfulyou in her last outing. Doyle marginally prefers Art Of Life to Richard Spencer’s likely favourite Speed Of Sound, a lovely Sioux Nation filly who produced a strong performance behind Sun Goddess in that valuable sales race at York.
At a higher price point, Richard Hannon’s Rollthedicebaby possesses the talent to rebound after a modest finish behind Speed Of Sound on the Knavesmire. The mile‑and‑quarter Pertemps Network Handicap (2.25) on opening day features a showdown between Tom Marquand and his boss William Haggas. Their mount, King Of Earth, impressed when he claimed a valuable Curragh handicap in the summer, wearing cheekpieces for the first time. Although he was beaten in Group Three company at York, a return to handicap conditions, a favourable draw and suitable ground should allow him to regain his best form, potentially at the expense of John and Thady Gosden’s Runman.
King Of Earth, a son of the legendary Frankel, has enjoyed a two‑month lay‑off before winning over this distance at Newbury. He now carries just three pounds more than his last start and should relish the Town Moor surface.
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.