Our ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her insights on the action at Town Moor, offering her perspective on the Park Hill, May Hill and the Sales Race meetings. The race commonly referred to as the Fillies' Leger – officially the Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (3.00) – is a marquee fixture on the opening day of the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster on Thursday. Doyle expects a fiercely contested renewal and believes the Owen Burrows‑trained filly Waardah will emerge as the standout. Waardah has already contested two major events this season in a relatively light campaign, most notably the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
In that race she was caught out by a hint of freshness early on, marking her first start since May. This Thursday she will wear a hood for the first time, a piece of equipment that could help her settle and unleash her full ability. Doyle notes that Waardah possesses the class to outshine rivals such as Fairy Glen, a filly who impressed on the Meydan track in the spring by taking the Dubai Gold Cup over two miles, beating the Friday‑day favorite Caballo De Mar, who is likely to contest the Doncaster Cup.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s mare has demonstrated that a break can be beneficial, and a four‑month lay‑off should not unsettle her. Her stamina over the extended mile‑and‑three‑quarter distance is well proven, and Doyle feels she will be able to dictate the pace and stay on strongly in the finish. Turning to the other Group Two on the opening card, the Betfred May Hill Stakes (3.35) for two‑year‑old fillies, Godolphin’s Musical Times arrives with a growing reputation. Unbeaten in novice contests at Newmarket and Yarmouth, the Lope De Vega‑bred filly is being earmarked for a potential Group One Fillies' Mile campaign later in the season.
Doyle finds her an intriguing prospect in this recognised Classic trial, but cautions that she has yet to face top‑class opposition. Consequently, she backs the Irish‑trained Sea Of Rain, a filly who already boasts a Group Three win at the Curragh, as a solid alternative.
Jim Bolger’s daughter has the experience to handle a cut‑heavy surface and could capitalize on any hesitation from the less seasoned Musical Times. In the juvenile division, Doyle sees Night In Vegas as the clear favorite for the Weatherbys £300,000 2‑Year‑Old Stakes (1.50).
The colt, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, carries a high rating of 102 but will be conceding weight to many of his rivals under the race’s conditions. His credentials are strong, highlighted by a valuable auction race victory at Newmarket and a respectable third in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. Doyle also expects a strong showing from Tom Marquand aboard William Haggas’s God Given Talent. The horse was unlucky in his debut for the yard, finishing fourth in a hot nursery at York’s Ebor Festival after moving from James Ferguson’s stable.
A similar rating of 91 belongs to Satellite Of Love, a Clive Cox‑trained colt who was unbeaten in his first two starts before being outclassed in a Group One sales race at York that was won by Sun Goddess. Both youngsters could be in contention if the race unfolds as expected. Further down the card, Art Of Life has yet to break her maiden but could claim a winning debut in the British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies' Nursery Handicap (1.15) on Thursday. Cox’s filly has been unlucky in previous outings at Newbury, often hampered by more experienced rivals such as Tom’s hot favourite Sweetwonderfulyou.
Doyle marginally prefers Art Of Life over Richard Spencer’s likely favourite Speed Of Sound, a Sioux Nation‑bred filly who produced a strong performance behind Sun Goddess in the same York sales race. At a higher price point, Richard Hannon’s Rollthedicebaby possesses the class to rebound after an easing effort that left him trailing Speed Of Sound on the Knavesmire. Doyle believes Tom and his boss William have identified the horse that must be beaten in the mile‑and‑quarter Pertemps Network Handicap (2.25) on the opening day. King Of Earth impressed Doyle when he captured a valuable Curragh handicap in the summer, doing so in his first race wearing cheekpieces.
Although his effort in a Group Three at York was modest, returning to a handicap with favourable ground and a good draw could see him quickly regain form, potentially at the expense of John and Thady Gosden’s Runman. The son of Frankel, who enjoyed a two‑month spell before winning over the same distance at Newbury, looks well‑conditioned and will likely thrive on the Town Moor surface.
Doyle’s comments were recorded in an interview with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft. Fans can watch every race from Thursday 10th September to Sunday 13th September on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 512).