Hollie Doyle, our resident racing ambassador, shares her insights on the action at Doncaster’s Town Moor, offering a detailed look at the Park Hill, May Hill and the Sales Race fixtures. The race known as the Fillies' Leger – officially the Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (3.00) – stands out as a marquee event on the opening day of the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster on Thursday.
Doyle anticipates a fiercely contested renewal and believes the Owen Burrows‑trained Waardah will emerge as the standout contender. Waardah’s campaign this year has been deliberately light, yet she has already contested two high‑profile contests against top‑class company.
Most notably she ran in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, where she was caught out by a hint of freshness early on – a race that marked her first start since May. This experience, combined with a new hood fitted for the Park Hill, could give her the edge over polished rivals such as Fairy Glen, the filly who 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. Simon and Ed Crisford’s mare has shown a strong turn‑of‑speed after a break, and the four‑month spell should not hinder her.
Her stamina over the extended mile‑and‑three‑quarter distance appears assured, making her a logical choice for those seeking a proven stay‑out performer. On the other side of the card, Godolphin’s Musical Times adds a fresh layer of intrigue to the opening day’s Group Two contest, the Betfred May Hill Stakes (3.35) for two‑year‑olds. Unbeaten in novice outings at Newmarket and Yarmouth, the Lope De Vega‑bred filly is already being whispered about as a potential challenger for the Group One Fillies’ Mile later in the season. While her record is still developing, Doyle feels she merits a look alongside the Irish‑trained Sea Of Rain, a filly who has already secured a Group Three win at the Curragh.
Jim Bolger’s runner brings valuable experience and should handle the softer ground without issue. Turning to the juvenile division, the Weatherbys £300,000 2‑Y‑O Stakes (1.50) is likely to be dominated by the favourite Night In Vegas. The colt, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, carries a lofty rating of 102 but will be giving weight to many of his rivals under the race’s conditions.
His credentials are solid, highlighted by a valuable auction race victory at Newmarket and a respectable third in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at the Goodwood Festival. Doyle also notes a personal interest in William Haggas’s God Given Talent, a colt who was unlucky in a fourth‑place finish at York’s Ebor Festival – his first start for Haggas after moving from James Ferguson’s yard.
The horse’s rating of 91 mirrors that of Satellite Of Love, a Clive Cox‑trained colt who was unbeaten in his first two starts before being outpaced by the Group One winner Sun Goddess in a York sales race. Both could be worth a glance as the race unfolds.
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 possesses the talent to claim a debut victory from novice company. Cox’s filly has been unlucky to encounter strong competition at Newbury, including a close finish behind Tom Marquand’s favourite Sweetwonderfulyou in her last outing. Doyle marginally favours her over Richard Spencer’s likely favourite Speed Of Sound, a Sioux Nation‑bred who produced a strong performance behind Sun Goddess in the same York sales race. At a higher price point, Richard Hannon’s Rollthedicebaby has the class to rebound after a modest finish behind Speed Of Sound on the Knavesmire.
The horse’s ability to return to form after a softening mark could make it a valuable pick for those looking for upside. The mile‑and‑quarter Pertemps Network Handicap (2.25) offers another intriguing storyline. Tom Marquand and his trainer William Haggas have a horse they consider the one to beat. King Of Earth, who captured a valuable Curragh handicap in the summer while wearing cheekpieces for the first time, impressed despite a less than stellar showing in Group Three company at York.
Returning to a handicap on familiar ground with a favourable draw, he could quickly regain his best form, potentially at the expense of John and Thady Gosden’s Runman. Runman, a son of the legendary Frankel, has just completed a two‑month layoff before winning over the same distance at Newbury.
He appears well‑conditioned, carrying only a three‑pound penalty, and should relish the Town Moor conditions. Doyle’s comments were captured in an interview with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft. For fans eager to follow the action, every race of the Betfred St Leger Festival will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 512) from Thursday 10 September through Sunday 13 September.