Hollie Doyle, our resident racing ambassador, shares her insights on the action unfolding 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), stands out as a marquee contest on the opening day of the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster this Thursday.
Doyle anticipates a fiercely contested renewal and believes the odds are in favour of the Owen Burrows‑trained mare Waardah. Waardah has only contested two major starts this season, both within a light‑weight campaign against pattern company. Her most recent effort came in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, where she showed promise but was hampered by a touch of freshness early on – her first race since May. This Thursday she will appear with a hood for the first time, a change that could sharpen her focus and allow her to outclass rivals such as Fairy Glen, the spring‑time Dubai Gold Cup winner over two miles at Meydan, who will be backed by Friday's probable Doncaster Cup favourite Caballo De Mar.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s filly has demonstrated that a spell of four months does not diminish her stamina; the mile‑and‑three‑quarter distance of the Park Hill should suit her perfectly. Doyle notes that Waardah’s pedigree and recent form suggest she will handle the extended trip with ease, making her a top candidate for the win. Turning to the other Group Two on the card, the Betfred May Hill Stakes (3.35) for two‑year‑old fillies, Doyle highlights Godolphin’s Musical Times.
The unbeaten juvenile has collected victories in novice events at Newmarket and Yarmouth and is now being tipped for a potential Group One Fillies' Mile campaign later in the season. As a daughter of Lope De Vega, Musical Times carries a growing reputation and is regarded as a fascinating contender in this recognised classic trial. However, Doyle cautions that Musical Times has yet to face high‑calibre opposition, so she backs the Irish‑trained Sea Of Rain as a solid alternative. Sea Of Rain, trained by Jim Bolger, has already proved her mettle with a Group Three win at the Curragh and possesses the experience to handle the soft ground expected on Thursday.
In the juvenile division, the Weatherbys £300,000 2‑Year‑Old Stakes (1.50) will likely be dominated by the favourite Night In Vegas. The colt, owned by Eve Johnson Houghton, carries a lofty rating of 102 but will concede a substantial weight to his nearest rivals under the race’s conditions. His credentials are impressive, featuring a valuable auction race victory at Newmarket and a credible third place in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at the Goodwood Festival. Doyle also expects a strong showing from William Haggas’s God Given Talent, a colt who was unlucky in a fourth‑place finish at York’s Ebor Festival after a long spell away from James Ferguson’s yard.
Alongside him, Satellite Of Love, rated equally at 91 and trained by Clive Cox, could make an impact. Satellite was unbeaten in his first two starts before finishing a respectable fifth behind the eventual Group One winner Sun Goddess in a York sales race. The British Stallion Studs’ ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies' Nursery Handicap (1.15) offers a debut opportunity for Art Of Life, a Cox‑trained filly who has yet to lead a race but possesses the talent to claim her first win at novice level. She has previously been unlucky in company at Newbury, often hampered by overly eager front‑runners such as Tom’s favourite Sweetwonderfulyou.
Doyle marginally prefers Art Of Life over Richard Spencer’s likely favourite Speed Of Sound, a Sioux Nation filly who ran a strong race behind Sun Goddess in the valuable sales contest at York. At a higher price point, Richard Hannon’s Rollthedicebaby also boasts the ability 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 key showdown between Tom Marquand’s mount and his trainer William Haggas. King Of Earth, who impressed with a valuable Curragh handicap win in the summer while wearing cheekpieces for the first time, is poised to return to form after a respectable Group Three effort at York.
Back in a handicap with favourable ground and a good draw, he could regain his winning rhythm, potentially at the expense of John and Thady Gosden’s Runman. King Of Earth, a son of Frankel, has only a two‑month break since his last Newbury victory over the same distance. He appears well‑conditioned and will benefit from the softer Town Moor surface, especially given his modest three‑pound penalty. Doyle’s comments were captured in an interview with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.
For fans eager to follow every race of the Betfred St Leger Festival, live coverage will be available on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 512) from Thursday 10th September through to Sunday 13th September.