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Bailey Has Aspen Darlin Primed for Champions’ Day at Newmarket 15/10/08

Aspen Darlin is the form filly going into the £80,000 Group Two Countrywide Steel & Tubes Rockfel Stakes (4.25pm) at Newmarket on Champions’ Day, Saturday, October 18, following a fantastic effort on The NatWest Rowley Mile two weeks ago.

Trainer Alan Bailey is hopeful of another top notch effort after the Indian Haven juvenile finished half a length second to Serious Attitude in the Group One 32Red.com Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs on October 3. He reports the filly to be in fine form ahead of her first attempt at seven furlongs.

Bailey revealed this morning: “Aspen Darlin came out of the 32Red.com Cheveley Park Stakes very well, she has never left oats since she ran and is well in herself. She has gone in her coat but she had at Newmarket last time, so she’s all set for the Countrywide Steel & Tubes Rockfel Stakes.

“There was very little between Aspen Darlin and Serious Attitude on a line through Sneak Preview, who was second to us at Ayr, so we expected a good run last time.

“The extra furlong will be no problem at all on Saturday. I’m not saying she’ll improve for it because she couldn’t have done much better than she did last time. She’s as game as a pebble, is well in herself and I think she’ll run a big race.”

Aspen Darlin, who will again be ridden by Jimmy Quinn, has proved a bargain for her owners, the Indian Haven Syndicate, who paid just 10,000 euros for her at Tattersalls (Ireland) in September last year.

The versatile and consistent filly, who has already raced nine times this year, collected the Group Three Firth Of Clyde Stakes on heavy going at Ayr in September and could return to The NatWest Rowley Mile next spring for the Stan James 1000 Guineas.

The Newmarket trainer continued: “It doesn’t matter what the ground is. She’s a remarkable little thing, she goes on anything, you wouldn’t know you’d got her, she’s never any bother and is a real Christian of a filly.

“She might go for the Stan James 1000 Guineas, she may go for the Irish Guineas or even the French or Italian. All being well, she’ll go for a Guineas somewhere. The owners have got a cracking filly and are delighted to have her.”

The Countrywide Steel & Tubes Rockfel Stakes could also feature the Richard Hannon-trained Souter’s Sister, successful in the Group Three Sakhee Oh So Sharp Stakes over the course and distance on October 3. The filly had the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Moonlife and Nashmiah from the Clive Brittain stable in second and third that day, and the pair could reoppose. Hannon could also saddle Baileys Cacao, as well as Pennys Gift.

Jim Bolger took the prize in 2006 with subsequent Stan James 1000 Guineas heroine Finsceal Beo and the Irish handler could look to Forest Storm, Blas Ceoil and Oh Goodness Me.

The Countrywide Steel & Tubes Rockfel Stakes has a fine recent record with the 2005 winner Speciosa, trained by Pam Sly, also going on to Stan James 1000 Guineas glory and the 2004 heroine Maid’s Causeway taking the runner-up berth in the Classic before winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot for trainer Barry Hills.