2012 Fillies & Mares

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Seal Of Approval Wins Fillies & Mares
19/10/13

1 Seal Of Approval 16/1
2 Belle de Crecy 10/1
3 Talent 7/2C
NR: The Lark
8 ran Distances: 4l, nk, ¾l
TIME 2m 39.09s (slow by 9.09s)

Seal Of Approval, a filly who was sent to the sales but rejected by the market, landed today’s Group One QIPCO British Champions Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes.

Seal Of Approval
© Racehorse Photos

Stepping up massively in class, the 16-1 shot relished the testing conditions under George Baker, who was deputising for the injured Hayley Turner after her nasty fall from the James Fanshawe-trained filly in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster finished her season early.

Johnny Murtagh rode his own Belle De Crecy into second place, but was some four lengths adrift, while the Oaks winner Talent travelled well into the straight but failed to quicken up and stayed on for third.

Baker, who was claiming his first Group One, said: "Once I got a bit of daylight, she picked up nicely. I almost got there too soon. I feel sorry for Hayley Turner, who is injured - it's her ride."

Fanshawe added: "I always felt she'd improve on this ground. It's great for the breeders, Tim and Tessa Vestey, who own her. The only sad thing is that Hayley got injured at Doncaster and couldn't ride her, so I must thank Hayley for her help.

"I've spent three weeks looking at yearlings for next year and she's one you would never have picked. She's a great mover and her dad, Authorized, used to love soft ground.

"There's nothing like Ascot, it's been a lucky place for us. She showed real resilience, as a lot of horses wouldn't have gone through those gaps after what happened at Doncaster."

Trainer Ralph Beckett felt the ground was to blame for Talent’s defeat after the 7/2 co-favourite could only finish third behind Seal Of Approval.

“I’m very happy with that and she’s run really well,” said Beckett.

“I think the ground is to blame for her defeat. She likes some dig in the ground but it’s a lot softer than that out there today. That’s about the long and short of it.

“She’s been Group One placed again and hopefully she can add to her tally next year. I’m very pleased, very happy and it looks very much like she’ll stay in training next season.”

Qipco British Champions Fillies' And Mares' Stakes (Group 1)
£500,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Soft