William Hill May Hill Stakes |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 14:25 £70,000 added, 2yo fillies only, 1m, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 14th September 2017 | |
1 Laurens 11/4F
2
Dark Rose Angel 14/1
3
Nyaleti 4/1
8 ran Distances: hd, hd, nk
Time: 1m 40.06s (slow by 4.06s)
Karl Burke's Laurens was a narrow winner on her racecourse debut at this venue in July before filling the runner-up spot in the Group Three Prix du Calvados at Deauville last month.
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Laurens appeared to be caught a little flat-footed when Nyaleti upped the ante inside the final three furlongs and at that stage she looked booked for minor honours at best.
However, Burke's charge eventually found top gear and got up to beat course and distance winner Dark Rose Angel by a head, with Nyaleti the same distance away in third.
McDonald said: "That was brilliant. We've had so much faith in this filly from the start.
"Karl has done a brilliant job with her. She was showing a lot on the gallops earlier in the year and anybody could have got excited, but Karl had patience.
"Whatever this filly does this year, I can't wait to ride her next year when she's a three-year-old. She's going to be smashing.
"I've never ridden a Group One winner before, but I'd be shocked if this filly can't make up into one."
Burke was completing a double on the afternoon having landed the preceding nursery with Ellthea (8-1).
"She's a beautiful-natured filly with the looks, the class and the action," said the Leyburn-based trainer.
"We've thought a lot of her for a long time. She was an expensive yearling (£220,000) and you can see why now.
"It's a relief. John (Dance, owner) was nervous and would rather have gone for a Listed race and got that black type win into her, but there weren't too many opportunities and I persuaded him to come here."
The Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly and the Fillies' Mile at Ascot are possible options for later in the season, while Burke already has one eye on a return to France for a tilt at Classic glory next summer.
He added: "She's had a tough race today so we'll see if she runs again this year. She's not in the Prix Marcel Boussac. She could be supplemented. There is the Fillies' Mile, which gives her an extra week, so that's possible.
"There's a long way to go from now until next year and a lot can happen in a racehorse's life in a week, never mind six months. But if everything stays together and she's in one piece, then she's very useful."
He added: "Next year the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) will be perfect for her, as she qualifies for the French premiums. She's in all the Guineas, but the Diane is the target I've always had for her.
"She's the best filly I've had at this stage of her career and she can only get better, she's still very green."
Simon Crisford was delighted with the performance of the runner-up Dark Rose Angel.
He said: "I'm absolutely thrilled. I thought she put in a huge effort and she's now Group Two-placed. She's a very honest, straightforward filly.
"I thought half a furlong out we'd probably won it but I probably got over excited. We'll get her back, talk to the owner and make a plan."
William Hill May Hill Stakes
(Fillies' Group 2) (Str)
£70,000 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (4) | Laurens (FR) 11/4f | P McDonald 9-0 |
K R Burke | 2 | |
| 2nd | (1) | hd | Dark Rose Angel (IRE) 14/1 | P Mulrennan 9-0 |
S Crisford | 2 |
| 3rd | (7) | hd | Nyaleti (IRE) 4/1 | James Doyle 9-0 |
M Johnston | 2 |
| 4th | (2) | nk | Sizzling (IRE) 9/1 | R L Moore 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 2 |
| 5th | (8) | 2¾ | Billesdon Brook 4/1 | S M Levey 9-0 |
R Hannon | 2 |
| 6th | (5) | 1½ | She Believes (IRE) 16/1 | L P Keniry 9-0 |
S Kirk | 2 |
| 7th | (3) | 1&afrac34 | Tajaanus (IRE) 9/2 | Jim Crowley 9-0 |
R Hannon | 2 |
| 8th | (6) | 1½ | Miss Bar Beach (IRE) 22/1 | G Lee 9-0 |
K Dalgleish | 2 |
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2016 Rich Legacy R M Beckett Oisin Murphy Qatar Racing Limited 3/1
2015 Turret Rocks Jim Bolger Kevin Manning Mrs June Judd 7/2
2014 Agnes Stewart E Lynam W J Lee Clipper Logistics Group Ltd 11/4
2013 Ihtimal Saeed bin Suroor S De Sousa Godolphin 11/10 fav
2012 Certify Mahmood Al Zarooni Mickael Barzalona Godolphin 4/6 fav
2011 Lyric Of Light Mahmood Al Zarooni Frankie Dettori Godolphin 9/1
2010 White Moonstone Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 8/11 fav
2009 Pollenator Richard Hannon Ryan Moore The Royal Ascot Racing Club 14/1
2008 Rainbow View John Gosden Jimmy Fortune George Strawbridge 1/3 fav
2007 Spacious James Fanshawe Jamie Spencer Cheveley Park Stud 9/4 fav
2006 Simply Perfect Jeremy Noseda Darryll Holland Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier 4/1
2005 Nasheej Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Malih L Al Basti 4/1
2004 Playful Act John Gosden Jimmy Fortune Sangster Family 8/1
2003 Kinnaird Patrick Haslam Kevin Darley Alastair Dinsmore 9/1
2002 Summitville James Given Michael Fenton Mountain High Partnership 11/2
2001 Half Glance Henry Cecil Richard Quinn Khalid Abdullah 5/2
2000 Karasta Sir Michael Stoute Johnny Murtagh H H Aga Khan 5/4 fav
1999 Teggiano Clive Brittain Frankie Dettori Abdullah Saeed Bul Hab 13/2
