Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes
Fillies' Group 2, Newmarket 14:20 £100,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 1f, Class 1
Sunday 5th May 2019

1 Worth Waiting 3/1
2 Nyaleti 11/2
3 Billesdon Brook 7/2
5 ran NR: Shenanigans Distances: 1l, 3¼l, nse
Time: 1m 51.27s (slow by 3.47s

A tough performance from Worth Waiting as she makes all under James Doyle

That was a race worth waiting for if you backed the winner as Worth Waiting claims the Dahlia Stakes at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/qjrcayfAUq

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 5, 2019

After coming up short at the top level on her final start last year, Worth Waiting showed at Newmarket on Sunday she has taken a step forward over the winter, with a ready victory in the Group Two contest.

Racing front rank under James Doyle throughout the one-mile one-furlong contest, just outside the three pole the 3-1 shot moved into a lead she would not surrender on the way to a length win from Nyaleti.

Lanigan said: “She has trained well up to (this race) and she is a stronger filly this year.

“Ted Durcan rides her in a lot of her work. Even last year, before we went to the Aphrodite we weren’t 100 per cent sure she would stay the mile and a half completely.

“I think she is so laid-back she helped herself last year. When we went to Deauville they crawled, then sprinted – then when we ran in the Group One at Chantilly, she blew like a filly that didn’t stay a mile and a half, and I knew she was 100 per cent fit.

“When Ted got off her a week ago on the watered gallop, it was the first time in 11 years he has been riding for me that he got off one and was really happy with her – so I thought we are in the right spot. ”

Injury at the end of her previous campaign meant Worth Waiting has proved well-named in her preparation for this summer.

“She had a chip taken out of a hind fetlock at the end of the season, and it took her a little bit of time to come right,” added Lanigan.

“From her first run of the year, with natural progression, you would expect her to improve for the run.

“The main thing is to try pick up a Group One. I think we will leave her at a mile and a quarter for the moment.”

That Group One victory may be secured abroad, with Lanigan earmarking races in America and Ireland for his stable star.

He said: “I thought if we went and won today, we would go for the Pretty Polly (at the Curragh).

“Long term, at the end of last year we thought the perfect fit for her would be the Beverly D. Stakes (at Arlington Park).”

Dahlia Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)
£100,000 added, 1m 1f, 4yo+, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

Pos	Dr	D	Horse SP	Jockey Weight	Trainer	Age
1st	(2)		Worth Waiting 3/1	James Doyle 9-0	D R Lanigan	4
2nd	(3)	1	Nyaleti (IRE) 11/2	J Fanning 9-0	M Johnston	4
3rd	(6)	3¼	Billesdon Brook 7/2	S M Levey 9-0	R Hannon	4
4th	(4)	nse	Veracious 5/4f	R L Moore 9-0	Sir Michael Stoute	4
5th	(1)	3	Rasima 16/1	David Egan 9-0	R Varian	4
NR	(5)		Shenanigans (IRE)	W Buick 9-0	R Varian	5