Fillies And Mares Gets Seal Of Approval

The betting for Saturday’s Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes over 1m4f (2.55) has an open look to it, and punters seem undecided as to who will…

…go off favourite, where it remains 5/1 the field.

Silk Sari
Indeed, this top-class event has more of a handicap shape to it than a Group race from a betting perspective, though Luca Cumani’s Silk Sari (5/1) has been backed following her Group 2 win at Doncaster last month (1m6f, good to soft). A winner over 1m4f before hand, Saturday’s step back in trip shouldn’t inconvenience her as she has gears, and the manner in which she has blossomed of late has been impressive.

Aidan O’Brien
Joining Silk Sari at the head of the betting is Aidan O’Brien’s Chiquita (5/1), who saw the racecourse just twice this term. Last year’s Irish Oaks winner was beaten almost 2l in a Group 2 on her reappearance last month, before finding the Arc too hot to handle a few weeks back. She has a bit to prove now, but she’ll handle soft ground and deserves to take her chance.

Godolphin
Godolphin’s Albasharah (6/1) also deserves a crack at this level having impressed in winning a Listed event at Newmarket by over 3l last weekend (1m2f, good). The trip is a slight worry, however, having found no extra when third over 1m4f at Haydock in July.

Godolphin also have Tasaday (10/1) entered, who has won numerous 1m2f races around the world, including a Group 2 in France last year. The concern is the trip, and she looked well held when beaten 7l in the Yorkshire Oaks in August (1m4f, good) when tried over 1m4f for the first time.

Classic Generation
Interestingly, this race has been won three times by 3yo’s in its brief six-year history, boding well for Roger Varian’s Hadaatha (6/1) – a Listed winner over 1m2f last month, before stepping up considerably to be beaten just 1/2l in a Group 1 on Arc weekend (1m2f, good). She stayed on strongly that day, and connections feel 1m4f is within her compass, though this will be her first outing in the mud.

Cubanita will no doubt run another solid race for Ralph Beckett at 7/1 and handles soft ground, but she may just lack the quality required at this level having only won a couple of Group 3’s.

Seal Of Approval
James Fanshawe also brings last year’s winner of this race, Seal Of Approval (7/1), back to defend her crown, and while she lost all four races since, the return to very soft ground – which she won on here 12 months ago – could bring the best out of her.

She is in decent form having been 7l behind Silk Sari in fourth at Doncaster, briefly checked before staying on, and could get closer to that rival this time around.

Recommended Bets
The ability to handle conditions will be paramount, which could give Seal Of Approval back-to-back victories in the race.