Racecards
18:30 Newmarket
Corporate Fx Foreign Currency Fillies' Handicap (Class 5)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- Form 312504
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer Stef Higgins
- Jockey E Ahern
held up, ridden 3f out, soon no impression
Safirah
16- Form 794445
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 31-3403
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
with winner, ridden over 3f out, stayed on to take 2nd post
Red Sail
14- Form 95-5564
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer Dr J D Scargill
- Jockey Richard Hughes
keen, held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Prelude
10- Form 0-93908
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey S W Kelly
keen, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
Maystock
20- Form 9-00846
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey R Winston
led, headed over 8f out, chased leader after, ridden 3f out, stayed on to lead again inside final furlong
Star Welcome
11- Form 276613
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer W J Musson
- Jockey D Mernagh
keen, held up, ridden 3f out, kept on final furlong, never dangerous
- Form 41U335
- Age 5
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 44
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey C Catlin
keen, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out
Serramanna
48- Form 900080
- Age 4
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 41
- Trainer Dr J R J Naylor
- Jockey B Reilly
pulled hard, tracked leaders, led 8f out, ridden 3 lengths clear 3f out, edged left over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
In depth
Verdict
Ellina comes here on a hat trick, but both of her wins have been on Wolverhampton's Polytrack and she is unlikely to be as effective here; the vote goes to Lady Karr ahead of Saffron Fox, Star Welcome and Red Sail. Mark Johnston's horses are running as well as they have been all season at the moment, and Lady Karr has run some fair races this year, including when third to Sporting Gesture at York last time out. The only time she has encountered soft ground before, she bolted up by six lengths over this trip at Catterick, so if the rain continues to fall her chance would increase. The booking of Richard Hughes catches the eye for Red Sail, but she has been largely disappointing since leaving James Fanshawe's yard and is probably best watched. Saffron Fox is well handicapped at best, but she probably wants further, and a bigger danger should come from Star Welcome. Willie Musson's filly landed a gamble when beating the very progressive Michael's Pride at Nottingham last month and that looks decent form. She wasn't disgraced when third to another progressive sort in Charlie Kennet at Windsor on her only subsequent start, and still looks fairly treated here. However, Star Welcome's ability over this extra trip has to be taken on trust, particularly if the ground gets testing, and so for the selection we will stick with Lady Karr.
Formwatch
Efrhina (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Held up, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 5, 4 1/2l behind Boxhall (8-9) at Pontefract 1m 4f stk 0-70 (5) gf.
Safirah 13-2 (9-8) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 16, 6l behind Westcourt Dream (8-9) at Haydock 1m 3f hcp (5) gf.
Lady Karr 15-2 (8-8) Tracked leader, led after 4f, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Sporting Gesture (9-4) at York 1m 4f hcp (4) gf.
Red Sail 7-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, went 2nd over 6f out, weakened 1f out, 4th of 7, 6l behind The Nawab (8-9) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp (5) gf.
Ellina 7-2fav (9-9) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 2m 1f app hcp (6) pol beating Indian Chase (9-2) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Star Welcome 9-1 (8-8) In touch, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, not pace to challenge from 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 19, 1 1/2l behind Charlie Kennet (9-2) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (5) gf.
Iamback 7-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 7l behind Pearl's A Singer (9-2) at Brighton 1m 4f fll hcp (6) frm.
Saffron Fox 16-1 (9-9) Started very slowly, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 14, 8l behind Incroyable (9-10) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol.