Racecards
15:50 Pontefract
Slatch Farm Stud Flying Fillies' Stakes (listed) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 266138
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer M S Saunders
- Jockey Ted Durcan
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, led final furlong, kept on well
- Form 412-031
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer S C Williams
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
slowly into stride, towards rear, raced stands side from over 1f out, soon lost place
- Form 556114
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D Wachman
- Jockey J P Spencer
chased leaders, soon not much room after start mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong, no impression
- Form 422191
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey J F Egan
chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
- Form 31172
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 84
led for 1f, with leader, ridden over 2f out, hung right final furlong, kept on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
- Form 116130
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Patrick Morris
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, carried right 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 115645
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 92
chased leaders, led over 2f out, headed final furlong, no extra
- Form 219145
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 85
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out
In depth
Verdict
A good line-up for the fillies' Listed race, in which Mecca's Mate is selected ahead of Dark Missile and Ripples Maid. Mecca's Mate has been far from disgraced in Group company this season, not least when third in the Temple Stakes on rain-softened going. She can go well today, particularly if the rains come. A six-time Listed winner, Indian Maiden has to be respected here, even though she has to concede weight to her rivals courtesy of such success, because she still fares pretty on adjusted ratings, although the draw could have been kinder. A 92-rated winning handicapper, Folga is not ruled out of a good run, and neither are recent good Ascot winner, Dark Missile, and Tagula Sunrise, who is weighted to get closer to her based on that Ascot run. Irish raider Lady Orpen has a better chance than many if Irish form translates literally, while Ripples Maid is just held by Indian Maiden based on recent The Curragh form, and she is weighted to finish just ahead of Dark Missile based on recent form also, so her chance is very much respected today. Overall, though, we will side with Mecca's Mate.
Formwatch
Indian Maiden (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden and no impression from 2f out, last of 8, 7l behind Moss Vale (9-10) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Folga 11-1 (9-10) Held up, effort 2f out, not quicken and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 10l behind Dark Missile (8-13) at Ascot 6f fll hcp (2) gf.
Absolutelyfabulous (IRE) 7-4fav (8-12) Tracked leaders in 5th, ridden and no impression early straight, kept on well inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 3/4l behind Indian Maiden (9-6) at Leopardstown 6f lst fll stk (1) gf in Jul.
Dark Missile 4-1 (8-13) Prominent on outer, ridden to lead 2f out, stayed on gamely final furlong, driven out, won at Ascot 6f fll hcp (2) gf beating Lady Livius (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Ripples Maid 9-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th 3f out, ridden straight, kept on final furlong, 5th of 7, 1l behind Indian Maiden (9-6) at Leopardstown 6f lst fll stk (1) gf in Jul.
Daniella 5-1 (8-9) Led at steady pace, quickened over 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, ridden and headed post, 2nd of 6, nk behind Folga (9-12) at Newmarket 6f fll hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Mecca's Mate 13-2 (8-13) Held up in rear and keen, switched left over 2f out, soon ridden, one pace and no impression, 6th of 7, 6l behind Fayr Jag (9-2) at Newcastle 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jul.
Tagula Sunrise (IRE) 7-2fav (9-6) Took keen hold in rear, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Dark Missile (8-13) at Ascot 6f fll hcp (2) gf.