Ed Crisford expects Senorita Bonita to uphold her status as ‘one of the best two-year-olds’ he has ever trained in the Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket after putting in a pleasing racecourse gallop.
The daughter of Starspangledbanner will bid to double her Group One tally by following up her scintillating success in the Sumbe Prix Morny at Deauville last month when reverting back to take on her own sex in the six furlongs showpiece on Saturday week.
And in order to prepare the Victorious Forever-owned filly, who bagged Group Two honours in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on the July Course, for her next assignment connections opted to give her an early morning spin on the Rowley Mile on Friday.
Working over five furlongs under Oisin Murphy, the three-time race winner moved effortlessly upsides her lead horse before finishing at the head of the exercise, much to the delight of Crisford, who trains Senorita Bonita in partnership with his dad Simon.
He said: “It was nice to come and have a look and feel of the track, especially here at Newmarket where the dip is. That is the nicest ground you will find as they have done a beautiful job. It is like a carpet. She had a nice blow this morning, which is all it was meant to be. She finished super well and Oisin was delighted. We couldn’t be happier.
“She stepped up in the Morny and showed an immense turn of foot to win very well. In this race you potentially have Sun Goddess and Libertango so it will be a very hot race so we will see where we stand at the table with them.
“I think it will be hotter than the Morny, if they all turn up. We have beaten Libertango at the July Meeting, but she showed at York with the way she won that she is a very good filly. It is a proper race. It is what you want to see in an end of season clash.
“She would be one of the best two year olds we have trained full stop. She would be up there with Vandeek for sure. She is a very high quality filly.”
Libertango stretching her legs at @NewmarketRace under @loughnane_billy 🏇💪 pic.twitter.com/In8x8DjqAu
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) September 18, 2026
Among those taking Senorita Bonita on will be Libertango, who also limbered up for a tilt at the £275,000 prize with a similar workout on the Rowley Mile.
After blitzing her rivals in the Group Three Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the George Boughey-trained filly then had to settle for second best on the July Course behind Senorita Bonita before bouncing back with Group Two glory in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.
And after striding clear of her work companion late on in the hands of Billy Loughnane it left her connections optimistic of reversing form with Senorita Bonita and securing a breakthrough success at Group One level
Rob Speers, racing manager to owner Ibrahim Araci, said: “We were absolutely delighted with her. She did exceptionally well to win at York from her draw on ground that she hated. We must have given them four or five lengths by switching across, but she travelled through horses like she did at Ascot. Rather than be able to quicken clear and go and win by two or three lengths she had to grind it out on the ground. She wanted it that day.
“I’m looking forward to getting her back on quicker ground next week. Billy is delighted with her. She is bigger, stronger and the best version of her that she has been. In the last week she has produced, I believe, her two best pieces of work. We go into Cheveley Park full of confidence. We could meet two other very good fillies, but we are happy to take on all comers as she is a very smart filly.”
Although optimistic regarding the chances of Libertango, Speers hopes that there is a good pace on to ensure the right result is played out on track.
He added: “I think for everyone who runs in the race we hope there is an even tempo so the race isn’t messy. Billy is not concerned though. He said she is so quick that if they went a dawdle and it turned into a sprint that he wouldn’t have any concerns because she has an electric turn of foot.
“If there are only six or seven runners my concern would be who would go forward, but I think Libertango has the tools to deal with it if there isn’t pace on.”
And while the focus for Libertango will be on Newmarket next weekend, Speers has admitted that she could be sent on her travels before the year is out for a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.
He added: “She has finished ahead of Sun Goddess the only time they have met and she finished just behind Senorita Bonita at Newmarket. Both of those fillies are Group One winners and we are not a Group One winner yet. In our mind she has two opportunities to become a Group One winning two-year-old, which she is more than capable of doing. She is a Group One filly in my eyes, and George’s eyes.
“The Cheveley Park is very much what she has been trained for, but then she has the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint afterwards. I would say she will do both come what may as they are her two opportunities to win a Group One this year.”
More from Sporting Life
- Fast results
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.al
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
