Lah Ti Dar eases to victory at York
Lah Ti Dar eases to victory at York

QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stake entries


Lah Ti Dar, owned by Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber, heads 14 runners left in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes.

The impeccably bred filly (by Dubawi out of Dar Re Mi) won her first three races by an aggregate of more than 19 lengths before meeting defeat for the first time when runner-up to Kew Gardens in the William Hill St Leger last month. She seemed betrayed by a lack of experience at Town Moor, but kept on strongly to be beaten two and a quarter lengths.

Two of the first three home in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes last year – Hydrangea and Coronet – remain on course for a rematch. Likewise God Given, Horseplay and Pilaster, separated by little in the Group 2 DFS Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month.

Other intriguing contenders include the Andre Fabre-trained Kitesurf, the Prix Vermeille winner. Fabre is on the brink of winning a 29th French trainers’ title.

What the trainers say

John Gosden - Lah Ti Dar and Coronet

Coronet

“She’s been desperately unfortunate not to win a Group 1. She runs into Enable, runs into Waldgeist, who beats her by a nose, then runs into Sea Of Class.

“She’s the most consistent of fillies - a real trier and a tough cookie. If she doesn’t win on Saturday we’ve got one final Baldrick plan. There’s the Premio Lydia Tesio in Rome, in November, and we are planning to go and get her a Group 1 before she’s retired to stud.”

Coronet and Frankie Dettori coast to victory at York
Coronet and Frankie Dettori coast to victory at York

Lah Ti Dar

“She’s in super form. I’ve had a lot run in the St Leger over the years and it’s a race that can hit them a bit but I’ve been astounded with how she took it in her stride. It didn’t bother her.

“In the St Leger she sort of got the idea of what she was meant to be doing in the last furlong. She's still a big, immature filly and Frankie said he was so busy settling her that he sent her to sleep and then could not wake her up again.

“I loved the way she finished that day. She was doing her best work in the final furlong.”

And if Coronet and Lah Ti Dar are locked together at the finish...

“I’ll go and hide at the bottom of the stands because someone is going to be upset, but I still fear Aidan [O’Brien]. He'll probably have something fly past the lot of them.”

Roger Varian - Pilaster

“Pilaster’s a lovely filly and improving all the time. She’s in great form and this race has been the target since she ran at Doncaster in the Park Hill.

“She’s back in trip, but the way the race was run at Doncaster I’m sure it will be more a test of stamina at Ascot than it was there. I think she’s got the ability to handle herself back at a mile and a half.

“It will be the biggest question we’ve asked her but I think she’s ready for it and will run very well. She’s a Group 2 winner and deserves her chance at Group 1 level. How she fares we will have to see, but I think she has a quality to run a nice race.”

Pilaster (left) beats Maid Up and Star Rock in the Lillie Langtry
Pilaster (left) beats Maid Up and Star Rock in the Lillie Langtry


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