Betfred Middleton Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 2m 9.76s

(3)

Queen's Trust¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 118| D

6/4

Placed in the Nassau, the Yorkshire Oaks (here over 1m4f) and the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Group One level last year before staying on strongly to claim by far the biggest prize of her career in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (1m2f, firm) in November. Goes on any ground and should go very close.

Form: 442331-

(5)

Smart Call⁴⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 119| D

5/1

Won three Group One events in South Africa (all on good and at 1m1f-1m2f) during 2015 and early 2016, but has not seen a racecourse for 16 months. Now in the hands of this trainer, there may well be even more to come from her and it is going to be very interesting to see how she goes here.

Form: 2511/11-

(2)

Blond Me²⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 106

11/1

Won in Listed company at Goodwood last season and her most recent success was in a Turkish Group Two in September. Well held when twice tried in British Group Twos last year and she needs significant improvement to mix it with the leading players here.

Form: 109210-

(1)

The Black Princess¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105| D

11/8

Third in last year's Ribblesdale (a neck ahead of Queen's Trust, 1m4f, soft) she came out and won a Chantilly Group Three last month (1m2f, good) and is clearly in good form. However, she has yet to reach the level of ability of several here and will need to improve to figure. Possible pacemaker for So Mi Dar.

Form: 1/2231-1

Non-Runners

(4)

Chain Of Daisies²⁶⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: H Candy J: Non Runner

(6)

So Mi Dar²²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: J & T Gosden J: L Dettori

Forecasts

So Mi Dar (10/11), The Black Princess (11/8), Queen's Trust (6/4), Smart Call (5/1), Chain Of Daisies (10/1), Blond Me (11/1)

A tremendous contest in prospect which should rest between Queen's Trust and SO MI DAR, with the latter preferred. While Sir Michael Stoute's filly produced the most valuable win among this field, she has generally found winning more difficult than John Gosden's four-year-old. Had it not been for the slip-up of an opponent at Chantilly then she could be going into this unbeaten and she seems to have all bases covered. Smart Call is clearly interesting after three South African Group One successes and further improvement is entirely possible, a comment which can also be attributed to Chain Of Daisies and that pair should be get competitive.