14:45 Ascot

Saturday 19 October 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2016:0016:40

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 14:48 | Winning time: 2m 28.48s

(7)

Klassique⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107| BF| D

28/1

Impressive when landing a Group 3 in heavy ground at Haydock earlier in the campaign. While not quite in the same form in two subsequent starts, a return to testing conditions will suit and this trainer often does well with these types.

Form: 12-2133

(12)

Sun Maiden⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 106

25/1

Listed winner at Nottingham prior to landing a Newcastle Group 3 next time out but winning run has been halted subsequently. Unproven on ground this soft.

Form: 6-31144

(1)

Anapurna¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 115| D

6/1

Landed the Lingfield Oaks trial in good style prior to a game success in the Oaks. Bounced back from a disappointment with an impressive win in the Group 1 Prix De Royallieu and drop back in trip should be no issue; leading claims.

Form: 9-11171

(10)

Antonia De Vega¹²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 104

8/1

Group 3 winner as a juvenile and very impressive when winning a Newbury Listed event on return. Both rain and a step up in trip should suit and not one to underestimate.

Form: 118-1

(2)

Delphinia¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113

20/1

Just a maiden success to her name to date but ran well when a 4L fifth in the Oaks and behind Anapurna again in the Group 1 Prix De Royallieu last time out. Seemingly still improving but has a bit on to reverse form with the aforementioned rival.

Form: 635322

(5)

Fleeting¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113

9/2

Group 2 winner as a juvenile. Often does her best work in the finish and while she hasn't managed to get a win under her belt this season, she was only beaten on the nod at Longchamp last time out; can go well again.

Form: 322452

(4)

Nausha³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 102

80/1

Group 3 winner at York on fast ground earlier in the campaign. Hasn't been in the same sort of form in two starts since though and she's unproven on this sort of ground.

Form: 1-4106

(9)

Pink Dogwood¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: P C Boudot| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| BF

16/1

Listed winner at Navan who was only narrowly denied in the Oaks. While she's won on heavy ground, she's got a smart turn of foot and this ground is probably not ideal. Well beaten on her last two starts and others preferred.

Form: 123388

(3)

South Sea Pearl¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S M Levey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| D

66/1

Listed winner at Leopardstown but hasn't looked up to this sort of level subsequently. Beaten a long way behind Anapurna last time in France and hard to make a case for; down the order on jockey bookings.

Form: 138447

(6)

Sparkle Roll⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 106| BF

14/1

Won novice events either side of the winter and not disgraced in the C&D Ribblesdale behind Star Catcher two runs back. Less exposed than some and likely still capable of better.

Form: 51-1733

(11)

Star Catcher³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 114| CD

7/4

Bolted up under a fine ride in the C&D Ribblesdale and unbeaten in two starts since, winning the Irish Oaks prior to a Prix Vermeille win last time out. First-string on jockey bookings and proven in soft ground.

Form: 6-13111

(8)

Tarnawa³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 108| D

10/1

A winner of four of her six starts this year and a career best when landing a Curragh Group 2 last time out. Shaped like the step back up in trip will suit and worth a crack at this level.

Form: 131011

Forecasts

Star Catcher (7/4), Fleeting (9/2), Anapurna (6/1), Antonia De Vega (8/1), Tarnawa (10/1), Sparkle Roll (14/1), Pink Dogwood (16/1), Delphinia (20/1), Sun Maiden (25/1), Klassique (28/1), South Sea Pearl (66/1), Nausha (80/1)

John Gosden has a strong hand in this contest and it can't have been a straightforward decision for Frankie Dettori to ride STAR CATCHER over Anapurna but the filly is still unexposed and proved that both this track and soft ground are to her liking in the Ribblesdale earlier this year. The aforementioned Oaks winner is an obvious threat after her French Group 1 success last time out while this venue ought to suit Fleeting who is sure to arrive late on the scene once again and holds each-way claims for a yard with a fine record in this.