Antonia De Vega bids to follow in footsteps of Sea Of Class in Abingdon Stakes

3.00 Newbury
Johnnie Lewis Memorial British EBF Stakes (registered as The Abingdon Stakes) | 1m2f | 3yo | RTV

Antonia De Vega makes her long-awaited reappearance in a race which has produced a series of Group 1 winners during recent years.

Sea Of Class, who defeated Mrs Sippy by two lengths 12 months ago, went on to land the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks ahead of her agonising Arc near-miss when beaten a short neck by Enable.

Speedy Boarding, winner of the Newbury Listed prize in 2015, went on to land the Prix Jean Romanet and Prix de l’Opera the following campaign, while 2012 scorer Great Heavens clinched the Irish Oaks later that summer.

Sea Of Class: won this race last yearCredit: Ian Headington

Antonia De Vega, last seen when finishing last in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in October, after which she was reported to have finished lame, holds top-level entries in the Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes and Kerrygold Irish Oaks at the Curragh.

Her trainer Ralph Beckett is taking one step at a time with last year’s Prestige Stakes winner, and cannot wait to get her back on track.

"She's in good shape and this is a good place to start her," Beckett said. "She had a tough spring and may need it tomorrow, but she won't mind the ground."

The daughter of Lope De Vega has no penalty for that Group 3 success and carries the same weight as all of her five rivals, headed by John Gosden's Terebellum.

The Newmarket trainer has won the Abingdon Stakes three times in the last seven years courtesy of Elas Ruby (2017), Eastern Belle (2014) and Great Heavens.

Terebellum: comfortably won a maiden at Goodwood last monthCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Terebellum, the mount of Frankie Dettori, created a lasting impression on her debut at Goodwood last month when powering home four-and-a-half lengths clear of Maamora in a 1m2f maiden.

After that race Gosden said: "She is potentially a very nice filly. We've always liked her, but she’s taken time to come to herself. She's got a lot of class. She was immature and babyish last year."

The Richard Hannon-trained Star Terms, who will be partnered by Ryan Moore, is the highest rated of the six runners.

She finished 11th behind Hermosa in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket before taking fourth to Queen Power last month over course and distance.

Lastochka, Mannaal, and Mick Channon’s recent Ripon handicap winner Patchouli complete the field.

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