Can highly regarded Snow Lantern live up to her breeding and justify big hype?

2.10 York
Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' Stakes (Registered As The Michael Seely Memorial) (Listed) | 1m | 3yo | RTV/ITV4

Snow Lantern was so impressive when winning a mile maiden at Newbury last month that she shot to single-figure prices for the 1,000 Guineas, but connections have opted to contest this Listed event in preparation for a Royal Ascot bid.

Maybe it wasn’t just the manner of her Newbury performance that forced her into such short odds for the fillies’ Classic. Her pedigree will also have played its part because she is the third foal of 2013 Coronation Stakes heroine Sky Lantern, and her sire is none other than Frankel.

Those genes also appear to have played their part in her price for this race, because she looks set to go off at short odds despite being the second-lowest rated filly on Racing Post Ratings.

Snow Lantern achieved an RPR of 95 at Newbury and, since the start of 2019, there have been 177 horses to contest fillies’ Listed races after less than three starts having achieved RPRs of 95 or less on their latest run, and only 20 won (11 per cent; -£9.17 to £1 level-stakes). Snow Lantern looks more promising than most, but that gives an idea of the task she faces.

Love Is You has the best form in the race courtesy of her victory in the Listed Radley Stakes at Newbury last October and she returned with a solid third in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket.

Love Is You (pink): was third in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket last timeCredit: Mark Cranham

She isn’t outdone by Snow Lantern on pedigree, either, as Love Is You’s dam Fallen For You also won the Coronation Stakes and sire Kingman has made a super start to his career at stud.

That pedigree points to her improving for the step up to a mile, but she will need to because she has to carry a 3lb penalty for her Listed win and that puts her behind Kestenna on RPRs.

Kestenna has yet to compete at this level and all her form is on the all-weather, but she recorded an RPR of 100 when winning at Kempton in February and her conqueror at that course last time, Lilac Road, went on to finish a close third in Listed company next time.

Kestenna’s sire Pride Of Dubai’s progeny have a 19 per cent strike-rate on the all-weather, but that drops to 12 per cent on turf and, while her dam won on grass, the surface is a doubt.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'We've not made a secret of the regard in which we hold her'

Snow Lantern gave her connections a huge decision to make after getting off the mark in style at Newbury last month but they opted for the patient approach and swerved Newmarket in favour of York.

The daughter of Classic winners Frankel and Sky Lantern was cut to 8-1 for the 1,000 Guineas after winning her second start for Richard Hannon but connections decided to drop her into calmer waters.

"We've not made a secret of the regard in which we hold her and it was lovely to watch her win so easily at Newbury," said Hannon.

"It's rare you get to actually enjoy watching a race when there's so much on the line but she did absolutely everything right in a race that has already thrown up a few winners and she's in great form."

Snow Lantern: stretched clear of her rivals last time under Sean LeveyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Snow Lantern could next be aimed at Royal Ascot and is a general 8-1 shot for the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on June 18. She is also entered in the Cazoo Oaks and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

"We toyed with the idea of running in the 1,000 Guineas but after discussing it with her owners [Rockcliffe Stud] we didn’t think she was quite ready for a race of that nature so decided to come here instead and hopefully we’ll have a clearer idea where we go next, although Ascot would seem the most logical," added Hannon.

"I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the ground because I don’t think she’d want it much softer than what it is, but as long as it’s decent she’ll take her chance – she's a very exciting filly."

What they say

Roger Charlton, trainer of Love Is You
She's done well since finishing third in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes last time. She wasn't suited to the quick ground and undulations at Newmarket. The extra furlong and return to a mile should suit her.

Ed Walker, trainer of Primo Bacio
She ran a huge race in the Fred Darling, finishing an unlucky fourth. This is a tough race but it was a big ask at Newbury too and she answered that question well. There's a slight doubt over her stamina but if she's going to get the mile anywhere it will be at York.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Shine For You
The form of her run in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket looks pretty good with Saffron Beach going on to finish second in the Guineas and this filly has improved from two to three. The step up in trip is a plus and she should handle the ground so I'm hopeful of an encouraging first run, but she will definitely come on for it.
Reporting by Jonathan Harding

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