Charlie Appleby: 'We're using this as a springboard to the French 1,000 Guineas'

Saturday: 2.25 Newbury
Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Registered As The Fred Darling Stakes) (Group 3) | 7f | 3yo | ITV4/RTV

The intermediate 7f trip of the Dubai Duty Free Stakes provides an acid test to determine a filly’s future suitability to stepping up to a mile or dropping in trip for a sprint campaign.

Although a confirmed Guineas trial, the Dubai Duty Free (registered as the Fred Darling), can also provide hints for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Isabella Giles, Dandalla, and Happy Romance were among the high-class fillies beaten in last year’s running who ended up in the Commonwealth, while Umm Kulthum also never ran over a mile in subsequent outings.

Juvenile class came to the fore in the two Guineas trials at Newmarket this week with Cachet winning the Nell Gwyn and Native Trail landing the Craven.

There are no guarantees similar events will transpire at Newbury, although on two-year-old form Wild Beauty will be tough to beat.

Frankel’s progeny tend to prosper over middle distances and beyond but Wild Beauty is out of a Prix Maurice de Gheest fourth and is the only proven Group 1 performer who has 7lb in hand on official ratings.

Her top-level victory in the Natalma Stakes at Woodbine was franked by the second striking at the Breeders’ Cup next time and her form away from Newmarket since losing at Ascot last May is near flawless.

If breeding was the sole consideration in determining the outcome of this contest, Jumbly would just shade Wild Beauty with daylight back to the remainder of the field.

Jumbly’s dam captured a Group 1 for the same connections in 2014 and that her best years came as an older racemare breeds encouragement for her daughter’s capacity for progress.

On Racing Post Ratings, Jumbly’s easy course-and-distance Listed success is only 2lb shy of Wild Beauty’s peak effort and the market is correct with these two fillies at the top of the betting.

However, these races always produce lesser-known names to note for the future and Miss Carol Ann is an intriguing outsider.

The Roger Varian stable won the Listed Feilden Stakes for three-year-olds at Newmarket on Thursday with an unconsidered 22-1 shot, who made giant strides on previous form to record a comfortable success.

Perhaps Miss Carol Ann can follow suit. She was a promising winner of a Newmarket maiden on her debut in September but failed to handle soft ground behind Jumbly here next time.

The Kingman filly was sent off the joint-favourite for that along with the winner but her dam was a firm-ground sprinter in the US, so this better going can spark an upgraded effort.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

'Track will suit Wild Beauty' – Appleby

Charlie Appleby is confident the return to Newbury will bring out the very best in likely favourite Wild Beauty, who has the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches as her major spring target.

The Frankel homebred won nicely over the Berkshire course and distance last June and connections are adamant she did not handle the Newmarket undulations well when rounding off her first campaign when fifth to Inspiral in the Fillies’ Mile.

Appleby, who seeks a first Fred Darling success, said: "Wild Beauty’s preparation has gone well and the track at Newbury will suit her better than the Rowley Mile.

"We feel that she didn’t particularly handle the course in the Fillies’ Mile and are looking at using this as a springboard to the French 1,000 Guineas."

Wild Beauty has already enjoyed top-level success on the international stage, having landed the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine last September under Frankie Dettori.

Appleby has his team is supreme form at present, highlighted by his five-winner haul at this week’s Newmarket Craven meeting, including Native Trail in the feature event.

What they say

Clive Cox, trainer of Benefit
She won her first two races very impressively, but didn’t handle the track at all well when beaten in the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes at Newmarket subsequently. That was a non-event for her. The filly has always given us confidence that she can progress to this sort of level and she has trained well through the spring.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Eve Lodge
She had a great year last year, but she hated the very quick ground in the Cheveley Park at the end of the season. This ground should be better for her and she's well drawn. She's had a great preparation and this will tell us whether she'll get a mile this season.

Harry Charlton, joint-trainer of Jumbly
She is an exciting filly. We have a strong connection with the family which always makes it more exciting. While she is not a huge filly, she’s unbelievably athletic and strong with a wonderful mind on her. We’d be pretty hopeful that she’s trained on nicely and can make an impact this season. Seven furlongs at Newbury is fine and I think she’ll definitely stay a mile.

Roger Varian, trainer of Miss Carol Ann
She won very well on debut, but couldn’t go on the heavy ground next time. I think she wants top of the ground and she’s a filly to look forward to.

Richard Hills, racing manager to Shadwell Estates, owners of Shaara
She surprised us when winning first time out last year when she came from a long way back. Physically she's done well over winter and this will tell us a bit more about her. She's not in the 1,000 Guineas, but holds an entry in the French equivalent.

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Newbury: Christophe Soumillon out to make rare British trip pay on this 'cracking horse'

3.00 Newbury: 'He's the one they have to beat' - find out who is confident for the Greenham

3.00 Newbury: 'There seems to be lots of would-be sprinters' - Keith Melrose on Greenham trend (Members’ Club)

3.14 Musselburgh: Can Emmet Mullins do it again? Grand National hero takes aim at Flat prize

3.25 Cork: Can consistent Thunder Kiss continue red-hot Ger Lyons form in Listed prize?

3.35 Newbury: Which Spring Cup runner 'clearly has some unfinished business'?

4.50 Fairyhouse: Paul Townend puts faith in Farout as Willie Mullins fields seven in feature race

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