'Very special' Sandrine is the one to beat in Lowther reckons David Probert

Thursday: 1.50 York
Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Group 2) | 6f | 2yo fillies | ITV/RTV

There's no denying the quality in this year's Lowther with three of the top five highest-rated juvenile fillies set to face off over the straight six furlongs on the Knavesmire.

Sandrine tops the list with an official rating of 109 after a hat-trick of successes, which include decisive victories in the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket and Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trained by Andrew Balding, Sandrine will have to defy a 3lb penalty for her Group 2 success, but has shown her consistency and ground versatility in her most recent starts, and should have further improvement to come given she's yet to fully grow into her frame.

Her nearest pursuer on heavy ground in the Albany was Hello You, who could be marked up for her performance given she refused to settle in the early stages. She was well supported to reverse the form at Newmarket but again ran too free and finished third, two and a quarter lengths behind Sandrine. If she is to reverse the form on her debut for Dave Loughnane, Hello You needs to race efficiently in a first-time hood.

Desert Dreamer split the duo that day before she filled the same runner-up berth when well fancied to win the Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes at Ascot. She led one stride before the line but couldn't hold off Zain Claudette's late burst – there won't be much separating the duo here either. We know more about Desert Dreamer than most and her progression may not be as profound as her aforementioned rivals.

The rest of the field have plenty to find on figures, but don't sleep on course-and-distance winner Outside World. She showed good early speed and a liking for the course when taking her maiden by four lengths last month.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

Rausing star Sandrine 'in great order'

The red-hot David Probert hopes Britain and Ireland's top-rated juvenile filly Sandrine could provide him with a first top-level winner next month and the jockey makes her the one to beat carrying a 3lb penalty in the Group 2 Sky Bet Lowther.

Sandrine, owned by Kirsten Rausing, boasts a perfect 3-3 record, winning on the Polytrack at Kempton on debut, on heavy ground in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and on good to firm in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket last month.

The Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket has been earmarked as a first Group 1 target for the Andrew Balding-trained filly next month, with the Lowther-Cheveley Park double completed by Rosdhu Queen, Tiggy Wiggy and Fairyland in the last decade.

David Probert: 'Sandrine gave me an amazing feel'Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Probert, who rode a five-timer and a treble at back-to-back Ffos Las meetings last week, said: "She quickened up well in desperate conditions in the Albany and proved herself on faster ground at Newmarket last time – she gave me an amazing feel. She's a very special filly and I'm very grateful to Miss Rausing for having the faith in me to ride a filly of her class.

"I believe we're working back from the Cheveley Park with her – this looks a competitive field and she has to carry a 3lb penalty, but she's the one to beat and goes there in great order."

What they say

Stuart Williams, trainer of Desert Dreamer
I've been very happy with her since Ascot. It's a tough race, but she's in great form and we've got Oisin Murphy on board again. She'll be fine on most ground apart from extremes and she's taking her racing really well; she's very professional.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of Hello You
She's taken on Sandrine a couple of times and come off the wrong end, but she's a nice filly and it's worth taking our chance. We've not had her very long and have put a hood on her after she ran a bit free last time.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to Mark Johnston, trainer of Outside World
She's going to have to take a significant step forward but we've always thought plenty of her. Her dam [Nahoodh] was a very good horse for us and Frankie [Dettori] won a Group 1 on her, so hopefully he can repeat something similar.

Ismail Mohammed, trainer of Zain Claudette
We were happy with her work on the watered gallop on Tuesday and she worked amazing on the all-weather at the weekend. It's not an easy race with some talented fillies in there, but I'm looking forward to it.
Reporting by Jack Haynes

Thursday's race previews:

2.25 York: 'A classy little horse' – find out who fancies landing another big sales pot

3.00 York: could this hot handicap provide compensation for some unlucky Goodwood losers?

3.35 York: no mistaking Snowfall as O'Brien ace bids to underline her superstar status

3.35 York: is Snowfall as good as she looks? Keith Melrose on the Yorkshire Oaks favourite (Members' Club)

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