Gosdens have high hopes for Inspiral in race packed with potential

Thursday: 2.10 Sandown
British Stallion Studs EBF Star Stakes (Listed) | 7f | 2yo fillies | RTV

While you might expect a seven-furlong Listed race for juvenile fillies at this stage of the season to have a strong history, the most decorated recent winner of the Star Stakes was last year's. Fev Rover went on to finish third in May's 1,000 Guineas after winning this by a length from Dubai Fountain on her third start.

There is no shortage of potential quality in this year's line-up. Perhaps surprisingly, John Gosden never won the race as a solo licence-holder but runs two candidates with son Thady this year. Sunstrike has already tried Pattern company, finishing midfield in the Albany Stakes. Inspiral has fewer bounds on her potential after just one start.

At Newmarket last month, Inspiral won under hands and heels. That she got going so late might have been due to inexperience, but the power of her finish comes from her pedigree. By Frankel, she is out of Starscope, who was placed in the Coronation Stakes and made the frame in the Middleton over York's 1m2½f. Inspiral's form got a boost when the dead-heaters in second finished first and second in a Newmarket maiden this month.

Charlie Appleby has never won this race either, although Godolphin have. They are represented by another daughter of Frankel, Wild Beauty. Her dam Tulips was quicker (fourth in 2013 Maurice de Gheest) and Wild Beauty has already had three starts, improving with each run and additional furlong.

One to watch from those with limited experience could be Allayaali, who was a narrow winner on her debut, albeit showing obvious greenness. Her dam is a half-sister to High Heeled among others, and she is trained by Charlie Hills, so expect improvement in the long term.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

What they say

Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to Shadwell Estates, owner of Allayaali
She won nicely on her debut at Doncaster and Charlie [Hills] has been happy with her since. She's well bred as a half-sister to Just The Judge and won't mind the ground.

Karl Burke, trainer of Almohandesah
She's a nice filly and won well at Pontefract but we're hunting for a bit of black type really as it's a tough race. If she can finish in the first three it will be job done.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Inspiral and Sunstrike
Inspiral won well over this trip at Newmarket first time, when the further she went the better. This looks a nice race for her, although it looks tough. Sunstrike was unsuited by the slow ground at Royal Ascot but should find this a better surface.

Tom Goff, spokesman for Chasemore Farm, owners of Qipao
This is a big step up for her but she's done nothing wrong in winning and then following up under a penalty. I saw her at Mark Johnston's last week and she looks well but we go there hopeful rather than confident.

Ed Crisford, joint-trainer of Safra
She won well at Kempton on her second start and the form has been franked since. There's no reason why she can't be as effective on fast ground. This looks a nice chance for her to get some black type.
Reporting by David Milnes

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