Smart fillies lead charge for black type by the seaside

3.10 Yarmouth
British Stallion Studs EBF Beckford Stakes | Listed | fillies & mares| 1m6f | 3yo+

Bath's loss is Yarmouth's gain as this Listed contest highlights a bumper nine-race card at the seaside venue.

Troublesome chafer grubs rendered the round course unraceable at Bath, so eight fillies and mares, seven of which are trained in Newmarket, seek valuable black type at Yarmouth instead.

Leading the charge are the talented Dubka and the progressive Aljazeera, who dead-heated for second in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last time.

What they say

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Capricious Cantor
This is her last run before she goes off to the breeding shed. She's well bred and she's already got black type this year, which is important. She needs to improve in this race and hopefully the step up in trip will suit her.

James Fanshawe, trainer of Colonial Classic
She's been in good form since her run at Newmarket, which was her first run for a long time. The step up in trip should suit her and I'm happy with how she's been going coming to the race.

Luca Cumani, trainer of Pacharana and Aljezeera
Aljezeera's in good form. Her last run in the Park Hill was very good and hopefully we'll have another good performance from her. Pacharana is stepping up in grade but deserves to be there having won seven races. If she handles the step in the class then I hope she can get some black type.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Wingingit
We were very pleased with her debut run for us at Newbury last month. She wants to go further than she ran at Newbury so the trip should be right up her street at Yarmouth. She should be very competitive.

Temperature to soar on busy day

It is going to be a long day for all at Yarmouth on Monday, but officials are well prepared for the action - and the weather.

"Nine races is sure to be interesting," said Richard Aldous, clerk of the course. "It'll be a long day but we're well prepared and looking forward to it.

"We gave the trainers the option of a ninth race by allowing one to divide, so there's been a lot of planning that's gone into it. We're very grateful to head office and to the BHA for allowing it to happen."

There may be a hurricane on the way later in the week, but anyone heading to the coast on Monday will be greeted with summer-like conditions.

"The going is good, good to firm in places and we're expecting a dry, sunny day with temperatures reaching 23C," Aldous added.

John Dance: has had plenty of reasons to smile latelyCredit: Sarah Farnsworth/Goffs UK

More reasons to Dance for leading owner?

Owner John Dance was showing off his moves in the winner's enclosure following the victory of Laurens in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket last week.

And he could have more reasons to bring out 'The Robot' with Von Blucher lining up for him with good prospects in the 7f handicap at Musselburgh (2.50).

Trainer Rebecca Menzies said: "I think seven furlongs is ideal for him and he's run a lot of good races, and been in good form, all year.

"It's a competitive race but I'd like to think he'd be thereabouts and I wouldn't have any concerns about the rain that's forecast."

Smart move to wait for Musselburgh

Patience is often key in training horses and Bryan Smart is hoping he has made the right move in waiting for the 5f conditions stakes at Musselburgh (3.20) with Alpha Delphini.

The six-year-old, who appears to be following the same career trajectory as his half-brother Tangerine Trees, who got better with age, was successful at Beverley last time under Monday's rider Graham Lee.

"He's in really good form," said Smart. "We've waited for this race with him instead of going to the Rous Stakes at Ascot and I'd hope he can run very well in this race."

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