Zeyaadah showing good signs ahead of Hoppings revival mission

7.20 Newcastle
William Hill Hoppings Fillies' Stakes (Group 3) | 1m2f | 3yo+ | Sky

Three weeks after her Cazoo Oaks disappointment in the mud at Epsom, the Roger Varian-trained Zeyaadah switches to the all-weather as she bids to get back on track.

Unbeaten in three runs last year, including a novice event over a mile on Chelmsford's Polytrack surface, Zeyaadah returned with a highly promising runner-up effort in the Cheshire Oaks before being touted as a likely winner for the fillies' Classic.

Heavy rainfall ruined her chance. She got away with good to soft ground at Chester but testing conditions at Epsom proved far more difficult in Group 1 company and Zeyaadah beat just one home.

Varian now sends the daughter of Tamayuz out on a retrieval mission. With a rating of 105 and an unbeaten all-weather record, Zeyaadah deserves to head the market, but we're yet to see her enter the winner's enclosure this term and just three weeks ago she faced the toughest assignment in her life.

Those who want to oppose the Shadwell Estate-owned favourite may opt for one of William Haggas's improving fillies – Lilac Road or Sea Empress. The former doesn't lack experience after seven starts and produced a career-best RPR (103) on her sole all-weather run at Kempton in April.

Sea Empress is somewhat the joker in the pack. On the back of her debut victory over a mile at this track in October, she was sent off 7-4 favourite for a Listed contest at Newbury in mid-May. Sea Empress finished just sixth and the form hasn't worked out well since.

Whether turf didn't suit is up for debate, but she bounced right back at Chelmsford last time in novice company and now bids for further black type. She is open to more improvement than others.

Impressive maiden winner Abstinence, Irish challenger Astadash and likely pace angle Oriental Mystique provide notable depth to an intriguing contest.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

What they say

David Simcock, trainer of Oriental Mystique
She's been consistent throughout her career and she won her maiden on the all-weather. She seems in good form after what was probably a disappointing effort last time at Haydock – making the running didn't suit her. We're reverting back to ten furlongs and we hope she runs very well. The [first-time] cheekpieces will help her along, hopefully they'll make it a little bit easier for her.

William Haggas, trainer of Lilac Road and Sea Empress
Lilac Road stayed the trip well last time and it's a bit quick back but there aren't too many races for her. Sea Empress has got quite a bit to prove to fulfil her reputation. She won nicely last time out.

Roger Varian, trainer of Zeyaadah
She's in good form and her recent work has pleased us, so we're looking forward to getting her back on the track. I think it was a combination of the ground, which was very soft, and the trip [at Epsom]. Although she's won on soft, she's a good-moving filly and would be better on better ground. That ground makes the trip even harder to get and I think her stamina ran out, she moved in the race with intent but didn't finish the race off. This should suit her.
Reporting by James Stevens

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