The Gosdens hold the key once again but will it be three-year-olds or older horses who dominate the Park Hill?

It always tickles me when the Park Hill Stakes, the highlight of the opening day of the St Leger meeting, is referred to as the fillies’ equivalent of the Doncaster Classic because in reality the two races do not have much in common. They might be run over the same course and distance, but this is a Group 2 and not a Group 1, and it’s an open-age race.

The ten-year average winning Racing Post Rating is just 110, which is 9lb lower than the St Leger itself, and far more akin to the level you would expect for a typical Group 3 winner.

The fact is the best three-year-old fillies tend to go for the St Leger itself, but that hasn’t stopped the Classic generation outperforming their older rivals in recent years. Six of the last ten winners were aged three, and that from 40 runners, while older horses are 4-50 in that time. 

The three-year-olds have also outperformed market expectations, having had an expected wins (xW) total of just over five, and a £1 bet on all of that age would have lost just 63p. Compare that to a loss of £11.80 had you backed all the older horses, who had an xW of five.

Nevertheless, the market once again favours a four-year-old this year as Danielle heads the betting for the Gosden yard that has won four of the last ten runnings. However, three of those winners were three-year-olds and the stable is  just 1-5 with older representatives.

The Gosden team saddle four runners in total and only one of them is a three-year-old. That is the progressive Crepe Suzette, who recorded a Racing Post Rating 19lb higher than her previous best when a head second in the Galtres Stakes at York last time.

Crepe Suzette (left): went close in Galtres Stakes last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

That is a route the Gosdens have taken before and 2022 winner Mimikyu was only seventh in that York Listed race before winning here, while the third in this the following year, Lmay, was also fifth in the York race. Crepe Souzette ran better there than both of them.

If you ignore the Gosdens then it’s likely that only one three-year-old will be on your radar and that is the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Consent, who has two wins and two seconds in four starts and did all of her best work late when runner-up at Deauville last time. 

A longer trip will suit, but her price is based largely on potential and she needs to improve.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Can the Gosdens unearth another talented stayer?

The Park Hill Stakes has once again attracted a competitive field. The £150,000 contest includes four last-time-out winners, but it is a perennial bridesmaid, Danielle, who heads the market.

John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old has won just one of her nine races, that success coming in April 2024 when she was briefly seen in many quarters as a potential Oaks filly. She hasn’t hit those heights and finished second for the third time in a row on her belated return in a Group 2 at Goodwood last time, although joint-trainer Thady Gosden feels that was a “good first run”.

Gosden added: “She deserves to get her head in front. The easy ground and trip should suit her well.”

The Gosdens run four in total. Listed runner-up Crepe Suzette is the only three-year-old among their team, although Queens Fort certainly brings scope for improvement after only three runs, the most recent of which saw her finish second in the Ribblesdale Stakes last year.

Gosden said: “Zilfee won her maiden well over a mile and half at Ffos Las on a soft surface and shapes as if this trip should be on her radar. Hopefully she can get some black type.

“Crepe Suzette has improved since being stepped up in trip and would have won the Galtres Stakes at York last time in another couple of strides. That run suggests that she should appreciate this extra distance.

“Queens Fort is having her first run of the season in what looks a deep race but hopefully this can set her up for a productive autumn campaign.”

Elana Osario (centre): steps up in grade for Paddy TwomeyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

What they say

William Haggas, trainer of Chorus and Santorini Star
Santorini Star won well at York last time and stays very well so this looks the right race for her. Chorus has been a bit disappointing but hopefully this step up in trip can bring about some improvement.

Paddy Twomey, trainer of Elana Osario
We've always liked her and she has improved through the grades this year, from handicap company up to Group 3 last time, when she ran a career best. We're very happy with her and I think she's ready for the step up in grade. I don’t think the trip or ground will be a problem. She's a pretty tough filly.

Luke Morris, rider of Consent
She ran really well at Deauville, which was her first try at stakes company, and she stayed on strongly. The ground was very quick for France that day so the slower ground will be much more to her liking and the trip should be no issue.

Johnny Murtagh, trainer of Floresta
We were very happy with her Listed win in Leopardstown and this looks the next logical step. She's going well at home and we're happy with her.
Reporting by Liam Headd

Read more Doncaster Raceday Intel:

1.50 Doncaster: Can Song Of The Clyde give Middleham Park a boost and give them a lucrative sales race double in £300,000 contest?  

2.25 Doncaster: Moon Target is Sir Mark Prescott's pride and joy - will she avenge her Goodwood defeat in the May Hill Stakes?  

3.35 Doncaster: Is First Principle another Crown Of Oaks? William Haggas on the hunt for more handicap success with unexposed three-year-old  

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