Star Catcher leads triple Gosden assault on Fillies & Mares Stakes

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) | 1m3½f Inner | 3yo+ | ITV/SKY

John Gosden is three-handed as he attempts to win the female feature for a second time with course-and-distance winner Star Catcher leading the charge from Clarehaven Stables

The Irish Oaks and Prix Vermeille winner is out to keep the good run of three-year-olds going in the all-aged contest which Gosden won in 2016 with Journey.

Since then, the champion trainer has had a couple of near misses but could not have a stronger hand this year with Epsom Oaks winner Anapurna and live outsider Sparkle Roll also coming to the party.

Before her win at the Curragh in July, the daughter of Sea The Stars accounted for the reopposing Fleeting and Sparkle Roll in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Gosden said: "Star Catcher won the Prix Vermeille in good style last time and has been a progressive filly all season. We know she likes the track and this race has been the plan for some time with her.

John Gosden: 'This race has been the plan for some time with Star Catcher'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"She's quite versatile as regards ground, so we're hopeful she can go through it. Her draw in stall ten is not the best, but if she can overcome that she should give another good account."

Anapurna bounced back from a modest run behind Star Catcher in the Prix Vermeille when landing the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp on Arc weekend, which was over 1m6f on very soft ground. The daughter of Frankel should have no problem with the conditions; it just depends if that race has left its mark.

Gosden added: "Anapurna ran a very brave race when winning at Longchamp and even though this is a quick turnaround, she seems to have come out of that in good shape. This will be her last race before retirement and she will like the ground and the trip."

As for Sparkle Roll, the daughter of Kingman will be a fresh horse having not run since finishing third in a Listed race at Newmarket in July when the ground may have been too quick for her.

Gosden said: "Sparkle Roll has had this on her radar ever since she finished third in the Ribblesdale in June. She goes there a fresh filly and does act on soft ground."

Will it be three in a row for O'Brien?

Aidan O'Brien goes one better than Gosden by fielding four hopefuls as he tries to win the race for the third successive year.

The master of Ballydoyle won it with three-year-old pair Hydrangea (2017) and Magical (2018) and all four of his runners are the same age headed by the busy Fleeting.

Fleeting (right): one of four runners for Aidan O'BrienCredit: Edward Whitaker

The last named has come off worst in three previous encounters with Star Catcher, notably when second in the Irish Oaks, and is out again just 13 days after chasing home Villa Marina in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp.

Stablemate Delphinia has a score to settle with the Gosden filly Anapurna, whom she ran to a length and a quarter in the Group 1 Prix Royallieu a fortnight ago.

O'Brien, who also saddles outsiders Pink Dogwood and South Sea Pearl, said: "Fleeting has run some really big races in defeat, but she’s in good order and we’ve been really happy with her since the last run.

"She has form with ease in the ground as well, so we’re hopeful. We’re happy with her. Pink Dogwood has been a little disappointing on her last two starts, but we’re hoping she can leave that form behind her.

"She’s working very well and seems to be in good form. Delphinia is a solid filly who just got beaten in a Group 1 the last run and she handles an ease in the ground and stays well. South Sea Pearl obviously stays further as well, but she’s also in good form.

KEY STAT
Three-year-olds have won four of the last five runnings

Weld filly has to shine like Sapphire?

Dermot Weld won this with Sapphire in 2012 and is back with double winner Tarnawa, who returns to Group 1 company for the first time since finishing 11th behind Anapurna in the Oaks at Epsom.

Dermot Weld and Tarnawa, winner of her last two racesCredit: Patrick McCann

Since then, the daughter of Shamardal has won at Group 3 and Group 2 level in Ireland, most recently when overcoming Goddess in the Blandford Stakes at the Curragh in September.

What the others say

William Haggas, trainer of Klassique

It’s her last run and it’s a very strong race, but she gallops on and she stays well. She likes soft ground and, although she’s an outsider, she’ll give her best and is in really good form.

Klassique: she stays and likes soft ground, says trainer William HaggasCredit: John Grossick

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, owner of Sun Maiden

There was a plan to run her in Canada but Michael wanted to head here with her instead, and she has been pleasing at home. The ground is obviously an unknown and she would have to put up a lifetime best to win, but she didn't get the clearest of runs at Kempton last time and deserves a go at this.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Antonia De Vega

She’s had a stop-start year but did a racecourse gallop last week and that went to plan. She's been training well and hopefully it stays soft because the form book says that suits her. She's very underraced and I'm hopeful there is a bit more to come. She goes there nice and fresh.

Roger Varian, trainer of Nausha

This will be her first run on easy ground since she won her novice at Newbury last back-end, which may well help her, and she has been training well in the run up to the race.

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