Newbury Grenham Day - Fred Darling Stakes

3.05 Newbury

Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Registered As The Fred Darling Stakes) (Fillies' Group 3) (Str) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner £36,900

Pick: Misheer (win),  Puff (e/w)

Bahati: Solid efforts since winning over 6f on debut here in May but stepping out of her comfort zone at this level.

Dedriere: Ran out a very nice winner of a 1m Newcastle maiden (building on promising début) and looks type to fill out and be better at 3 years; Drop back in trip might not help here and stiff task set.

Habbiybib: Impressive winner of Albany Stakes at Royal Meeting, beating many subsequent winners in the process; Didn’t exactly do badly when 2nd to Misheer in Cherry Hinton Stakes and reportedly had ringworm last start; Still promising.

Hairspray: Imitations ruthlessly exposed when stepped up to pattern company last year and difficult to envisage things being any different here.

Lady Of The Desert: Was been arguably the top 2 year old filly for most of season, with wins in the Lowther and Princess Margaret Stakes, both in impressive style; Had Flying Childers and Newbury Listed winner Sand Vixen in behind when winning the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot; Ran well in Cheveley Park stakes but weakened markedly late on and whether she gets 7f remains to be seen; Not a certainty.

Misheer: Blasted the field to pieces on debut before gutting out listed race win; Then had good spell in Group 2 company since, coming 2nd behind Jealous Again in Queen Mary Stakes before blistering the field in Cherry Hinton Stakes; Blazed a trial and flattened out in Flying Childers Stakes but that not true running; Ran on strongly to nap Lady Of The Desert and looks to have a big chance here on that form; Runs as if she wants 7f.

Mistic Magic: Actually ran as if 7f would suit her when landing a maiden here in June; Hasn’t gone on as expected and this is a tough starting point.

Puff: Won impressively on the AW 1st time out; Form of that race really been working out well with the 2nd winning by 7 lengths next time and then winning a listed race at Deauville; Her 4th in the Lowther was a good run and so was her run in the Chevely Park, so place chances at big odds.

VERDICT: There are major stamina questions as well as those of how well each has trained on, but MSIHEER has some strong form, runs as if she wants 7f and has been the subject of some positive reports regarding her wintering. Lady Of The Desert made an early break for it but weakened markedly late on and is no certainty to stay. PUFF is too big at 8/1 for places.