Dahila Stakes 2010

2.40 Newmarket
StanJames.com Dahlia Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies And Mares) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £36,900

Pick: Strawberrydaquri (win)

Annabelle’s Charm: Won a listed race at Bath last summer but too keen in 2 of her 3 subsequent starts; Has a lot on the trouble the best of these.

Badiat Alzaman: Highly tried in 2009 (was with David Simcock) after winning early-season maiden at Warwick; Looks likely to be outclassed here on ratings.

Honimere: Won 3 times around this trip but not this level last year, best of them being an – all the way from the front handicap win here; Good fourth on the AW to return with but lot more to contend with here and will have it tough.

Moonlife: Won 2 out of her four runs last year, scoring nicely with a double last backend, including a listed race; Will need to step up to take a hand, but every chance she could do so.

Plaisterer: Landed 2 handicaps over 1m2f last year despite flashing her tail; Well held in listed race when last seen in November, though.

Spacious: Made really promising start to classic career with a in 2nd in the 1,000 Guineas and then 4th in the Coronation Stakes, where she was outstayed; Good efforts since, with her best one being her Windsor Forest win at the Royal Ascot meeting; Good 3rd behind Heaven Sent and Goldikova in the Falmouth; Showed that she can run on / off when running badly in Nassau Stakes; Was in - front of Strawberrydaquiri when third in the Sun Chariot last time, but I would have concerns over her needing the run (that tends to be the case) and her consistency (put in some bad efforts last season).

Strawberrydaquiri: Did nothing but progress last year, notching a 4 - timer with best and 3rd Listed win at Sandown under a heavy penalty, giving her a mark of 113; Then came an excellent fourth in the Sun Chariot, capping a great year; Was behind Spacious on thatrun but has scope to do more and is the model of consistency, not to mention that the stable has won 3 out of the last 4 runnings of this.

Three Moons: 2-y-o form was solid but made it to the track just twice last season, winning maiden at Folkestone before coming runner-up in a decent listed contest; Off the ttrack for a year, and will need the run.

VERDICT: A decent group race, even though it is much the poorer for her for the defection of dual Oaks winner Sariska. Spacious was in - front of STRAWBERRYDAQUIRI when third in the Sun Chariot last time, but I would have concerns over her needing the run (that tends to be the case) and her consistency (put in some bad efforts last season). Strawberrydaqiri may have been behind Spacious on that run but has scope to do more and is the model of consistency, not to mention that the stable has won 3 out of the last 4 runnings of this.