Breeders' Cup 2011 - Juvenile Fillies

10.10 Churchill

Grey Goose Breeders´ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1) (2yo Fillies) (Dirt) (2yo)

Winner: £692,308 Runners: 14 Distance: 1m110y

Advice: 1 pt win My Miss Aurelia (5/2 general)

Questing: Has been solid since winning maiden in easy style at Newbury, coming a close third behind Regal Realm and then second behind promising winner in Newmakret Group 3; By a top dirt performer in Hard Spun and relatives all have dirt stakes form, so bred to go on it; Interesting coming from a yard that has a good record with juveniles at this meeting.

 

Candrea: Looked a 2 year old with a future when landing her maiden in clear cut style, moving on to take a Stakes event by four lengths; Overraced when second in the Oak Leaf Stakes, being caught close home by Weemissfrankie late on, having looked as if she could hold on until last half furlong; If being more restrained, has excellent chance of reversing that form and player here.

 

Rocket Twentyone: Winner of the Washinton Lassie after breaking her maiden by 6 1/2 lengths at Prairie Meadows; Possibly more to come but hard to think she’s good enough to trouble the best of these.

Miss Netta: Stepped up big time when running third to My Miss Aurelia in the Frizette Stakes and can probably do a bit better than that (missed the break, was keen and wide) but won’t be reversing the form today and best to look elsewhere.

Grace Hall: Stayed on really strongly (with definite improvement for this trip) when winning the Spinaway Stakes from highly rated Judy The Beauty; Feature of all her starts is that she’s been well on top at the end of races, so this should suit and easy prep sets her up nicely for this; Big chance.

 

Self Preservation: Terrific US debut when second to Weemissfrankie in the Del Mar Debutante on Polytrack (had come from some way back) but well behind that same rival over 2 more furlongs last time and looks a doubtful stayer.

Putthebabiesdown: Tired thanks to early exertions late on when third in the Albicades to Stephanie’s Kitten after coming second and fourth in ungraded turf stakes; Proabably not good enough.

Homecoming Queen: Well exposed, although extremely impressive when dropping from Group 3 to Listed level and stepping up to a mile at the Curragh, never being troubled from the front; Form is OK for the grade and nothing more, while dirt poses a big question for her; Passed over.

 

My Miss Aurelia: Showed significant promise when fighting off persistent challenge from Millionreasonswhy (herself a Grade 2 winner already at that point) in Adrionack Stakes, although she really showed star quality when running away with Frizette Stakes, beating a horse who herself had the fastest speed figure by a two-year-old in North America this year (Stopshoppingmaria, who she has already beaten); The one to beat.

Northern Passion: Hard to evaluate her win in the Natalam at Woodbine, achieved in a time faster than the comparable race for colts on the same card, boosted since by Stephanie’s Kitten winning the Albicades on Keenland’s Polytrack; Pace opened up for her that day and got dream run, but folly to dismiss entirely; Contender if taking to dirt.

Weemissfrankie: Unbeaten in three, landing 2 Grade 1’s from behind early on, most notably the Oak Tree Stakes latest; Wants a real cracking gallop to come from behind late on but no reason she can’t run a massive race.

Frolic’s Revenge: Fourth on Polytrack/Graded debut in Albicades Stakes, but previous record isn’t inspiring; Two from five on dirt and held easily here.

Say A Novena: Dotted up with weak listed race last time and interesting based on her second to Millionreasonswhy in the Ardionack (holds strong formlines with favourite); Shouldn’t be good enough though.

Awesome Belle: From same stable and same circuit that brought Awesome Feather to win this last year, although that horse was 5-5 and the clear state champion going into the race; Drawn widest of all too, so has it all to do.

VERDICT: A real divisional championship settler with the top 3 juvenile fillies on ratings all meeting for the first time. Although it’s a full field of 14 early speed and a good break would be much more of a worry as far as early position is concerned. MY MISS AURELIA’S Frizette win makes her one of the most exciting prospects at this meeting and she’s taken to come through her toughest test yet with her unbeaten record intact. Grace Hall and Weemissfrankie will both give her a run for her money, although Candrea makes a lot of appeal for an each/way bet. European travellers Questing and Homecoming Queen are both stepping up big style and might be outclassed by the front three.