2.55 Ascot
Qipco British Champions Fillies' And Mares' Stakes (Group 2)
(Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner £151,702
Advice: 1 pt win Sapphire (5/2 general)
Dancing Rain: Best 3yo filly of what has turned out to be a
very strong crop last year when winning not only Oaks at Epsom and Germany, but
also last year’s renewal of this; This first run since being well held in Japan
last November (not right then) and while no surprise to see big effort, lack of
fitness may count against her at business end. 
Jehanedarc: Gone from Deauville AW winner to Group class performer
in last two races, staying on into second at Goodwood behind Wild Coco and then
fourth in strong Listed event at Newmarket; Needs more. 
La Pomme d’Amour: Progressive in typical Andre Fabre style
to win three of her four starts this year, including 1m4f Group 2 at Deavuille
latest where she ran down strong yardstick late on in good style; That form
gives her great chance despite his disappointment in Vermille last time, and
has to be respected having come over from Fabre yard. 
Sapphire: Improved hand over fist this season, romping home
both times she’s won over 12f, taking her record to 3-3 over this distance, all
of them on ground soft or worse; That makes her extremely attractive choice
today with ground as it is and stable having already plundered three big prizes
from UK this season. 
Testosterone: Last season’s best (second in the Vermellie
after winning two Group races at 1m4f last season, both from the front, one on
very deep ground) gives her chance but not shown anything in two runs this
season and hard to recommend after fairly long break.
Great Heavens: Has to be arguably the most progressive filly
seen this season, winning 4 in a row on teting ground including the Irish Oaks
(beat Shirocco Star and was convcingly), and no shame in Arc sixth; Only worry
is if the Arc exertions haven taken their toll, which has to be big danger
having had just two weeks in-between the races. 
Semayyel: Impressive winner latest but that was a weak event
to say the least, and no gruantee she enjoys this ground today; Class will find
her out. 
Shirocco Star: Ran a blinder in Oaks when second to Was,
having been too keen and interrupted at the top of Epsom Hill before failing to
get past was by a neck; Slammed into second by Princess Highway at Ascot
although she was drawn poorly and had little to no cover all the way ground;
Since gone well in Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, and addition of blinkers did
looked to have worked when going down by just a head at Longchamp in Group 2;
Needs more here. Vow: Not gone on from huge promise of first three starts,
where she won first two by combined total of 10 lengths and then was fourth in
Oaks (only just behind Was and Shirocco Star); If back to best, interesting,
but hard to foresee her winning today and no market moves to suggest so. 
Was: Enterprising ride to become winner of Oaks in tactical
affair but to her credit, has run to same level of form in Irish Oaks, Nassau
Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks since, and would have been interesting here had it
not been for worsening of ground; Gone on heavy when fourth in Irish Oaks but
wants it fast to be effective enough to have serious winning shot, so others
preffered.
VERDICT: A competitive renewal of this race at it’s current
spot in calendar, with last year’s winner Dancing Rain returning. William
Haggas’s filly is as good as any but hasn't run since last November, which
gives the onus to Great Heavens and SAPPHIRE for this race given the soft
ground. Great Heavens could be called the better of the two, but a hard race in
the Arc may have taken it’s toll (with only two weeks inbetween) and Dermot
Weld’s filly gets the vote. L'Pomme D'Amour should also go well.
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