Duchess of Cambridge Stakes 2013

2.10 Newmarket

Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (Sponsored By Betfred) (Formerly The Cherry Hinton Stakes) (Fillies' Group 2) (Class 1)  (2YO only)
Winner £45,368 

Advice: 1 pt win Rizzena (11/8 general), 1 pt place Fire Blaze (2/1 Paddy Power)

Rizzena: One of the most progressive two year olds of the season, fifth in incredibly strong maiden (reversed form with winner since) before taking hat trick over 5 furlongs including storming late run to take Queen Mary Stakes in fine style, two lengths clear at the end; Steps up to 6 furlongs today and has a penalty but never stronger than at the end of Queen Mary and the one to beat here.

Bye Bye Birdie: Took three tries to break her maiden and made hard work of it before finishing only twelfth behind Rizzena in the Queen Mary; First time visor bought about clear improvement for her to be an impressive winner of Group 3 at the Curragh stepped back upto today’s trip, beating Heart Focus (Albany Fourth) by 3 lengths; Big contender if able to reproduce that.

Fig Roll: Potential to improve upon Royal Ascot fourth to Rizzena based on way that she appreciated step back up to 6f when landing C&D Listed event (good) last time, and gets 3lbs weight turnaround with Rizzena so should be respected here even if little more improvement needed to win here.

Fire Blaze: Winner of arguably the season’s strongest maiden with 10 wins from 9 different horses in that race since, including Rizzena; Couldn’t live upto that when only midfield in the Queen Mary but given that her interment thanks to drugs scandal probably robbed her of decent preperation, well worth giving second chance.

Lucky Kristale: Game success in Newmarket maiden stakes when pulling clear with runner up and subsequent winner Our Queenie and more comfortable win in minor event at Yarmouth promising; Only sixth in the Albany and this not that much easier.

One Chance: Another to give a boost to Fire Blaze’s Newmarket form when winning Warwick maiden on her second start; Bare form of her Queen Mary third gives her fine chance of turnaround around that form but well beaten fair and square that day and needs much more.

Princess Noor: Promise despite the bare form of her Kempton win being no more than fair but needs to do some serious improving to take a hand here.

Queen Catrine: Victim of her own inexperience when third in C&D maiden (warm affair) setting her up nicely for a 5 length score on her second start; Could possibly have more to offer but others make more appeal here.

VERDICT: RIZZENA has a 3lbs penalty to contend with for her Queen Mary win but won it in such dominant fashion that she still has to be considered by far the most likely winner of the race. Ballydoyle’s Bye Bye Birdie was transformed by her visior when running out a good winner of a ready yardstick back upto today’s trip yesterday and will take some catching, but the only horse to beat Rizzena, FIRE BLAZE, might be her biggest threat. She was disappointing at Royal Ascot, but had excuses for her poor preparation and deserves a chance to show her proper best.