Shadwell Fillies' Mile 2013

3.15 Newmarket

Shadwell Fillies' Mile (Group 1) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner £103,949

Advice: 5 pts win Rizzena (9/4 general)

Ante Post: 1 pt each/way Rizzena, 2014 1,000 Guineas (10/1 general) 

Avenue Gale: Successful June debut at the Curragh promised much and solid group placed efforts the next tice before listed win over reopposing Ballybacka Queen stack up well (especially given the interference that she suffered), but looks off the standard set here despite potential for improvement.

Ballybacka Queen: Off the mark at the third attempt in Tipperary Maiden over 7 furlongs but beaten for the second time by a hampered Avenue Gabriel last time and needs more than that to get into the shakeup here.

Chriselliam: Close second in 1m listed event at Haydock but ninth place finish behind Sandiva suggests that this will be too tough for her.

Ithtimal: Strong early season form in some of the best maidens run this year before Cesham third and since then has struck decisively to win Sweet Solera and May Hill Stakes the last twice, on both occasions an easier winner than margin suggested; Should take a big hand once again.

Rizzena; Rapidly progressive over 5 furlongs early in season, winning Ascot maiden, Sandown listed, and then Queen Mary at Royal Ascot before being tapped for toe twice over 6 furlongs, once over July Course and on other occasion in Prix Morny, but well on top for strongest juvenile event of season run so far when beating Tapestry and Kiyoshi in Moyglare Stud Stakes at Curragh decisively, well on top at the finish and going away after seven furlongs; Could be still better over this trip.

Sound Reflection: Looked like a potential class act in winning maiden and conditions stakes at Kempton over 7f, able to set her own pace and then beat three rivals with ease latest, supplementing impressive maiden win the time before; Can go well.

Uchenna: Looked as if the step up to 1 mile would do the job when making some late headway in Kempton maiden and that proved to be the case when landing Goodwood maiden by a head, but needs another, bigger step forward based on that form.

Wonderfully: Shown great promise in her two wins so far, getting up on the line over 6 furlongs at Fairyhouse before fidning that trip far too sharp in Alabany Stakes; Made amends in quite handsome fashion at Leopardstown but hampered before the race had even gotten going properly when beaten nearly seven lengths by Rizzena latest; Can do better still but a worry that she might be flat footed at crucial stage despite obvious potential at a mile.

VERDICT: RIZZENA already has the best form of these by some way based on her Moyglare Stud Stakes win and promising to improve for the step upto a mile, can announce herself as the leading 1,000 Guineas contender so far. Godolphin’s well established and progressive Ithimal, the extremely promising Sound Reflection, and Ballydoyle’s Wonderfully, all provide stiff opposition for her to face.