Simon Crisford has mapped out the next steps for his star filly Señorita Bonita, after her impressive display in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.
The daughter of Starspangledbanner looked promising when overcoming adversity to win at Nottingham on debut. She backed that up when second to the unbeaten Victorious in the Queen Mary.
Senorita Bonita stepped up in trip at the weekend, facing Albany Stakes winner Libertango. The favourite travelled strongly on the far-side, but exerted plenty of energy early on. Señorita Bonita was always going well, sitting third under Oisin Murphy. She displayed an impressive turn of foot, and won a shade comfortably despite drifting left in the final furlong.
Speaking on Luck On Sunday, via Sporting Life, Simon Crisford said she came out of the race “absolutely great.” Crisford continued, stating: “we’re looking forward to going to Deauville with her.
“Obviously, when you win a race like that you’re options are quite limited. There aren’t many suitable races to run her in apart from the Lowther. But she’s already a Group 2 winner. So we’re more than happy to take our chance against colts in the Prix Morny.”
“This filly, her turn of foot is electrifying” – Simon Crisford
The Crisford’s won the Prix Morny with Vandeek in 2023, and they believe Señorita Bonita can follow in his footsteps. “They both have a really good turn of foot” said Simon Crisford when comparing the pair. “You saw that with Vandeek – not only in the Prix Morny but also in the Middle Park. This filly, her turn of foot is electrifying; she can really quicken up.
“I think if she’d had a strong pace to run at, it would have suited her even more. Just the same as it would have suited the favourite. I think she needs a strong pace and she’s got that really good burst of speed. So I think she can go all the way to the top.”
Vandeek was kept to six furlongs as a three year old, but Crisford believes his filly can step up in trip. She’s from the family of multiple winner over twelve furlongs, thus the 1000 Guineas has
been provisionally penciled in.
“Next year, I think she’ll get the mile really well because she’s bred to stay. Physically, she’s
more sprint-like than miler. But I think mentally she can get the trip and on her pedigree I think she can. So I’d be really keen on a Guineas preparation next year, providing everything goes smoothly between now and then.
The Prix Morny is the next step for Señorita Bonita, though Crisford said: “Obviously, the Cheveley Park Stakes is the big aim for her this season. But she wouldn’t step forward from six furlongs until next season.”