Newbury plays host to an ultra-competitive seven-race card on Friday which features the Listed BetVictor St Hugh’s Stakes at 15:10. With twelve runners scheduled to line up, Our expert editor has provided a runner-by-runner guide to the feature Listed contest below, alongside an exclusive customer offer from Sky Bet, who are offering up to £30 In Free Bets, when you sign up and place ANY bet.
BetVictor St Hugh’s Stakes – Newbury (5f, 3:10pm Friday)
Carmela (David Loughnane, Hollie Doyle)
Tasleet filly who created a taking impression when defeating two subsequent scorers on her debut at Yarmouth back in April. Was far from disgraced when finishing fifth at this level behind Pillow Talk in the Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York and quickly resumed winning ways when defeating Karl Burke’s useful colt Cold Cose at Carlisle in May. Finished just under six lengths behind Dramatised when contesting the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot on her penultimate start and faced a similar uphill task when finishing fifth in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting. Drops into Listed company after those recent efforts and can’t be discounted with Hollie Doyle on board for the first time.
Cuban Mistress (Rod Millman, Ross Coakley)
Made a quiet introduction when finishing sixth on her debut at Salisbury in May but soon built on that effort when causing a bit of a surprise when prevailing by a neck at Sandown at 18/1 on her following outing. Bumped into one when finishing second to Ralph Beckett’s Lezoo in a novice at Bath and filled the same position on her next two starts, including behind George Scott’s progressive sprinter Rocket Rodney in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown last month. Six furlongs seemed to catch her out in the Group 3 Keeneland Stakes last time out and connections have wisely decided to revert to the minimum trip with her.
Funny Story (Ralph Beckett, Hector Crouch)
Daughter of Havana Grey who overcame inexperience to make a winning debut over six furlongs at Newmarket’s July meeting. The form of that contest is yet to be franked, however, the second Ivory Madonna had previously finished third in Group 3 company at the Royal meeting and went on to run well when finishing fourth behind Lakota Sioux in the Sweet Solera Stakes last weekend. Should have no issues dropping back to the minimum trip on Friday afternoon and certainly falls into the “could be anything” category after one start. Preliminary entry in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in September does suggest that she is a filly held in the highest regard at home and with improvement forthcoming, she could turn out to be a seriously smart filly.
Katey Kontent (Clive Cox, Kieran Shoemark)
Was well supported in the market prior to making a winning debut at Salisbury in May, comfortably on top at the line despite the narrow winning margin. Faced just three rivals in a novice at Windsor on her following outing but could hardly have been any more impressive, pulling effortlessly clear under a hand ride to win by 4¼ lengths. Sent off just 10/1 for the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at the Royal meeting back in June and ran with plenty of credit, showing plenty of speed before fading in the closing stages to finish sixth. Drops down markedly in grade on Friday and is another one who comes into this with leading claims.
Maylandsea (Michael Bell, Andrea Atzeni)
Opened her account at the first attempt when defeating a useful field at Nottingham back in May (fourth racked up a three-timer subsequently including at Naas in Listed company). Finished ahead of a few of these when running above market expectations to finish runner-up behind Dramatised at 28/1 in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot on her penultimate outing but ran some way below her best when pulling hard and trailing home in last in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket last month. Clearly not right that day but a repeat of her previous start at Royal Ascot would see her take this Listed contest and still has plenty of improvement to come on just her fourth racecourse outing.
Miami Girl (Richard Hannon, Rossa Ryan)
Cotai Glory filly who confirmed that she was a filly to follow when slamming her five rivals in a maiden on her debut at Leicester back in May. Failed to justify favouritism when finishing down the field in the Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York but got back on track with a much better effort when crossing the line in fifth in the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. Made the most of a golden opportunity when resuming winning ways at Windsor on her penultimate start but ultimately failed to back that effort up when disappointing in the Super Sprint at Newbury last month. Certainly has the ability to go close but others in here appear to hold more obvious claims.
Minnetonka (Richard Hannon, Pat Dobbs)
Daughter of Kingman who created a huge impression on her debut over six furlongs at Salisbury back in June, effortlessly quickening clear of her seven rivals inside the final furlong to win by a whopping seven lengths. Has failed to confirm that promise in her two subsequent starts since however, finishing comfortably behind Ralph Beckett’s filly Lezoo in the Empress Fillies’ Stakes and Keeneland Stakes at Newmarket and Ascot respectively. Weekend inside the final furlong on both of those occasions so the drop to the minimum trip could help her bounce back to form and she is not discounted with her debut performance still fresh in the mind.
Queen Of Uplands (Tom Dascombe, Pierre-Louis Jamin)
Yet to get off the mark in her four starts so far but has faired better in her last two outings. Bumped into a smart prospect when finishing runner-up to Richard Hughes’ unbeaten filly Candle Of Hope at Newbury last month and was far from disgraced when finishing third in a competitive nursery at Newmarket just thirteen days ago. Takes on Listed opposition for the first time on Friday afternoon and this looks like an extremely difficult race in which to shed your maiden tag.
Star Of Lady M (David O’Meara, Jason Watson)
Made a bright start for connections when landing back-to-back novice events at Redcar and Ripon over five furlongs in April. Failed to fire at Chester in May but returned to winning ways when landing the Hilary Needler at Beverley that same month. Poor effort in the Listed Windsor Castle can be easily forgiven but got herself back on track from a poor draw at Goodwood on her latest start when chasing home Richard Fahey’s Group-bound sprinter The Platinum Queen. Clearly a useful sprinter on her day but will need to take another sizeable step forward if she is going to play a part in the finish now back up in Listed company.
Terrimia (Sean Woods, David Probert)
Territories filly who remains unbeaten after two starts. Attracted market support when making a winning debut at Windsor in a thirteen-runner novice back in June, defeating three subsequent winners in the process. Followed up at prohibitive odds at Yarmouth last month but faces a tough assignment now stepping up markedly in class and will do extremely well to keep her unbeaten record intact.
Union Court (Ed Walker, Saffie Osborne)
Made an eye-catching start when defeating three future winners on her debut at Leicester in May and duly followed up with an effortless victory at Chepstow on her second recourse outing. Finished ninth behind Aidan O’Brien’s Little Big Bear in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and didn’t shape badly in defeat when finishing fifth behind Eddie’s Boy in the Super Sprint at Newbury on her following start. Finished ahead of Star Of Lady M when only finding The Platinum Queen too strong at the Goodwood Festival last time out and she could be one of many fighting it out for the places.
Woolhampton (Rod Millman, Trevor Whelan)
Shaped in need of her debut when finishing down the field at Windsor in April but has shaped well without getting her head in front in her three subsequent starts at this track. Finished second and fifth in maiden and novice company over six furlongs and ran a mighty race back over the minimum trip at 80/1 off a mark of 74 to finish runner-up behind Eddie’s Boy in the Super Sprint last month. Should be capable of winning her share of races on that latest evidence but could have her work cut out now up into Listed company for the very first time.
St Hugh’s Stakes Verdict
Trainer Michael Bell triumphed in last year’s renewal with Tardis and will bid to follow up this year with Maylandsea. The daughter of Havana Grey finished second to the unbeaten Dramatised in the Queen Mary Stakes on her penultimate start but comes into this on a bit of a recovery mission after running way below her best at Newmarket’s July meeting last time out. Ralph Beckett has been seen to great effect with his juveniles this season, in particular the Zoustar filly Lezoo, who has won three of her four starts so far this term including at Group 3 level, and the Hampshire handler appears to have another smart juvenile prospect on his hands in the shape of FUNNY STORY. The Havana Grey filly certainly looked like a two-year-old to keep firmly on side when overcoming greenness to make a winning debut over six furlongs at Newmarket last month, quickening up well and stretching clear from a useful field which included Richard Spencer’s Dark Angel filly Ivory Madonna who had previously finished third in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. Given the speed she showed on her debut last time out, the drop back in trip shouldn’t prove to be an inconvenience on Friday afternoon and although she faces some talented fillies in opposition on just her second racecourse outing, connections clearly hold her in the highest regard and have already given her a Group 1 entry later on in the year. The likes of Minnetonka, Katey Kontent and Union Court all have the ability to go close on their day and could be set to battle it out for minor honours.
- FUNNY STORY
- Maylandsea
- Minnetonka
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