Gosden horse fancied to spring a shock in Fillies’ Mile (From York Press)

John Gosden horse Winsili fancied to spring a shock in Fillies’ Mile

11:38am Thursday 27th September 2012 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

TWO unbeaten winners of three races apiece cross swords in today’s showpiece event at Newmarket, but there could be a shock in store for Certify and Ollie Olga in the Group 1 Shadwell Fillies’ Mile.

John Gosden has elected to saddle Winsili, a beaten favourite at Ascot last time, in this £150,000 contest and William Buick’s mount is ambitiously napped to show a clean pair of heels to her esteemed rivals.

An impressive winner on Newmarket’s July course, Winsili was beaten a couple of lengths into second by Lovely Pass last time out in a conditions race, but she met trouble in running at Ascot and was not punished when the race had gone beyond recall.

Gosden seldom over-faces his horses and the fact that he is prepared to place Winsili in such a prestigious contest is a tip worth taking.

It’ll be a tough task, however. Certify, winner of the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, and Ollie Olga, who has likewise rattled up a hat-trick and who won the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last time, are two high-class fillies, while dual-winner Roz is improving at a rate of knots.

But Winsili has potential in abundance and she gets the vote.

Ladys First heads to Newmarket from Malton with good prospects of making a bold bid in the Mawatheeq Rosemary Stakes for Richard Fahey and Paul Hanagan.

Winner of a similar Listed race at Haydock two outings ago, Ladys First went down narrowly to Dank at Sandown last time. Dank is in stern opposition again, as is the useful Thistle Bird, but Ladys First has every chance of giving them plenty to think about.

Hanagan also has a good ride in the Nayef Joel Stakes aboard Tazahum, who is nothing if not consistent. Sir Michael Stoute’s charge finished a close-up second at Sandown last time after receiving a bump inside the final furlong and also ran well previously when third at York’s Ebor Festival .

The opening Sakhee Oh So Sharp Stakes offers Waterway Run the chance to take a step up in class. Trained by Ralph Beckett, she has won two of her three races and was particularly impressive in nursery company at York nearly three weeks ago.

Also worth noting on day two of the three-day meeting are the attractively-bred newcomer Seek Again (3.25) and recent winner Songcraft (4.00). Declarations, incidentally, for the Silver Cambridgeshire will not be known until this morning, when the field will comprise those horses which fail to make the cut in Saturday’s Cambridgeshire proper.

At Haydock, the lightly-raced Pallasator (2.00) looks interesting as he bids for a hat-trick for Sir Mark Prescott, while Benoni (4.10) has shown enough in three maidens to suggest the Henry Candy-trained juvenile can go well in handicap company under Dane O’Neill.

Kyllachy Star (4.45) will relish the sodden ground and recent winner Grand Liaison (5.20) is also worth consideration.

 

Racing selections

Newmarket (tomorrow) 
1.15 Waterway Run, 1.45 Ladys First, 2.20 Tazahum, 2.55 Winsili (NAP), 3.25 Seek Again, 4.00 Songcraft, 4.35 Declarations made today, 5.10 Odin.

Haydock (tomorrow) 
2.00 Pallasator, 2.30 Eightfold, 3.05 Golden Secret, 3.35 Lexington Place, 4.10 Benoni, 4.45 Kyllachy Star, 5.20 Grand Liaison.

Tomorrow’s other meetings
Stratford, Worcester and Wolverhampton.

Today’s other meetings
Newmarket, Pontefract, Perth and Wolverhampton.