Fillies' Mile Preview: Dascombe filly not to be underestimated

First published Tuesday, October 8

The Fillies’ Mile takes place over the same C&D as the 1000 Guineas, so you would have thought plenty would have done the double. However, only the Aidan O’Brien-trained Minding has secured victory in both events since the turn of the century, and she also went on to win the Investec Oaks at Epsom.

This year’s renewal features two of the ante-post market leaders for the 1000 Guineas and Oaks in the shape of Quadrilateral and Love. The former was supplemented at a cost of £40,000 on Monday following two impressive wins in minor events at Newbury. She was well backed to make a winning debut in August and, despite running green throughout, there was an air of inevitability about her success once she got rolling over a furlong out. The impression she left was a deep one in seeing off a field that contained just one other filly. She fully confirmed that promise when following up under a penalty a month later, not lacking speed but really showcasing the stamina in her pedigree in the closing stages, looking a filly right out of the top drawer. The step up to a mile here will unlock further improvement and she deservedly heads the betting for this.

Wow! Quadrilateral (Frankel) makes quite an impression and remains unbeaten for @Jason7Watson1 and @RogerCharlton at @NewburyRacing pic.twitter.com/k4n0M9r1FE

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 20, 2019

The O’Brien-trained Love is also bred to stay well, and confirmed that she is one of the best juvenile fillies around when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh (by three quarters of a length from Daahyeh, staying on well). Love was a disappointing favourite in the Debutante Stakes the time before, but wasted no time in returning to form, a clear run allowing her the chance to build momentum, and she was well on top come the finish. That form is working out well, too, with Daahyeh going on to win the Rockfel on her next start. Love is another who is bred to stay well, and seems sure to be suited by this extra furlong, so commands the utmost respect for O’Brien who is one of the most successful trainers in this race with five wins.

Another filly set to make the trip across the Irish Sea is the unbeaten Cayenne Pepper. She is bred more for stamina than speed, and has progressed markedly with each start this season, winning a maiden and a minor event before making the breakthrough in pattern company in the six-runner Flame of Tara Stakes at the Curragh (by two and a half lengths from So Wonderful, leading and finding extra once tackled over a furlong out). That was a thoroughly professional performance, and the level of her form is beginning to stack up, so she merits serious consideration in this. Her prominent running style will also stand her in good stead at this track and she deserves to be mixing it towards the head of the betting.

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She's good - Cayenne Pepper (Australia) remains unbeaten, the Group 1 entry proving best in the Group 3 Flame Of Tara Stakes for @Jessica_Racing at @curraghrace

Results ➡ https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/TBkmkMqauA

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 30, 2019

The William Haggas-trained Powerful Breeze was another filly supplemented on Monday after maintaining her unbeaten record in the May Hill Stakes (by a length from Boomer, making smooth headway and quickening to lead under two furlongs out). She's clearly very promising, but circumstances were in her favour on Town Moor, a strong headwind meaning that horses that raced off the pace were seen to good effect, and she's no banker to uphold the form with the more prominently ridden Boomer now.

Boomer is a strong sort physically and the Haydock race she ran in on debut in July worked out a lot better than it looked at the time, with all five runners winning next time out. She did her bit for the form at Newbury three weeks later before following up in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood (by a neck from Dark Lady) in August. Did best of those ridden prominently when a length second to Powerful Breeze in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last time, despite still showing signs of greenness, and it wouldn't be a huge surprise were she to turn the tables this time.

John Gosden last won the race in 2008 with Rainbow View – who was beaten at odds-on in the 1000 Guineas the following year – and has a couple of unexposed entries in the shape of Anastarsia and Wasaayef. This will be a big jump in class for Anastarsia who improved from her debut to win a minor event at Newcastle last time, while Wasaayef lost little in defeat when trying to concede 6 lb to Queen Daenerys over C&D last time. Gosden is no stranger to pitching his juveniles in at the deep end and both will need a second look if taking their chance.

Lovely prospect - Group 1 entry Queen Daenerys (Frankel) showed real promise on debut and gets off the mark second-time up for @varianstable at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/x4FjPFT6l4

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 21, 2019

Queen Daenerys is bred in the purple with a $500,000 sales price to match, and she was found wanting for know-how on debut at Ascot, but she confirmed that promise when going one better over this C&D last month. She rates the type to do better as a three-year-old next year (has plenty about her physically), particularly as her stamina is drawn out, but there's no reason why she can't put up a good showing here against more battle-hardened rivals.

In summary, it isn’t hard to make a case for Quadrilateral or Love, given the profile and pedigree they possess, while Cayenne Pepper has just about achieved the most of these, and with further progress in the offing she is greatly feared, but the market seems to have underestimated the claims of Boomer. The Tom Dascombe-trained filly has a length to find with Powerful Breeze on their May Hill Stakes clash, but that effort has to be marked up given the headwind at play, so, with that in mind, Boomer rates an attractive each-way proposition at 12/1.

Recommendation:

Back Boomer each way at 12/1 in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on Friday