Shuwari heads Rockfel, with possible designs on BC Juvenile Fillies Turf
Shuwari is the solid early favorite to beat seven rivals and run her career mark to 3 for 3 in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes on Friday at Newmarket Racecourse.
The seven-furlong, straight-course Rockfel, for 2-year-old fillies, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and thus offers the winner automatic fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and travel expenses to Santa Anita this fall.
One could imagine Shuwari making that long trip if she runs to expectations in the Rockfel.
Shuwari, by New Bay, is trained by Ollie Sangster, the grandson of renowned owner-breeder Robert Sangster who opened a training yard last summer at the ripe age of 25. Sangster considered training in America after galloping horses here for Wesley Ward, so, while generally inexperienced, Sangster knows American racing. And Shuwari, unlike most European 2-year-olds, already has raced around a turn while winning the seven-furlong Star Stakes on July 27 at Sandown Park.
While the Star only is a listed race, runner-up Fallen Angel very much is a horse of note, having returned to capture the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland. Shuwari beat her by a half-length and looked good in so doing. As in her career debut in a seven-furlong race at Newbury, Shuwari settled sweetly at the back of the field in the early stages before moving into contention without being asked for anything by her jockey. The filly appears to be quite game and has come to the finish with good energy in both her starts. She won at Sandown over soft going but traveled just as well in her debut over a course listed as good-to-firm, same as Newmarket’s as of Wednesday. Oisin Murphy has a return call.
There are others to consider. Carla’s Way, an early-season debut winner before a modest showing at Royal Ascot, exits a second-place finish in the Group 3 Fillies Prestige Stakes at Goodwood, where she, too, ran around a bend. Carla’s Way led most of the contest but could not quicken with the winner, Notation, over heavy going . Notation, who appears to relish softer footing, raced again Sept. 14, when she romped by three lengths in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.
It’s difficult to know what to expect from Ylang Ylang, an Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore production who impressed winning her first two starts. Favored at 6-5 in the Moyglare Stud, Ylang Ylang faded to last of nine with no apparent excuse, though the fact O’Brien runs her back 19 days later suggests the filly can rebound.
Spiritual comes into the Rockfel, just her second start, brimming with upside for owner George Strawbridge and co-trainers John and Thady Gosden. Spiritual must have her quirks since she debuted in a shadow roll and a hood covering her ears, and in the early stages of her first race she pulled very hard facing 13 foes going seven furlongs at Leicester. Despite failing to settle, Spiritual powered to the lead with a furlong left while racing greenly and drew clear to win by two lengths. It’s hard to say what Spiritual was beating at Leicester – probably not much – but the filly ought to have plenty of room to improve if she can race more professionally.
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