On Her Toes attempts to complete hat-trick when taking on seven rivals for the £30000 Star Stakes over seven furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Sandown this afternoon; none is capable of beating William Haggas’ charge unless improving considerably and the Kodiac filly might just improve for extra distance.
Sixteen days ago On Her Toes stormed away to beat Prerogative comfortably over six furlongs of the stiff Pontefract course, by three-quarters of a length; others were six lengths and upwards in arrears.
Preogative was beaten into a close third at Ffos Las, Tuesday, but ran well against a couple of super-breds, Maths Prize and Naval Warfare, owned by The Queen and Qater Racing, respectively!
In my book that doesn’t let the Ponte form down, it enhances it because fourth home, Peace And Plenty, was beaten SEVEN lengths!
On my time-handicap On Her Toes is clear ‘best-in’ despite being opposed by seven previous winners and, as mentioned, could well progress sufficiently to contest the ‘May Hill’ at Doncaster in September, a prestigious mile race.
Owners Cheveley Park Racing would relish such a prospect for their successful breeding operation, which has given us all such pleasure down the years and, most importantly, plenty of winners!
Running in tandem will be ‘good to firm’ Yarmouth where Gabrielle tackes six furlongs for the first time, also against seven rivals in the Maiden Stakes. A sharpener, in a handicap, over the minimum trip on this course last month, should have put an edge on the Ed Dunlop-trained Paco Boy filly, again the mount of Jamie Spencer.
Obvious danger is consistent, hithero luckless, Gale Song, strongly-fancied by the Ed Walker operation.
Given both previous races could go off with eight runners we’ll be playing an each-way double, just before the off; don’t want to be victim of a late withdrawal which would mean two places instead of three. You have to be aware knowing the bookies are always on the prowl to get declarations taken out!
Doncaster stages an evening fixture which includes a cracking, quality, ‘aged’ Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs; our fancy is twice-raced Wonderful Life, each-way.
Wonderful Life describes mine, thanks to horse-racing which, though a victim of rapidly-declining standards, administratively, is still my labour of love!