The John Musker Fillies Stakes: Jamie Lynch’s Horse-by-Horse Guide and the Great Yarmouth Race Verdict | Racing News

Sky Sports Racing Senior Analyst Jamie Lynch takes an in-depth look at Wednesday’s Listed John Musker Fillies stakes at Yarmouth and gives an important verdict on the race.

BELHAVEN

Jockey: George Wood | Coach: Harry Eustace

Completed four handicaps – all over a mile – during his progress, but struggled as his score rose above 80, including at Chester on Saturday. Whether it’s travel or talent, she doesn’t have the qualifications for it, her first lesson promises to be tough.

TO FALL IN LOVE

Kyle Strydom | R Varian

Very tested during her training in France, emboldened by her flattering fifth place behind Nashwa in the Prix de Diane last year.

Her SP of just 11-2 for a listed event at Pontefract tells the story of a projected rise for transfer to Roger Varian, but this never materialized as she was in last position and, as such, it’s a fancy leap of faith to support her. in a better race of this type here, although the return to a longer trip helps.

MAKINMÉDOIT

Hayley Turner | Harry Eustace

Beat her odds (28-1) of fifth place at last year’s John Musker, then upped her All-Weather game again this winter, a level below which she slipped in three events listed on grass this season, the Galtres being too much last time, including for endurance.

She will be out in the market picking up parts late, still in her style (usual slow start).

MORNING POEM

R Havlin | J & T Gosden

Coming from a fine family of middle distance fillies, her dam is a Listed winner for Gosden, Mill Springs, herself out of Oaks’ third Mezzogiorno, and so it’s no wonder they persevere with Morning Poem, which was absent for more than a year. .

She seemed on her way to that level (at least) the last time we saw her, just 4-1 for a Listed Race at Salisbury where she finished fifth after refusing to settle, a trend that will quickly wear thin its reserves. on this return if she is not careful.

MUKADDAMAH

J Mitchell | R Varian

Has not won since her racecourse debut in January 2022, although since then it has mainly been listing and group races for her.

Runner-up in the Midnight Mile at York this trip in July, giving her a chance of a podium finish, but these performances have been the exception rather than the rule with her, highlighted by Haydock last time, and he doesn’t There’s no way Jim Crowley could stay with her when Al Asifah is in town.

PERSIST

Cieren Fallon | WJ Haggas

Never lived up to her pedigree (by Frankel out of QEII winner Persuasive), not helping herself by continually missing the start, but she still ran a personal best in a Goodwood handicap last time when it was second behind the mud-loving There’s The Door, with La Isla Mujeres back in third.

However, she gained weight in both cases, at just 86, which would not be enough for an average Listed race for fillies, and this one is good.

QUEEN OF THE SKIES

N Callan | Jane Chapple Hyam

Finished eighth at 10-1 in this race last year in just her third start. No better or worse to change teams this year, still lagging behind at listed level, beaten by a long shot at Sandown last month.

Can go further than expected simply by virtue of being a top runner while most others will play the waiting game.

AL-ASIFAH

Jim Crowley | J & T Gosden

Over the last 20 years, you can count on one hand the horses that looked as good as her after two starts. And it wasn’t just an eye test, because among those she played with at Goodwood were Lillie Langtry and Park Hill winner Sumo Sam.

It’s easy to urge her in hindsight, but it was harder not to rush in and push her at Royal Ascot and Ribblesdale, which were not part of the plan (it had to be completed), and the deadline The 11-day execution was likely a factor in his failed chances. John Gosden has won the John Musker six times, most notably with So Mi Dar, who shares some similarities with Al Asifah as a Group 1 filly who used Yarmouth as a bounce-back race after a setback and a break, before attempting her luck at the top table.

The fact that Al Asifah brings with her a Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares entry shows that Ribblesdale has only undermined rather than derailed the high hopes in her, and if Royal Ascot had not gone ahead she would 1-3 and not 2-1 for this. A penalty (for Goodwood) is neither here nor there for a filly like her and, regardless of the win, she could easily put on the show.

CITY OF GOLD

Pierre-Louis Jamin | Harry Eustace

Spent the last year mostly chasing grass in races beyond her means, although something was probably wrong with her in a handicap at Epsom on Derby day given she’s been out since . It’s hard to see her playing an important role in a competition like this.

INFINITE COSMOS

R Kingscote | Sir Michael Stoute

Al Asifah is not the only one entered in Group 1 as Infinite Cosmos also returns with a ticket to the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares. I remember before Royal Ascot, on Sky Sports Racing, when Richard Kingscote was asked who he was most looking forward to, he had no hesitation in nominating this filly for the Ribblesdale, only she didn’t been seen there, nor since, putting her in a similar boat to Al Asifah.

From the family of Crystal Ocean and Crystal Capella, she will thrive on her racing, but hasn’t had many so far, still not far behind Al Asifah (taking into account his penalty) after her third place against Oaks winner Soul Sister. in the Musidora. This could be more of an average for her, final clearance being 1.5m, potentially a formidable filly once she gets there.

KHINJANI

Saffie Osborne | Ed Walker

Slow burner who has rallied recently and, after a breakthrough at Haydock, was only beaten by the surging Unlimited who followed next time out. However, the bottom line with Khinjani is that if this were a liability, she would lose weight, and a lot of it.

LA ISLA MUJERES

Hector Crouching | RM Beckett

Emerged onto the treadmill of Ralph Beckett’s fast-forward fillies and took off in mid-summer with back-to-back wins at Kempton and Salisbury (by 7 lengths), from the front. Beaten third when favorite for a not-so-glorious Goodwood handicap, on heavy ground, one place behind Persist (same conditions), but it is significant that Beckett still sticks to the program and improves it for it.

We haven’t seen the best of her and Stand 13 doesn’t have to be a negative because a lot of people in her won’t be as interested in moving up to the front row as she is.

SAPPHIRE SEA

Buick | C Appleby

She hasn’t run at all twice, and there have been places in her races this year, but patience has paid off, with three wins in a row, each more impressive than the last, the rise of her run with handicap at Haydock putting her alongside Al Asifah and Infinite Cosmos as the only fillies in the peloton ranked north of 100.

However, it doesn’t have their reach, and it’s the best race and tightest turnaround Sapphire Seas has faced, so some conditions are attached.

SPARKLING BEAUTY

Rowan Scott | DJS Ffrench Davis

Finished in the Fillies’ Mile last October, and not unreasonably after finishing second in a French Group 2. However, it hasn’t been the same so far in a campaign limited to just two races, leaving Richard Hughes in between, and hard to see him featuring in that.

JAMIE LYNCH VERDICT

The key question is whether you think the Ribblesdale was a bump in the road or the end of the road as far as AL-ASIFAHStar quality is affected? I prefer to see this brush at Royal Ascot for what it was and focus on the bigger picture of his “wow” victories at Haydock and Goodwood as well as the faith in his future that comes with an entry into the Day of Champions.

With a parallel profile, Infinite Cosmos is a strong opponent, while Persist is perhaps the bet to make the best of the 4 years, but I would be disappointed if Al Asifah didn’t take care of everyone.

Watch the Yarmouth John Musker Fillies EBF Stallion Stakes live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 519) on Wednesday September 20.