Saturday's Cheveley Park Stakes has the potential to be the race of the season as a whole host of top-class fillies get set to clash on the Rowley Mile.
Racing fans will have been delighted to see Sun Goddess, Senorita Bonita and Libertango all declared for the race on Thursday morning, bringing together arguably the most talented crop of juvenile fillies seen on these shores in a long, long time.
With interlinking form lines whichever way you look, this is set to be an absorbing contest from whatever angle you're coming at it from.
There is only one place to start here and that is with current race favourite Sun Goddess. The daughter of Sioux Nation is thriving on her racing and, rather unusually, will be making her eighth start of the season when she jumps from stall six on Saturday. Beaten by Libertango at Royal Ascot, her form since has been faultless, defeating Folsom Blues -- a subsequent six-length Group 1 winner -- in the Phoenix Stakes before notching a second top-level success in the Moyglare on Irish Champions Weekend.
Connections of the aforementioned Libertango will be hoping that she can uphold the form from the Albany in June. Drawn on the wrong side that day, it didn't make any difference to George Boughey's filly who pulled well clear of the field, leaving Sun Goddess a length behind her in second. Her efforts since have been impressive too; runner-up to Senorita Bonita in the Duchess Of Cambridge prior to landing the Lowther at York.
So, whilst Libertango has proven that she can get the better of Sun Goddess, to win this, she will have to avenge the only defeat of her career against Senorita Bonita.
Simon & Ed Crisford's stable star enjoyed Group 1 glory against the colts last time out in the Prix Morny, a win that in pretty much any other year would see her come into this race as the favourite. Behind her that day was Royal Ascot-winning Orthodox, Prix de Cabourg winner Kosuma and Richmond Stakes winner Man's Best Friend; all giving real substance to the form. Although the joint-trainers have been on record saying that they think she will get further in the future, she is very quick, and given current ground conditions might be difficult to peg back if she gets on a roll.
Not to be forgotten from stall three is Joseph O'Brien's Alwaysanangel. O'Brien is conquering all before him at the moment and his contender doesn't have too much to find with a couple of these. Whilst Senorita Bonita and Libertango led the Duchess Of Cambridge field, Alwaysanangel wasn't too far behind at all in third and she could take another step forward given she is the most lightly-raced filly in the field.
Cheveley Park Stakes confirmed runners
- Alwaysanangel
- Libertango
- Moonrise
- Senorita Bonita
- Snowing
- Sun Goddess
Cheveley Park Stakes betting odds
(Odds will display when market is available)
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
