Desert Flower and Flight have clashed once already this season.
With 12 entries for the Betfred May Hill Stakes on Thursday, Desert Flower and Flight may reignite their rivalry in Doncaster.
With her July race debut and her six-and-a-half triumph at the same track last month, Desert Flower has made quite an impression on her first two outings for Charlie Appleby.
The Night Of Thunder daughter is the best-priced 16-1 contender for the 1000 Guineas in 2020 and may try her Classic credentials in Group Two on the first day of the St Leger Festival.
Impressive debut 👀
Desert Flower (Night Of Thunder) makes a winning start for Charlie Appleby and @WilliamBuickX to land the Rossdales @BritishEBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes 🔵@godolphin | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/rm4RJ9yXG5
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 13, 2024
After losing by three and a quarter lengths to Desert Flower at Newmarket in July, Ollie Sangster's Flight made a spectacular debut at Sandown.
Anshoda is another important player; he was a steal for David Loughnane in May, coming in at just 5,000 guineas. Gary Barber and Team Valour have since acquired him. After surprising everyone by winning at 33-1 on her Lingfield debut, she has subsequently shown that her performance was not anomalous, placing second in the Star Stakes at Sandown and winning Group Three at the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood.
While Bassadanza (Charlie Johnston), Consent (Sir Mark Prescott), Miss Tonnerre (Ed Walker), and Serving With Style (Karl Burke) could all be putting unbeaten records on the line in what looks to be an educational competition, Aidan O'Brien has entered Ecstatic and January.
With 20 entries, the Betfred Park Hill Stakes is the other Group Two race on the schedule.
While there are a number of possible Irish raiders, the home team's likely contenders are Hughie Morrison's Mistral Star, Paul and Oliver Cole's defending champion Sumo Star, and the Andrew Balding-trained Night Sparkle.
Dermot Weld may send Give Thanks Stakes winner Shamida, while Joseph O'Brien has four possibilities in Belhaven, Dancing Tango, Derida, and Thunder Roll. His father Aidan has two prospects in Grateful and Port Fairy.
The Weatherbys Scientific GBP 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes is the day's most valuable race. Of the 28 juveniles to hold their ground at the confirmation stage are Aidan O'Brien's Group Three winner Ides Of March and Group Two finisher Camille Pissarro.
