Newmarket maiden winner steps up in class for Group Three assignment.
Tabiti Poised for Group Three Test at Salisbury After Rescheduling Due to Rain
The highly anticipated return of impressive Newmarket scorer, Tabiti, will finally unfold at Salisbury on Friday, as she steps up in grade for the Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes. After a week-long delay due to heavy rainfall that forced the abandonment of the original card, Tabiti’s connections, and fans alike are eager to see how she handles this latest challenge.
Trained by Ralph Beckett, Tabiti will not only be testing her skills in a higher class, but also adjusting to a drop in distance. Despite this, her team believes she has the natural ability and speed required to excel. Barry Mahon, European racing manager for her owners Juddmonte, expressed confidence in her readiness:
“Hopefully the ground will have dried out, as she's in great form and we look forward to seeing her run. She was impressive at Newmarket on debut and we would like to think she is a smart filly.”
The daughter of Kingman made a commanding first impression when she dominated the field on the July course, cruising to victory with ease. However, the shortened trip raises some concerns. Mahon acknowledged this, but remained optimistic about her ability to adapt.
"She won quite easily in the end and has a lot of natural ability. Dropping back in trip is a slight concern, but she showed plenty of speed on debut, so we’re hopeful she can overcome it and that she’s up to this level on Friday," he said.
Rescheduled Race Draws Quality Field
This prestigious Group Three event had been earmarked for last week, but the weather wreaked havoc on the Wiltshire track, forcing a delay. Despite the change in schedule, most of the key contenders have stood their ground, creating a thrilling competition.
Eve Johnson Houghton, who surprised everyone with Juniper Berries’ victory in the same race last year, is looking for back-to-back success. This time, she has Betty Clover in her corner, a filly who impressed earlier in the season with a win in the Marygate Stakes and has since performed credibly at the Group level.
Meanwhile, Tabiti’s standout performance last time out has seen her installed as the bookmakers' favorite for Friday's race, a position she held even before last week's postponement. Despite the challenge of stepping up in class and tackling an unfamiliar distance, her dominant debut gives her a strong chance.
Beckett’s filly will face stiff competition, including runners from some of the UK’s top stables. William Haggas’ Jewelry, who also dazzled on debut at Newbury, is another notable contender, as is Karl Burke’s Greydreambeliever. Both are stepping up in grade after scoring in their first races, bringing additional intrigue to this clash of exciting prospects.
“There are some very interesting horses in this race. Beckett's horse was impressive first time, and so was Haggas' horse,” said a spokesperson from Burke’s team. “There are also some high-level nursery-type horses in there, but we believe our filly is a smart one, so we’re going there full of hope.”
Cox and Varian Enter Strong Contenders
Clive Cox will be pinning his hopes on Magic Mild, a filly in top form after back-to-back wins at Newmarket. Her consistency and ability to find the winning thread have her aiming for a hat-trick in this tough contest.
Roger Varian, meanwhile, enters Miss Fascinator, who brings a notable backstory to the event. Owned by footballing legends Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, and Alan Brazil, the filly has garnered plenty of attention not only for her connections but also for her impressive performances on the track. She is joined by King and Queen’s Handcuffed, trained by Andrrew Balding, and Santa Savana, under the watchful eye of Rod Millman.
Santa Savana Aiming for Major Autumn Races
Santa Savana enters the race as somewhat of an outsider, having been unfancied at 14-1 in her debut. However, trainer Karl Burke and racing manager Cosmo Charlton believe she has the potential to improve significantly after gaining valuable experience.
“She’s going well at home, and Karl is pleased with her. This is a step up in class, which will tell us what we’ve got on our hands,” Charlton said. “Karl thought she would come on plenty after her York debut, and she did well that day. We weren’t expecting to win, but she got the job done.”
The team is hopeful that Santa Savana, who has been improving physically and mentally, can surprise in Friday’s race. They are also eyeing bigger targets for the autumn if she performs well at Salisbury.
“Karl’s been happy with her and she’s got some fancy entries further down the line as well,” Charlton added.
𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 (14-1) dazzles on debut in the @SkyBet @BritishEBF Fillies' Novice Stakes @yorkracecourse 💫
Fellow newcomer Stormy Impact was also a huge eyecatcher, but @HambletonRacing and @karl_burke's Dark Angel filly was not for catching 💥 pic.twitter.com/2oH7RgWCZu
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 27, 2024
A Field of Rising Stars
The Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes promises to be an electrifying contest, with many promising young horses vying for glory. With Tabiti leading the charge, and a field full of in-form runners and potential future stars, this race is one not to be missed. The week-long delay has only heightened anticipation, and racing fans are ready for the action to unfold.
