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| Staff Writer |
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Desert Flower, the unbeaten Godolphin filly, is stepping up to the mile challenge in the Gr.2 May Hill Stakes, headlining day one of Doncaster's St Leger Festival on Thursday. The Charlie Appleby-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder has been turning heads with her commanding performances, notching up two victories by a combined margin of nearly ten lengths at Newmarket's July course this summer.
Irish maestro Aidan O'Brien, who tasted success in this race with Fleeting in 2018, is fielding a formidable duo. Impressive Listed winner January and Tipperary maiden victor Ecstatic are both aiming to halt Desert Flower's winning streak. Not to be overlooked, the Ollie Sangster-trained Flight enters the fray fresh off a commanding four-length triumph at Sandown.
Previous winners of the May Hill Stakes have gone on to achieve notable success, with the likes of Minding (2015) and Laurens (2017) both securing multiple Group One victories in their illustrious careers.
In the preceding Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes, all eyes will be on Camille Pissarro, Ballydoyle's lone contender. The Wootton Bassett colt, acquired for a hefty sum of US$1,562,500 as a yearling, is looking to bounce back after finishing sixth in the Gr.2 Gimcrack Stakes at York last month. Since his maiden victory at Navan in April, the O'Brien charge has been competing exclusively in Group company.
Weatherbys Super Sprint hero Caburn, who edged out Camille Pissarro at York, is taking his chance for trainer Jack Jones. The competitive nature of the race is further underscored by the presence of last-time-out winners Intrusively, Cairdeas, Hallasan, and Miss Nightfall in a strong field of 20.
Super Sam will be attempting to retain her crown in the Gr.2 Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes for trainers Paul and Oliver Cole. The 4YO daughter of Nathaniel triumphed over One Evening in last year's edition and is looking to recapture that form after a challenging start to the season.
Despite finishing unplaced on her seasonal debut at Goodwood in May and managing only fourth in the Gr.3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury last month, connections remain optimistic about Super Sam's chances of a repeat performance
The defending champion faces a field of nine rivals, including the consistent trio of Night Sparkle, Mistral Star, and Scenic. Adding intrigue to the contest is the O'Brien-trained Grateful, the only other runner boasting a Group-level victory to her name.
The Park Hill Stakes, often referred to as the "Fillies' St Leger", has a rich history of producing top-class performers. Notable winners include Simple Verse (2015), who went on to claim the St Leger itself, and Lily Langtry (2010), who later secured multiple Group One successes in Europe and North America.
As the St Leger Festival kicks off, the stage is set for a thrilling day of high-class racing action, with established stars and emerging talents vying for glory on Town Moor.