Musical Times dazzled while Waardah bounced back to her best on the opening day at Doncaster
The Godolphin filly preserved her unbeaten record with a spectacular performance in the May Hill Stakes (G2), while the Owen Burrows trainee returned to winning ways in the Park Hill Stakes (G2), headlines from the opening day of the classic St. Leger Festival
DONCASTER, England (Special for Turf Diario).— Highlighting a brilliant exhibition from Musical Times and a return to peak form by Waardah, Doncaster kicked off on Thursday the festival that will culminate with the running of the historic St. Leger Stakes (G1). The two Group features on the card delivered high-impact performances from fillies destined to make their mark at the highest level.
Musical Times (Lope de Vega) emerged as the standout star of the day, preserving her unbeaten record with overwhelming authority in the Betfred May Hill Stakes (G2-1600 m), a time-honored stepping stone for ambitious 2-year-old fillies.
A winner of her first two starts at Newmarket and Yarmouth, the Godolphin homebred carried towering expectations and delivered well beyond expectations. Despite taking a bump shortly after the break, William Buick settled her smoothly behind the early pace down the center of the track.
Once her rider released the brakes with two furlongs to run, the contest was effectively over. Musical Times produced an astonishing turn of foot, putting daylight between herself and her rivals in a matter of strides before storming home 7 1/2 lengths clear of Scommessa Sicura (Cracksman), the same rival she had narrowly defeated on debut. Another length back, Speckles (No Nay Never), trained by Aidan O’Brien, completed the placings.
The effortless manner in which Musical Times handled the step up in class over a mile, coping with testing conditions and a stiff headwind, delighted Charlie Appleby. The trainer admitted he had not anticipated such a dominant margin, while noting that the filly had consistently shown natural speed in her morning breezes.
Out of Dubai Fountain (Teofilo), who finished second in this same race in 2020, Musical Times now targets the Fillies’ Mile (G1) at Newmarket. Appleby knows that path intimately: two seasons ago he captured the May Hill with Desert Flower (Dubawi), who subsequently went on to glory in the 1000 Guineas (G1). More compact and athletic than that previous champion, Godolphin's rising talent displayed all the attributes needed to thrive on the Rowley Mile.
Later on the card for the staying division, Waardah rebounded to her brilliant best to claim the Betfred Park Hill Stakes (G2-2920 m), aided by the first-time application of a hood in race conditions.
The Owen Burrows trainee can prove headstrong in her work, and the gear change allowed her to travel far more comfortably under Callum Rodriguez. Consent (Lope de Vega) set an ambitious pace out front to test her stamina, but Waardah relentlessly chipped away at the lead down Doncaster's long home stretch, hit the front, and pulled away.
Sent off as the 5-2 favorite, she scored by 1 3/4 lengths over Danielle (Cracksman), who rallied late to edge Consentfor second. The victory marked a second Group 2 success for Waardah, who captured the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood last season.
Excessive summer heat and a lack of soft ground had restricted her European campaign earlier this year. In fact, when finishing third last month while attempting to defend her Goodwood title, she was making just her second start of the term. Presented with her preferred cut in the ground this time, she reasserted her class over marathon trips.
Unhardened by racing and fresh, Waardah could now target a top-flight success before the year is out. Burrows is eyeing a tilt at the Prix de Royallieu (G1) during Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) weekend at ParisLongchamp, while keeping the door open for an appearance on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot should soft ground prevail.
Musical Times provided a glimpse of a glittering future, while Waardah made up for lost time. Two decisive victories infused class and flair into the opening day of one of British racing's most treasured autumn festivals.
