Coral Distaff: Radiator can leave rivals in the cold

Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute is enjoying a good season, and Radiator looks capable of providing him with another success in the Coral Distaff at Sandown today (3.15).

This filly looked a smart prospect when winning a Lingfield maiden by 15 lengths on her second start as a juvenile. Radiator then disappointed when sent off the 11/10 favourite and finishing a well-beaten fourth to subsequent 1,000 Guineas winner Miss France in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket.

The daughter of Dubawi was then off the track for 231 days before finishing a highly promising runner-up to Lustrous in a Listed contest at York, and was then far from disgraced last time out in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot when eighth of 12 to Rizeena.

Radiator was poorly placed at the rear of the field in that latter contest, and got caught flat-footed when the tempo quickened before keeping on to be beaten just 3 1/2 lengths.

It was an effort which suggested Radiator remained open to further progress when ridden more positively, and the drop back into Listed company this afternoon offers her an excellent opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Main dangers to Radiator are Belle D’Or and Queen Catrine. The former is trained by John Gosden and built on a promising debut second at Newmarket when easily landing a Salisbury maiden by 4 1/2 lengths.

While the form of that race doesn’t amount to much, there was plenty to like about the way Belle D’Or went about her business and the daughter Medaglia d’Oro is totally unexposed and remains open to significant progress.

Queen Catrine heads the betting on the back of an unlucky short-head second in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. The Charlie Hills trained filly was given far too much to do by jockey Jamie Spencer and now gets the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle.

This daughter of Acclamation’s run at Royal Ascot just about sets the standard in this line-up, but Queen Catrine has looked far from straightforward on more than one occasion, and looks vulnerable to a couple of potential improvers in the shape of the selection and Belle D’Or.