York Preview: Irish Champions Weekend Fillies’ Stakes (15.45)
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Yasmeen created a huge impression when winning on her debut, and can take the step up into Listed company in her stride to land the Irish Champions Weekend Fillies’ Stakes at York (15.45).
The John Gosden trained filly was backed down to 7/2 second favourite for a 17-runner maiden at Newbury, and her supports never had an anxious moment.
After showing plenty of pace to tracks the leaders and travelling powerfully throughout in the hands of jockey Paul Hanagan, Yasmeen showed a smart turn of foot when produced to lead entering the final furlong to scoot clear and score with far more in hand than the winning margin of two lengths suggests.
It was a performance which oozed class, and the form of the race has worked out well.
The runner-up Little Prairie won next time up by three lengths, and the fourth home Vibe Queen went on to bolt up at Chester by five lengths.
Given the ease with which Yasmeen dispatched those rivals, it marks her out as a well-above average performer who should have little difficulty making an impact at this level.
The beautifully bred daughter of Sea The Stars is also sure to improve for the outing, and can take this 1m contest before going on to even better things.
Gosden also saddles Sperry, who has a progressive profile and looks sure to go well.
The filly comes into the contest having won her last two starts, and showed a good attitude in the last of those when finding plenty to land a conditions’ contest at Ascot by 1 1/4 lengths.
Sperry is clearly going the right way, but the daughter of Shamardal now faces her stiffest task yet and doesn’t have the same scope as her stable companion.
Another well worthy of consideration is the Karl Burke trained Mothers Finest.
The filly shaped with plenty of promise when runner-up to Udododontu at Redcar, and the winner landed a handicap on the opening day of this meeting in good style to give the form a boost.
Mothers Finest then went one better at Haydock when last seen in action, keeping on strongly to score by a length.
The daughter of Tamayuz, who is held in high regard by connections, should have plenty more to offer judged on the manner of that success and the yard do well with their runners at this track.
