The BHA’s race planning department will be patting itself on the back with a good geographical spread of fixtures today at Lingfield (turf), Musselburgh, Catterick, Worcester (jumps) and Kempton (aw), while they race in Ireland at Bellewstown.
Sir Michael Stoute is an infrequent visitor to Catterick so his Dante’s View looks an intriguing runner in the La Fille Rouge Handicap (4.20pm) under Danny Tudhope, who is bidding to become champion jockey for the first time.
Tudhope, who enjoyed a treble at Ripon yesterday, currently trails leader Oisin Murphy by 18 winners. He has a ride in all seven races at Catterick while Murphy travels to Kempton’s evening fixture for six mounts.
Snow Fairy’s daughter at Kempton
The second foal out of the brilliant racemare Snow Fairy makes her second start at Kempton Park this evening.
Homebred Virgin Snow, by Gleneagles and like her dam trained by Ed Dunlop, finished fourth on her debut over seven furlongs at Doncaster in July. She steps up to a mile and faces 11 opponents in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes for two-year-olds at 5.55pm.
Outstanding distaffer Snow Fairy could have her first winner as a broodmare at Kempton this evening ©George Selwyn
Snow Fairy, who raced for her breeder Cristina Patino (as Anamoine Limited), was an outstanding middle-distance performer. A dual Classic heroine in the Epsom and Irish Oaks, her other top-level triumphs included the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (twice), Hong Kong Cup and Irish Champion Stakes.
Interestingly, Snow Fairy raced just once on the all-weather, winning a Lingfield maiden on her second start.
Virgin Snow is only the second progeny of Snow Fairy to appear on a racecourse, following the once-raced Belle De Neige.
Record price in Doncaster
A son of Kingman brought a new record price of £440,000 on the opening day of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale on Tuesday, smashing the previous mark of £380,000 achieved last year.
Out of the Listed-winning Exceed And Excel mare Shamandar and consigned by Charlie and Tracy Vigors’ Hillwood Stud, the eye-catching colt was knocked down to MV Magnier through Kevin Buckley.
In total, 19 yearlings sold for six-figure sums, which helped the average increase by 10% to £49,300. The second and final day of the Premier Sale is today before the Silver Sale on Thursday.
Day 1 figures:
Offered: 233
Sold: 212 (91%)
Aggregate: £10,451,500 (+2%)
Average: £49,300 (+10%)
Median: £38,000 (+9%)
