With the Oaks and Derby on the horizon at Epsom next week, the highest rated races in the UK are two Grade 3 events at Haydock today.
Ground conditions are posted as good, good to soft in places.
The Gr3 Betfred Pinnacle Stakes for Fillies and Mares is scheduled to start at 15h55 and ten runners are carded to jump from the mile and a half start.
The red-hot William Haggas stable send out Sea La Rosa. The four-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars makes her seasonal debut after a fine sophomore year that yielded four wins from seven starts over similar distances. Its noteworthy that she won her seasonal reappearance last season.
Sea La Rosa arrives on the back of a career-best effort last time out, winning a Lingfield Listed race by over four lengths.
Sir Michael Stoute, successful yesterday at Sandown with the hugely impressive Bay Bridge, saddles the well-bred Noon Star. Second to Snowfall in the Musidora last year, this Galileo filly will appreciate the extra two furlongs on offer, and with the stable going well is another in the mix.
Frankie Dettori (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Frankie Dettori heads north for three rides for the Gosden stable and the lightly raced Dubawi filly is his ride in the race.
A sister to Too Darn Hot, Darlectable You returned from a year lay-off to make a winning handicap debut at Windsor three weeks ago. Progressive and unexposed, it’s very interesting that her trainer has decided to pitch her into this graded race.
Frankie rides Sunray Major in the Gr3 Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes (16h30), and after a fair effort behind Baaeed in the Lockinge a fortnight ago, the five-year-old entire will find things a lot easier in this class. He will also appreciate the drop-in trip to seven furlongs where he is two for two.
Course and distance winner Kinross looks the biggest threat to the Juddmonte runner. Trained by Ralph Beckett, Kinross was victorious in this event last season on his seasonal debut before going on to Group 2 success in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood defeating the top-class Godolphin pair – Creative Force and Space Blues.
Shamrock selects a Gosden/Dettori double in the two features – Darlectable You and Sunray Major.
