Pop music to the ears of York backers
Karl Burke’s Poptronic can book her ticket for the Yorkshire Oaks by winning the British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric Fillies’ Stakes at York tomorrow.
The three-year-old has to carry a penalty for winning the Group Three Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle, but that race looked a stronger event.
Poptronic has really appeared on the scene with little fanfare but there is no mistaking she has the makings of a top-class filly. She hinted at it when winning at Ripon conceding weight all around, but she did not head into the Newcastle race strongly fancied, sent off at 8-1.
Dropping marginally in trip to 10 furlongs, the same distance she faces again, it took her until well inside the final one before she showed her superiority but eventually shecameawaytobeattheLingfield Oaks Trial winner Rogue Millennium, who was not disgraced when seventh in the Oaks itself.
Back in third was Pearl Beach, who takes her on again and has two and a half lengths to find, while John and Thady Gosden’sJudithisdefendingan unbeaten record.
Joe Tuite’s Via Sistina is anothercapableofbetterthanwe have seen to date – but if there isonefillywithGroupOnepretensionsthenitlookstobePoptronic.
Roger Fell’s La Trinidad briefly looked like playing a hand in the finish in the ultracompetitive John Smith’s Cup before his stamina gave way.
That race is over an extended 10 furlongs and given all his best form has come at a mile, it was no surprise he faded to finish 13th of 22, beaten just over six lengths. He has been dropped another 2lb in the weights, though, so is now just 1lb higher than his last win, which was also at York, although he does tend to race almost exclusively there.
What his last run did show was that he was in good form and not far off winning again.
Fell also has a good chance in the Gallop Racing Handicap with The Flying Ginger who was third in a Listed race last time out.
MostlyCloudyislikelytobe all the rage for the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap atAscothavingwonfouronthe bounce for Gemma Tutty.
However, he is 6lb higher than for his last win, this is his toughest task to date and he is takingonIanWilliams’Speedo Boy who is bidding for a third win in the race.
Now an eight-year-old, the latter is running for the first time since a wind operation having failed to beat a rival home on his last outing at Chester. This is his race and despite being 2lb higher than 12 months ago, he can give another good account.
Gary Moore’s The Whipmaster has been on a steep upward curve, winning his last four, and despite a 6lb rise for his Windsor win, there still looks to be more in the tank.