The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Sea Of Grace set for glory in Nell Gwyn Stakes
Drop back to seven furlongs not necessarily ideal but trainer Haggas is ‘excited’ and clearly believes filly has more to give
SEA OF GRACE can book her Qipco 1000 Guineas ticket by winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on day two of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket.
The Born To Sea filly was trained by John Oxx last term before being transferred to William Haggas at the end of the campaign, and the Newmarket handler should benefit from Oxx’s excellent work during her juvenile days.
Sea Of Grace did not make her racecourse bow until June, when she finished a creditable third.
She soon stepped up on that effort, winning a fair maiden from Eziyra at Tipperary before having her sights raised to Group Three level on what was her final start of 2016 last August.
She showed a really nice turn of foot to win by a neck over old rival Eziyra. The drop back to seven furlongs may not be totally ideal given she has already won over further and she does have a chunk of weight to find with Brave Anna and Roly Poly on the ratings, but Haggas himself says he is “excited” to run her and it is likely she has more to give.
SEVEN HEAVENS disappointed on the final start of his two-year-old year when last in the Dewhurst, but he can show he is no lost Classic hope yet by winning the bet365 European Free Handicap.
Seven Heavens impressed many watchers when triumphing at Ascot on his debut.
He followed up with a six-length verdict in an unsatisfactory two-runner affair at Goodwood, where his headstrong nature was severely tested when getting a bump on leaving the stalls, which left him lit up.
He gave himself no chance at all in the Dewhurst, pulling hard as Frankie Dettori tried to settle him in the pack and eventually paying for those antics in the finish.
However, he was only beaten just over five lengths by Churchill, so perhaps it was not as bad a run as it appears on first glance. SELECTIONS: BEVERLEY: 2.15 Emilia James, 2.50 Bengali Boys, 3.25 Sable Island, 4.00 Manangatang, 4.35 Edward Lewis, 5.10 Taxmeifyoucan, 5.45 Salamah, 6.20 Forever A Lady.
CHELTENHAM: 2.05 Azzerti, 2.40 Starchitect, 3.15 Divine Spear, 3.50 Millicent Silver, 4.25 Max Forte, 5.00 Marracudja, 5.30 Poker School.
NEWMARKET: 1.50 Gunmetal, 2.25 Seven Heavens, 3.00 Folkswood, 3.35 SEA OF GRACE (NAP), 4.10 Highland Mary, 4.45 Crimson Rosette, 5.20 Elucidation.
DOUBLE: Sea Of Grace and Folkswood.