Sunderland Echo

Grace can provide a victory at Yarmouth

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Ville De Grace can give Sir Michael Stoute a second victory in the EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies' Stakes at Yarmouth.

The Freemason Lodge handler has not struck gold in this Listed heat since 2005, but Ville De Grace looks the right type as she switches up to 10 furlongs in what is the highlight of the year at the seaside venue.

Ville De Grace has been highly tried in three outings so far this term, kicking off with a decent effort when fifth as a 66-1 shot in the Fred Darling at Newbury in the spring.

Beaten two and a half lengths by Alcohol Free, that was clearly a fine performanc­e - given the winner's subsequent exploits. But it was disappoint­ing Ville De Grace could not build on it when well beaten by Primo Bacio - who had been just a nose in front at Newbury when the pair met again at York.

Given a break by Stoute after that lacklustre effort, she was then forced to miss an outing at Haydock at the beginning of August because of unsuitable ground before eventually setting foot on the track again when contesting the Group Three Atalanta Stakes.

Ville De Grace again showed plenty of promise when third behind Classic runner-up Saffron Beach there, putting in all her best work at the end over a mile to suggest this move up in trip could be right up her street.

The Le Havre filly has a bit to find with Technique on the ratings, but she looks an unexposed contender with the potential to improve further.

At the other end of the scale, there is not much we do not know about popular campaigner Blue De Vega.

It is a long time now since he finished third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, but he has developed into a laudably tough, consistent sprint handicappe­r.

He has managed just one win so far this year, but his current mark of 93 for the Download At The Races App Handicap looks competitiv­e enough.

Millennial Moon should be given another chance in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.

He dropped out tamely on debut at Newmarket after looking a likely winner at one stage, hanging across the track and dropping a handful of places in the final strides. Inexperien­ce could well have been to blame that day, so he should not be written off yet.

Sir Busker deserves to snap a losing run that stretches back to Royal Ascot 2020, in the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes at Sandown. While the five-year-old has not got his head in front since landing the Silver Hunt Cup, he has turned in a succession of seriously good efforts in ultracompe­titive handicaps.

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