Indigo going for gold at Doncaster to cap day for Gosden and Dettori
INDIGO Girl can consolidate another fine day in prospect for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori at Doncaster.
The winning Yarmouth debutant is one of the two least experienced contenders in a nine-strong field for the Group Two bet365 May Hill Stakes.
But on a card which begins with the long-awaited comeback of Gosden’s 2019 St Leger winner Logician, Indigo Girl has the credentials to provide both trainer and jockey with further success.
The Dubawi filly received her racecourse introduction, as is so often the case for the yard, in the very capable hands of Robert Havlin - and the pair had no trouble overcoming a slow start to be well on top at the finish over this same distance of a mile.
That was less than two weeks ago, and the form has yet to be tested.
The runner-up had previous experience, however, as a promising fourth on debut behind a useful dual winner.
Indigo Girl made a fine impression - and as a daughter of her owner’s two-time French mile-and-a-half Group Two winner Montare, this is a highly feasible test of her aspirations.
She faces several worthy rivals - including Zabeel Queen, also a successful firsttime-out scorer, and shock Newmarket Group Three winner Star Of Emaraaty.
But the style of Indigo Girl’s victory, and her blueblood pedigree, suggests she could well be up to this.
Spright is another juvenile of note, in the preceding British Stallion Studs EBF ``Carrie Red’’ Fillies’ Nursery Handicap.
Karl Burke’s dual winner scampered round Chester to double her tally, cashing in the experience of her three previous appearances to get the better of Terrichang
That rival has since run well to be third in a very competitive Listed race at Ripon - and this course and distance looks spot on for Spright, who must concede weight to all but one of her opponents but may well be capable of doing so.
Logician will be short odds, of course, but should make his undoubted class count on a belated return to the scene of his greatest triumph, in the opening Sky Sports Racing
Sky 415 Conditions Stakes.
The unbeaten grey has not been seen since his emphatic performance in the Classic here 12 months ago, having suffered a miserable winter during which he had to battle a serious infection.
Logician holds Group One and Two entries at between this 10 furlongs and two miles in the remainder of the season - but he needs to pass this test first.
He showed in his peerless five-from-five campaign last summer that he has speed as well as stamina - and therefore, as long as he is even approaching full fitness and retains the majority of his ability, he has much in his favour here against only two rivals rated 6lb and 11lb his inferior.