Ribblesdale Stakes
June 15, 2011
Banimpire sets the standard here. After an ordinary enough juvenile season she’s had six runs already this year and not only has she been a revelation, she has been a model of consistency holding her form and improving with every run. Her only real set back, if you can call it that, was when stepping back to a mile in the Irish Guineas beaten 2 1/4 L. She previously had won 3 on the trot, two over 10f with a win over 9f sandwiched in between. Last Sunday stepped up to 12f for the first time where she won easily in impressive fashion. The drawback is she has been so busy with only 4 days since her last run.
Rumh’s form is obviously to be respected, an easy 6L winner last week prior to a third in the Swetteham Stud Stakes behind Izzi Top and Dancing Rain. That form reversed in the Oaks subsequently.
The Gosden pair are Highest and Field Of Miracles. The former is William Buick’s choice and both are officially rated 95. It’s hard to split the pair. Their form is tied by the Oaks runs of Beatrice Aurore and Zain Al Bodain. Both were second to these fillies last time so on the book Highest is favoured over her stable companion on Beatrice Aurore’s Oaks performance.
Zain Al Boldin was 3 L inferior to Beatrice Aurore in the Oaks so you would have to think the Lingfield Oaks Trail won’t produce the winner here.
Dorcas Lane would produce the fairytale result as the plan for her was to go hurdling in Autueil but an education run on the flat led to a listed win and now a crack at this Group 2. Izzi Top was 4 L behind in the listed run and her Oaks third gives this filly serious credibility.
Arizona Jewel will have to improve to take this having only won her maiden in April but being trained by Henry Cecil who really is a master with fillies means she can’t be dismissed.
Creme Anglaise is unexposed though hard to fancy while Musharakatt is experienced though exposed.
Aidan O’Brien sends two, Look At Me and Make My Heart Sing. Like John Gosden’s pair they are difficult to split. The former had some decent 2 year old form but has been disappointing this year. The latter didn’t inspire at two but her only run this year was a win at Cork.
The head says Banimpire, the heart says Dorcas Lane, Auteuil’s loss could be Ascot’s gain.
