1m½f (1m113y) Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) (Sponsored By Chapel Down) (Class 1) (3yo+)
Conditions could be pretty testing tomorrow and that could suit Sparks Fly who finished third in this race last year. But it’ll be tough for her to give weight all-round in a race which can often be tight at the finish and while she sets the standard, she is one of the more exposed runners in here.
PACIFIC MISSION could kick-on significantly from her seasonal reappearance. Her two-year-old form saw her finish second in both the Group 2 May Hill Stakes and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, shaping like a potentially high-class miler with a potent turn of foot. That level of form — RPRs around 103–105 — puts her firmly in the mix here with any amount of progression from two to three-years-old and considering she gets 15lbs in weight allowance from Sparks Fly and 12lbs from the rest of the field, she looks well-treated.
Pacific Mission was not knocked about on her York run last month where she raced prominently only to fade late after a 196-day break, which strongly suggests she needed the outing. Andrew Balding’s runners often improve significantly for their first run of the season, and her trainer is in decent form. By Lope De Vega, her pedigree suggests she should be fine on soft ground.
Another of the more interesting ones in here is PINA SONATA for James Fanshawe. Her first run of the season represented a Listed success at Kempton where she had to find 13-14lbs on her market rivals. She won that fairly comfortably to show she is still progressing and in form which is more than you can say for a fair few of these. That was only her sixth start, so there may be more improvement to come, especially now she is a four-year-old and considering she used to be really keen in her races as she settled nicely on her first start.
There are a reasons to believe Epsom could suit her noting that she is sired by Pinatubo (who won at the track) out of a Galileo mare, so a mile and a bit should not be beyond her. And whilst her form is still well below several of these, she looks a bit of value and a possible improver here.
1pt win Pacific Mission @11/2, 1pt win Pina Sonata 13/2, 14:05 Epsom, Saturday
Leave a comment