3 minute read
Golden Lyra looks a hugely exciting prospect ahead of the Greatwood British EBF Stakes at Newbury.
There appears to be no sign of the red-hot form of William Haggas easing off and he looks especially strong in the fillies and mares department this season – with Golden Lyra holding just as much potential as any he has run to date.
Sea Silk Road, Sea La Rosa, My Astra and Bashkirova have all won decent races for Haggas this term and it is surely only a matter of time before Golden Lyra adds her name to the list.
We may have only seen the daughter of Lope De Vega once, but there could hardly have been any more promise in what she did at Newmarket.
Facing 11 rivals at HQ last October she blitzed them by upwards of five lengths and she was hardly up against selling platers.
Back in third that day, also making her debut, was a John and Thady Gosden-trained filly called Nashwa, who won her next two outings before finishing a fine third in the Oaks last Friday.
Golden Lyra is up against two fillies in Ching Shih and Luna Dorada who ran in the Musidora but were ultimately well beaten by Emily Upjohn, Hughie Morrison's Stay Alert – who was second to Nashwa in a Listed event – and the well-related Elegant Verse, but it should pay to stick with Haggas.
John Chard VC bumped into seemingly an above average newcomer in Sydneyarms Chelsea and given how Clive Cox's youngsters improve with experience, he can get off the mark in the Watch Racing TV With Free Trial Now Novice Stakes.
He is up against Mysterious Night from the Charlie Appleby yard, another who was second on debut, but from a value point of view the Cox runner gets the nod.
Appleby may have more luck with Light Of Peace who makes her second start in the Racing TV British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes.
The Dubawi filly made a very pleasing debut at Newmarket in April when beaten just a length and a half in third.
The second, Elegant Verse, runs in the Listed race on this card having won next time out at Redcar.
Light Of Peace has plenty of black type in her pedigree and that will surely be the aim for her if she wins this.
Haggas looks sure to be on the mark at Nottingham too, with La Yakel, who was the definition of an eyecatcher on his debut.
He finished third behind an Appleby-trained hotpot when looking very green in the early stages. He flew home after meeting trouble in running and he can only improve for that experience.
Ed Dunlop has wasted no time in getting By Your Side out again quickly after he strolled to victory at Windsor on Monday evening.
A seven-length winner, he will surely be going up a fair bit in the weights in future but as that was his turf debut, plenty more can be expected in the QuinnBet Best Odds Guaranteed Classified Stakes at Yarmouth.
Karl Burke has a fine crop of juveniles this season and it would be no surprise if Dark Desire makes a winning debut in the Broad Oak Fillies' Novices' Stakes at Haydock.
From a family which includes Group One winners, this 260,000 guineas daughter of Dark Angel will know her job.
There are few better dual-purpose trainers than Alan King and his No Recollection starts a new career in the JJL Design And Build Novices' Hurdle at Uttoxeter.
Having been rated 77 on the Flat, he could be useful.
SELECTIONS:
HAYDOCK: 4.55 Arch Moon, 5.25 Dark Desire, 5.55 Cuban Breeze, 6.25 Queen Of Deauville, 6.55 So Smart, 7.25 Lightening Company, 7.55 Aryaah.
LEOPARDSTOWN: 5.15 Sareeha, 5.45 Plunkett, 6.15 Dr Zempf, 6.45 Airglow, 7.15 Knocklane Lass, 7.45 Tooso, 8.15 Harry's Legacy.
NEWBURY: 1.00 Mrs Meader, 1.35 Classy Dame, 2.10 John Chard VC, 2.40 Light Of Peace, 3.20 GOLDEN LYRA (NAP), 3.40 Bearaway, 4.15 Silverdale, 4.50 Al Azhar.
NOTTINGHAM: 2.00 Think Climate, 2.30 La Yakel, 3.00 Eagle's Realm, 3.30 Abate, 4.00 Khurumbi, 4.35 Elena's Gift, 5.05 Nine Elms.
UTTOXETER: 5.35 Becky The Boo, 6.05 Morgenstern, 6.35 Ecu De La Noverie, 7.05 No Recollection, 7.35 Maroochi, 8.05 Wolfspear, 8.35 Tango Arumba.
YARMOUTH: 1.50 Selene's Dream, 2.20 Pokhara, 2.50 Fred Bear, 3.20 Fast Forward, 3.50 Clear Day, 4.25 By Your Side, 5.00 Bonus.
DOUBLE: Golden Lyra and By Your Side.
