Rizeena bids for another Group 1 in Fillies’ Mile

Rizeena is in the mold of Pebbles and Sayyedati, according to trainer Clive Brittain (Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com) Having already conquered the top level when taking the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, Rizeena is back on home turf to add to her laurels in Friday’s Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Also successful in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot June 19 and third in the Prix Morny, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook al Maktoum’s bay was able to hold her form admirably by upstaging the highly-talented duo of Kiyoshi and Tapestry in the Irish feature for juvenile fillies at the start of September. Trainer Clive Brittain is hoping she can continue to justify his lofty opinion of her. “We felt that if the ground was good, good-to-soft, we would go for the Cheveley Park, but this mile is going to suit her a lot better,” he said. “She will stay, that is not going to be a problem. She’s in great form at the moment and has done all the work I want her to do for the race. It was a matter of which race we went for and I felt she’d have a big chance in either. “She’s put on 24 kilos since she had her first race. She is an exceptional filly and is thriving on what she’s doing. “This will be her One Thousand Guineas trial — we will let her down a little bit and we will look after her during the winter. Like Sayyedati, Pebbles and all my good fillies she will have a quiet training regime through the winter and then we will gather up speed for the April-May meeting.”

Godolphin’s Ihtimal takes a well-trodden path for the organization, having
annexed the Sweet Solera on the July Course here August 10 and May Hill at
Doncaster September 13 as Saeed bin Suroor’s previous winner White Moonstone
had.

“Ihtimal won nicely at Doncaster and came out of that Group 2 race sound and
healthy,” her trainer commented. “She is taking another step up in class, but
she is in good form at the moment. Ihtimal is not the biggest, but she tries
very hard and I am hopeful of another good effort.”

The operation, which is looking for a fourth consecutive renewal, have also
supplemented the unbeaten Sound Reflection, a Charlie Appleby-trained daughter
of the multiple Group 2 scorer Echoes in Eternity. She beat the promising Night
Song in a seven-furlong conditions race on Kempton’s Polytrack September 6 and
is certain to appreciate this extra trip.

“She’s a big, scopey filly and we thought that we would take a chance in a
Group 1 race,” Appleby said. “She is a filly for next season and whatever she
does this year is a bonus, but she has won both her starts and I am hopeful that
she will run a good race.”

Three from Ireland with claims are Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan
Magnier’s July 18 Silver Flash winner Wonderfully and the September 15 
Flame of Tara first and second Avenue Gabriel and Ballybacka Queen.

Earlier on the card, Radiator bids to back up her visually stunning,
15-length maiden romp in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp at seven furlongs. A daughter
of Juddmonte’s accomplished Heat Haze from the esteemed dynasty of Hasili, the
blueblood was emphatic over this trip at Lingfield September 4, and if she can
build on that form she is primed to provide Sir Michael Stoute with another
renewal to add to his record six.

One of her most intriguing opponents is Mohammed al Kubasi and Pearl
Bloodstock’s Lightning Thunder, who doubled her tally in a six-furlong
conditions event at Doncaster September 11.

“The plan was to go for the Rockfel Stakes,” trainer Olly Stevens said, “but
at this time of year fillies can suddenly go in their coat and I would never
have forgiven myself if we waited and missed this opportunity. It’s all a
learning curve for young horses and it won’t be the end if she’s beaten.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Soft Falling Rain bids to get back
where he belongs in the Group 2 Joel, after surrendering his unbeaten record in
the Hungerford at Newbury last time August 17. The February 14 U.A.E. Two
Thousand Guineas and March 30 Godolphin Mile winner will need to deliver here if
he is to live up to trainer Mike de Kock’s lofty expectations.

Soft Falling Rain will be tested by the three-year-old Montiridge from
Richard Hannon’s yard, and Mitaab Abdullah’s recent acquisition can be excused a
single below-par effort when returning a dirty scope following his latest fifth
in the Superior Mile at Haydock September 7. Previously, he had won a brace of
listed contests and the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood August 2, and
connections are keeping the faith.

“Haydock was the first blip on Montiridge’s record this summer and at least
there was a valid reason,” Hannon explained. “He had won three of his previous
four races and was unlucky to be beaten at Royal Ascot (when second in the
Jersey) so fingers crossed he will show his Goodwood sparkle again.”

Middleham Park Racing’s reliable veteran Penitent took this last year and
enters his defesce at the top of his game, having won Sandown’s Fortune Stakes
on his favored heavy ground nine days ago.

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