In the bet365 Fillies’ Mile (3.35) at Newmarket on Friday, Aidan O’Brien made a statement of intent by declaring half a dozen at the five-day declaration stage. Of his original sextet, he relies on Hermosa and Zagitova, who were third and fourth, respectively, behind Skitter Skatter in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh 12 days ago and may, once again, come up a little short at the highest level. Of course, the Master of Ballydoyle should know where he stands with Prix Morny winner and subsequent Cheveley Park Stakes fourth Pretty Pollyanna, having saddled Fairytale and So Perfect to finish first and third, respectively, in the latter contest.
Even so, Michael Bell’s filly has enjoyed a terrific season so far, fulfilling the promise of her close fifth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot by sluicing home – by 7 lengths from subsequent winner Angel’s Hideaway – in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on the July Course at Newmarket and following up, against the colts, in the Prix Morny at Deauville in August. In the Cheveley Park Stakes she ran, not for the first time, as if a step up in distance would do her no harm and, being out of a Shamardal mare, should find an extra two furlongs well within her compass.
The weather in East Anglia appears set fair for the next few days so, with the going on the Rowley Mile already good, Pretty Pollyanna should have her favoured underfoot conditions and it’ll be disappointing if she doesn’t go very close indeed, to winning this valuable prize. Odds of 11/2, or thereabouts, ante post look more than fair for a filly who has much less to prove than some of her rivals.
Selection: Newmarket 3.35 Pretty Pollyanna to win 9/2