Manaabit

Manaabit was impressive in making all the running to win the fillies’ handicap over the straight mile.

Sent to the front from flagfall by Dane O’Neill, the Sheikh Hamdan filly travelled well to the three-furlong marker, and she found plenty for pressure, staying on well through the final furlong to repel the challenges of Al Rasmah and Earth And Sky, both of whom were held up.

It’s not easy to make all the running on Ascot’s straight mile, and the sectionals suggest that Manaabit did not have an easy lead. Her opening sectionals were fast and her finishing speed was just 95.56% of her overall speed. As well as that, the second and third, Al Rasmah and Earth And Sky, were both held up. It is probable that Manaabit can be marked up at least a little on the bare form of this run.

Unraced as a juvenile, William Haggas’ filly won a novice stakes at Newcastle in February, and she looks like a really nice progressive filly now. She won a seven-furlong handicap at Beverley last month off a mark of 77 on her first run back after racing’s restart, and this was a nice step forward from that, in a better handicap off a 7lb higher mark. The handicapper has raised her by another 5lb for this, but she could still be a fair bit better than her new mark of 89. She is not bred to go much further than a mile, a daughter of Kodiac out of a Shamardal mare who won over seven furlongs and a mile, but she stays a mile well. She should continue to progress, and she could do even better at a track that favours prominent racers more.

Ascot, 11^th July 2020