The Black Princess

The Black Princess did well to win the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock last Saturday, coming from the rear in a race in which they did not go a great early pace.

Robert Tart explored a potential route to the outside at the two-furlong pole, but that route was closed so he had to check his filly a little and move back inside. Once he did, the Iffraaj filly picked up well to catch and pass the talented Abingdon just inside the furlong marker, and she stayed on really well all the way to the line to win by a half a length, with another length back to another talented filly in Ajman Princess.

Winner of a listed race in France at the end of last season, and of a Group 3 race there at the start of this season, The Black Princess finished second to Blond Me in a muddling Middleton Stakes on easy ground on her first run in Britain this season when she tried to make all. She had made all when she won on her seasonal debut at Chantilly, but it appeared as if she appreciated the hold-up tactics on Saturday, stepped up to a mile and a half for just the second time in her career. She was third in the Ribblesdale Stakes last year on her only previous attempt at the distance. She picked up nicely when she was asked for her effort, she showed a fine turn of foot on the fast ground and she galloped on willingly all the way to the line. She could be better now deployed in this manner and racing over a mile and a half and ideally on good or fast ground.

John Gosden's filly is only four and this was just her eighth run ever, so she has plenty of scope for progression. She holds an entry in the Yorkshire Oaks, and she would be of interest if she took her chance in that. She deserves a shot at a Group 1 race. She ran well in the Middleton Stakes on her only previous visit to York, and the long home straight there should suit her well.

8th July 2017

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