Timeform have all the angles covered for Saturday's Betway Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket and Fly Miss Helen is fancied to take a big step forward.
The Top-Rated
Setarhe (Timeform weight-adjusted rating 114)
Setarhe was strong in the betting and looked a good prospect when making a winning debut over six furlongs on the Rowley Mile in June, overcoming a slow start to win readily. She was sent off favourite for the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on the back of that performance, but she couldn’t make the anticipated step up, again breaking slowly and flashing her tail under pressure as she kept on to finish a never-threatening second, beaten six lengths.
She built on that when third in a seven-furlong listed race at Sandown last time, however, looking rather more willing under pressure and sticking to her task having made her challenge from further off the pace than ideal. Setarhe was a head behind the reopposing Dubai Future, but she clocked a notable closing sectional that suggests she was better than the result would imply, and she heads Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings.
The Improver
Fly Miss Helen (102P)
Fly Miss Helen has a Timeform large ‘P’ attached to her rating, which indicates the potential for significant improvement.
Fly Miss Helen landed a gamble in style on her debut at Newbury last month, creating a really good impression with the way she quickened away from an experienced rival. That form is perhaps nothing out of the ordinary – the runner-up was a beaten favourite at Goodwood last week – but Fly Miss Helen won in the style of an exciting prospect, travelling well and then quickening nicely to readily assume command and have matters under control inside the final half-furlong.
Connections immediately identified this race as a potential target and she looks well worth a try in pattern company.
The Timeform Flag
Danilova (Trainer form)
Danilova showed plenty of ability on debut here last month, emerging best of the newcomers but just finding her experienced stable companion too strong, and she confirmed the promise of that effort when opening her account over this course and distance last week, doing everything very professionally and having a bit in hand.
An adjusted rating of 98p leaves her with a bit to find with the likes of Setarhe and Dubai Fountain, but she remains open to plenty of improvement, and one factor certainly in her favour is the good form of the Charlie Appleby stable.
Prior to Friday’s racing, Appleby had been successful with four of his 12 runners this month, operating at a strike-rate of 33%, while his Timeform run-to-form percentage is an impressive 71%.
The Verdict
Fly Miss Helen looked a potentially smart filly when making an impressive winning debut at Newbury last month and she remains with plenty of scope for improvement. The step up to seven furlongs ought to suit her and she gets the verdict over Danilova, who looked very professional when landing a fillies’ novice over course and distance with plenty in hand.
Timeform Weight-adjusted Ratings:
114 Setarhe
110 Dubai Fountain
102P Fly Miss Helen
101 Seattle Rock
98p Danilova
