Seven furlongs remains a specialist trip in Europe, and one who fits neatly into that niche is Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Fadhayyil (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), who bids to continue her largely progressive season in Thursday's G3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre S. at Doncaster. Having bounced back from a rare disappointing effort when seventh in the July 31 G3 Oak Tree S. at Goodwood when winning the Listed City of York S. Aug. 21, the bay– who was also second in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot June 17–sets the standard among the 3-year-olds in this line-up. “I thought she did it well at York. She got back on track and if anything is on a bit of an upward curve,” Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold said. “She's a big, tall, rangy filly and there's no reason why she shouldn't improve as the season goes on. She lost her way a little bit at Goodwood, but she bounced back well so hopefully she can continue to be on the up. A big field makes it a bit more difficult to get a run, but it was a big field at York so hopefully she can find her way through.”
Of the older brigade, Qatar Racing's Kiyoshi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks the best on the evidence of her authoritative success in a stronger renewal of this race 12 months ago, but she has to regain that form after finishing off the board in three of her four subsequent outings. Fifth in the Oak Tree last time, trainer Charlie Hills has an excuse for that. “She's in great form at home and her last run can to ignored, as she scoped dirty afterwards,” he explained.
Two unexposed sophomores who could have a say are Godolphin's Mistrusting (Ire) (Shamardal), who beat the re-opposing Dusky Queen (Ire) (Shamardal) in a handicap over this trip at York's Ebor meeting Aug. 20, and Khalid Abdullah's Lady Correspondent (War Front). Charlie Appleby trains the former and commented, “Mistrusting has been a very consistent filly. She backed up her win at Newmarket with another victory at York and has the profile to step up to group company now. Seven furlongs is a perfect trip for her; she heads to Doncaster in good order and I think she will run well.” Lady Correspondent represents the John Gosden stable and reappears from a lengthy break, having finished sixth in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. at this distance at Newmarket Apr. 15, where her 1000 Guineas prospects were sidelined.
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