Thursday sees the G2 Park Hill S., or “Fillies' St Leger,” at Doncaster, where Godolphin's Hidden Gold (Ire) (Shamardal) bids to build on a latest career-best third in the two-mile G2 Lonsdale Cup at York Aug. 21. Prior to that effort, the homebred had finished second to the St Leger-bound Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the G3 Lillie Langtry S. over this trip at Goodwood July 30, and trainer Saeed bin Suroor is hopeful she can earn the reward for her consistency in pattern company. “Hidden Gold ran well at York and came back from the race well,” he said. “I think this trip suits her well and she is a tough filly who always tries hard.” Successful last year with the impressive Silk Sari (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), Luca Cumani is back with another of his homebreds in Koora (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who ran into a smart rival in Martlet (GB) (Dansili {GB}) when second in York's Listed Galtres S. over a mile and a half last time Aug. 20. “I am happy with Koora and she goes to Doncaster in excellent form on the back of a promising run at York,” her trainer commented. “It is always an imponderable when you step up in grade and trip, but she is an improving filly who is bred to stay and we are hopeful.” With the strength in depth in the John Gosden stable, it is impossible to ignore their representative, Normandie Stud's homebred Gretchen (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), particularly after her latest win in the Listed Chalice S. over 12 furlongs at Newmarket at the start of last month.
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