Magical Mia faces 5 challengers in the Ascot Ladies Marathon
Only 6 mares will contest the Grade III event this Saturday in Ascot. Usually a Grade III would attract a bigger field, if not a full field, however the mare going from position 3 may have scared a few trainers away. The 5 runners going up against MAGICAL MIA(IRE) range in odds between 9/2 to 6/1, while the number 1 ranked mare in the long turf division will start the morning line favourite at even money.
The field will face a mile and three quarter journey on a dry turf track and there should be a genuine pace with such a small field and a few that will press forward.
PP1 DYNADRAGON(KY) (Kitten’s Joy x Dynaformer x Buckpasser) zboro 5/1
Having been placed third in his last 2 starts at stakes level, this dark grey mare will step up to graded class here, and with the small field, has a big chance to get another place. She goes around with a claiming tag of $50k having been picked up by the tees stables 4 starts ago. She is unproven at the journey, with her longest run being over 11 furlongs – but was a 3 length winner in an allowance and was going away on that occasion. Her last 2 runs have seen her hit SPs of 100, which, if she can repeat that sort of speed, will see her be competitive, however, they were over much less testing journeys than she faces here. J Wesselman takes the ride, and will be looking to improve his slow start to the year with a win % of only 5%.
PP2 MAADLY(TUR) (Manila x Broad Brush x Boldnesian) claimace 9/2
Excellent strike rate, with 10 top 3 finishes from 12 starts, including 4 wins. Her 3 most recent runs have all been in the money finishes in stakes company, with her latest run resulting in a hard fought 3rd place in the EAAA residency challenge. Before that she had too much up her sleeve to run out a convincing winner over 2 miles in the Mississippi North Memorial. Another good result preceded that, finishing quickly but giving too much of a start to the winner, to end up second in the Nureyev Native Special. Big results last year included seconds in both the World Cup Ladies Turf Survivor and the Grade III Oaks de Danish. Despite having never topped triple digit SPs, her results have been very encouraging, and she shapes as though she could challenge if things go her way.
PP3 MAGICAL MIA(IRE) (Giant’s Causeway x Sadler’s Wells x Buckpasser) boots evens
Veteran 6yo mare, still going strong, and lines up here ranked as number 1 in this division. Top form jockey, P Harzheim (33%) takes the ride, and she comes here after a bounce last start when 5th of 7 in the Queen of Victoria Grade III event in Australia. Before that she was untouchable 3 starts in a row, winning by an average margin of 5.5 lengths. These were big time races, including the One For Momma Stakes (Grade II), Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff (Grade I) and the World Cup Ladies Turf Survivor (Grade I). She was not disgraced before that with consecutive second place finishes in Grade I events. She’ll be looking to return to her best this week, and should settle handy to the pace and press the leaders all the way. The obvious one to beat.
PP4 WOETTE’S DESPERADO(IRE) (Desert King x Montjeu x Darshaan) titje 6/1
Very promising all the way winner last time in the Faiths Rising Star (IRE) Memorial listed stakes, getting home by 2 lengths over the same distance she faces here. Crosses from the American division for this race and faces a tough opponent, but is now a triple stakes winner, and is ready for the step up in class. Raced in Grade II and III events before her last start and struggled to reach her favourede position at the front of the field, and consequently did not finish very close. Gets a lot more ground to work with here and the pace shouldn’t be quite so frantic, so could get things going her own way for a while. Should give plenty of cheek, but harder here, and will need to be at her best to avoid being a sitting duck for MAGICAL MIA(IRE) to run by in the stretch.
PP5 BARADRUJ(IRE) (Barathea x Seattle Slew x Theatrical) sabbath5 6/1
Big run to stay all day and finish 3rd in the Grade III Triage Distaff against a full field in Norway last time out. Before that she was 3rd in a listed stakes over a shorter journey of 10.5f. Finished 4th last year in the Danish de Oaks, was placed in the Grade II Rippleschip Stakes on an off-track, and was not disgraced with a 5th in the Adelaide Oaks (Grade I). Can tend to be a little one paced, as she is a genuine marathon lady, so will likely to sit up close to the leaders and try to outstay them over the final stages. Comes off her best SP of 99 last start, so looks to be peaking in her 4yo season, and could surprise with an upset.
PP6 RAGING RIVER CAT (Storm Cat x Silver Ghost x Riverman) siriusflit 5/1
Lightly raced mare who started her career in the middle of her 3yo year, and finds herself in best form, coming off 4 straight wins. Last start saw her sit closer than midfield before charging to the front at the top of the stretch to run away an easy winner in the EAAA inter-residency challenge over 2 miles. Before that, she settled much further back and gave the leader more then 7 lengths start at the third call, but mowed her down to win by 4 1/2. She added another stakes win to her account prior to that, and was an easy NW4x winner 4 starts ago over this distance. Has picked up 7 of her 8 wins in the last 12 months and loves this distance, despite being sired by Storm Cat. Last start saw her run an SP 102, which is the best of her career to date, and her versatile running style could see her settle anywhere and still look a threat.
MAGICAL MIA(IRE) should be able to bounce back and take this out, as she is the clear top class runner of the field. However, each of the other runners have claims on why they may be able to knock her off if she is not at the top of her game.