The Wilted Petals Stakes Recap

It was a full field of 14 that went around in the Grade II 6f sprint, the Wilted Petals Stakes in Italy this weekend.  The favourite, UNFABULOUS(KY), was backing up from a massive SP 112 3 weeks ago.  However, the winner of 3 stakes races earlier in her career, the 3yo scratch bred filly by Borrego out of a Sharpen Up x Grey Dawn dam, was upstaged by the up and coming VIXEN VALLEY(KY). 
Going for the Next Bonus barns, VIXEN VALLEY(KY) moves into the top 3 ranked turf sprinting fillies in her division, notching her second Graded victory in a row.  Proving she can do it on the firm track, after a record of 7 starts for 5 wins and 2 seconds on the off-tracks, VIXEN VALLEY(KY), by Orientate, out of game dam Vixen Prospector, sat just off the pace in the first half of the race, before exploding to the lead in the home stretch to draw away to win by 1 3/4 lengths.  Tracked throughout by UNFABULOUS(KY), her turn of speed when it counted was far too good, leaving the favourite in her wake, and running down race leader PAUL’S BOUTIQUE(AUS) who had the rest of the field struggling with a fine display of early speed and held on to finish second.
Those three were far and away the best going around, with the rest of the fillies never looking a winning chance, headed up by extreme long shot RIO CHIX(IRE), starting at 68/1 in fourth place.  Well fancied DIAMOND HEIGHTS(KY), going out as 7/1 third favourite, found herself chasing VIXEN VALLEY(KY) home for the second time in a row, but this time she wasn’t quite on her game, and missed the place.
Storm Cat filly, SEVEN BRIDGES(KY), in the Black Label stables finished a disappointing 10th, after challenging for the early lead, but being blown away by PAUL’S BOUTIQUE(AUS).  The dual stakes winner, with a career best SP of 108, has not been able to recapture that sort of effort in her last two starts, and may be looking for more ground where she can reach the lead a little easier.
As we approach the end of the season, VIXEN VALLEY(KY) may be ready to take on the older mares next time out, and the Crawford Incorporated trained PAUL’S BOUTIQUE(AUS), by Aussie sire Kempinsky, may just turn up to challenge again, having proven she is right up to this class.