May 04 / 14.20 Newmarket

14.20

Good

Betfred Dahlia Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares)

  • Prize money: £70887.5
  • 1m 1f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
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Betfred Dahlia Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 7112-2 D BF

Last run: 72 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Solid performer whose record is 111171122; bagged Grade 1 honours in USA last July and was unlucky in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf; the form of her Meydan effort (1m1f) this year has been advertised by the winner since; big player in this first British start for 12 months.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(9)

4th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Newmarket

Cinderellas Dream

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Not at her best when a beaten favourite in a French 1m2f Group 1 last month but she's top class on her day and has a good record at Newmarket, even before winning the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes in May (1m1f) and adding the Group 1 Falmouth (1m) on the neighbouring July course; the glaring concern is the prospect of softening ground when she's been confined to good or quicker thus far.

5/2

1

(4)

11th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Cinderellas Dream

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Solid performer whose record of 11117112212 features wins in US Grade 1 contest last term and 1m1f Group 2 at Newmarket (good to firm; readily beat Elmalka) in May; ran creditably under a penalty behind Crimson Advocate at Royal Ascot (1m Group 2) most recently; strong contender.

5/2

1

(3)

18th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Cinderellas Dream

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Solid performer who has a record of 1111711221; won a Grade 1 in USA last July and was unlucky in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf; returned to Britain last month and had no trouble justifying favouritism in Group 2 at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm; Elmalka second); as good as ever with that emphatic success and she's a major player again under a 3lb penalty.

2/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 31444- C

Last run: 211 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Still has low mileage; came off a strong pace to win the 1,000 Guineas on this card last year, then showed consistent form by finishing fourth in three more Group 1 races (1m/1m2f); she's 1-1 under Silvestre De Sousa, namely that Classic success, and commands respect back down in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(2)

11th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Elmalka

9st 9lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

Successful in last year's 1,000 Guineas but the cards dropped perfectly (came off strong pace) and she is 0-5 since; no match for Cinderella's Dream on the other course here on penultimate start; chance of doubling her Group 1 tally largely depends on how the race pans out.

12/1

2nd

3

(3)

4th May 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Newmarket

Elmalka

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

prominent, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and challenging over 1f out, kept on but no chance with winner inside final furlong

9/4

Form: 6134-6 C BF

Last run: 99 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Campaigned in USA since last August, reaching a smart standard; ties in with stablemate Cinderella's Dream on Breeders' Cup running (1m3f) but performed below expectations in sole run since; deserted by William Buick in this first British assignment for 18 months.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(1)

17th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 1

16:00 Yarmouth

Beautiful Love

9st 4lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Won a fast-ground Grade 3 at Aqueduct one year ago; fairly encouraging comeback when third of five in the Dahlia at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm) in May but beaten 12l despite finishing second of eight over 1m2.5f at York (also Group 2) ten days later; same margin when fourth at Haydock (1m4f) a fortnight later and rested since; respected on her peak efforts but soft ground is an unknown.

9/2

4th

2

(2)

31st May 2025

Good To Soft

1m 3f 175y

Class 1

14:58 Haydock

Beautiful Love

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Easily best form has been in the USA, including when a close fourth at the Breeders' Cup (1m3f, firm) in November; third of five to a short-priced stablemate at Newmarket (1m1f; 11-1) this month and hammered by the winner at York (1m2f) 11 days later in another Group 2; similar form chance to others if you take away the US performances.

7/2

2

(2)

31st May 2025

Good To Soft

1m 3f 175y

Class 1

14:58 Haydock

Beautiful Love

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Easily best form has been in the USA, including when a close fourth at the Breeders' Cup (1m3f, firm) in November; third of five to a short-priced stablemate at Newmarket (1m1f; 11-1) this month and hammered by the winner at York (1m2f) 11 days later in another Group 2; similar form chance to others if you take away the US performances.

7/2

Form: /3105-

Last run: 302 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Headstrong sort but she's useful and belied her 22-1 odds with a success in the 2024 Musidora; however, has been absent since US Grade 1 defeat behind Cinderella's Dream ten months ago and is bottom of this pack on ratings; tough task.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

14:25 Haydock

Secret Satire

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Headstrong sort but success in the 2024 Musidora at York shows she's very useful; led until around 1f out when fourth in 1m1f Newmarket Group 2 on reappearance, with the reopposing Running Lion in fifth; likely to be in the shake-up.

8/1

7

(4)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

14:25 Haydock

Secret Satire

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Headstrong sort but success in the 2024 Musidora at York shows she's very useful; led until around 1f out when fourth in 1m1f Newmarket Group 2 on reappearance, with the reopposing Running Lion in fifth; likely to be in the shake-up.

8/1

4th

5

(2)

4th May 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Newmarket

Secret Satire

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Andrew Balding

led, headed 1f out, weakened gradually inside final furlong

12/1

Form: 28172- C

Last run: 210 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Landed the Pretty Polly on this card in 2023 and creditable second, albeit hung left and failed to justify favouritism, in this race last year; took her form to a new level with Group 2 success at Royal Ascot and good second in French Group 1 later in 2024; leading chance on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(11)

17th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 1

16:00 Yarmouth

Running Lion

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Mercurial mare who is smart on her day; won 1m Group 2 at Royal Ascot and finished a close second in the Group 1 Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft) last year; the effect of the cheekpieces that prompted an improved fourth when bidding to retain her Ascot crown has worn off the last twice, though, including when a surprise market mover but beaten 24l in the Group 1 Nassau (1m2f, heavy) last time; wins nothing on that form, and the widest stall is not helpful, but she'd be a big threat if first-time blinkers fire her up.

11/4

5th

1

(1)

31st Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:05 Goodwood

Running Lion

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) last June and went close in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft); respectable fourth back at Royal Ascot last month but she hasn't been at her very best this season and looks vulnerable today; can lead.

25/1

4

(5)

11th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Running Lion

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Ran creditably in first-time cheekpieces (retained today) when bidding for a second win in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes but finished behind two of today's rivals and there seems no obvious reason why she should reverse the placings; ran as if something was amiss in this contest last year.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.10
Straight Forecast £4.88
Trifecta £15.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Elmalka

RP RATINGS:

Running Lion

Daily Mirror:

Cinderella's Dream

The Times:

Secret Satire

TOPSPEED:

Elmalka

Telegraph:

Elmalka

D Express:

Elmalka

The Star:

Elmalka

POSTDATA:

Running Lion

NEWMARKET:

Running Lion

Daily Record:

Running Lion