June 26 / 15.35 Newmarket (July)

15.35

Good To Firm

Empress Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £22684
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Empress Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 111

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Improving filly over 5f and took record to 3-3 with 25-1 success in Sandown Listed event (good) most recently; incurs 3lb penalty and needs to prove she's as effective at 6f but an unbeaten status earns her respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(7)

10th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 2

16:50 Wolverhampton (AW)

Anthelia

9st 0lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Rod Millman

Splendidly tough juvenile filly who got up late to bag the valuable Super Sprint (5f, good) in July and took her form to a new level when gamely landing the Group 3 Dick Poole at Salisbury (6f, soft) in September; couldn't make a dent in Group 1 Cheveley Park on her final start of the term but that's easily excused and she's a fascinating candidate on this reappearance/AW debut.

4/1

7th

2

(3)

27th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newmarket

Anthelia

9st 2lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Rod Millman

Splendidly tough type who won the Super Sprint (5f, good) in the summer and took her form to a new level when gamely landing the Group 3 Dick Poole at Salisbury (6f, soft) two weeks ago; keeps finding more but this assignment demands another personal best, and by some way.

25/1

1st

1

(3)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Salisbury

Anthelia

9st 2lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Rod Millman

One of six of these in the Cheveley Park; four-time winner at 5f and both her defeats have come at 6f; however, it wasn't the trip that beat her in a valuable sales race at York as she appeared to get outpaced before keeping on; has Listed/Super Sprint honours to her name and some course form also ticks a box.

8/1

Form: 1

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Looks a bargain buy at 2,000euros as a yearling, having made all for 6l win in Leicester maiden (7f, good to firm), looking potentially useful; gave the impression she'll cope with this drop in distance; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(9)

26th Jul 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:40 Ascot

Amberia

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David Loughnane

Made all for a 6l debut win at Leicester (7f, good to firm) and showed plenty of speed back at 6f when going down narrowly in a bunched finish to a Listed race at Newmarket (closely matched with Midnight Tango and Bella Lyra); hard to dismiss entirely.

11/1

2

(4)

26th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Amberia

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David Loughnane

Looks a bargain buy at 2,000euros as a yearling, having made all for 6l win in Leicester maiden (7f, good to firm), looking potentially useful; gave the impression she'll cope with this drop in distance; interesting.

7/2

11

(2)

3rd Jun 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:47 Leicester

Amberia

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David Loughnane

2,000euros yearling by Coulsty; seventh foal; half-sister to four winners, including Chestnutter (7f/7.4f; RPR 81), Torno Subito (UAE 1m dirt) and Tout Relatif (Italian 6f 2yo/5.5f); dam unraced half-sister to BC Juvenile Turf winner Outstrip, out of US 1m1f Grade 1 winner; needs a second look.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 2121

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Northern raider whose solid and progressive 5f form includes a good effort behind the subsequent Albany winner; beat Meelaf by a neck in the Hilary Needler at Beverley (good) most recently; shapes as if this new trip will suit; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

13

(2)

23rd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Haydock

Argentine Tango

8st 9lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

2yo Listed winner at Newmarket last June and has run well when fourth in Group 3/Listed races on her two starts this spring, but she would be a shock winner today.

50/1

4th

1

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:30 Goodwood

Argentine Tango

9st 2lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Scored three times at 2yrs (including in 6f Listed event at Newmarket in June) and also runner-up in the Molecomb here; returned with a good fourth of 13 in Group 3 at Chantilly (5.5f, good) 18 days ago so must enter calculations.

8/1

6

(5)

10th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:15 Newmarket

Argentine Tango

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Tim Easterby

Useful filly over 5f and 6f; Listed winner on the July course; respectable third in the Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar (good to soft) most recently; reached her ceiling a while back, however.

20/1

Form: 31 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Debut effort received a boost at Royal Ascot last week; subsequently recorded a ready success in Windsor contest (6f, good) that threw up the winner of this race (and the Lowther) last year; further improvement is on the cards; strong credentials.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(2)

28th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

14:35 Lingfield (AW)

Bella Lyra

8st 13lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Impressed in a 6f fillies' novice at Windsor last June before acquitting herself with credit in Listed/Group 3 company; ended her 2yo campaign with a second-place finish in a valuable sales race in Germany (7f, soft); could progress further this year; interesting on AW debut.

9/2

4th

4

(6)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Salisbury

Bella Lyra

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Richard Hughes

All runs over 6f on good or good to firm; Windsor winner who had Anthelia behind when close up in a Listed at Newmarket and ran even better from off the pace in the Group 3 Princess Margaret at Ascot, finishing behind two fillies who have since held their own in Group 2s; solid contender.

7/1

Form: 31 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has the same form figures as Bella Lyra, albeit had a lot less to spare than that opponent last time; nevertheless, may build on that Goodwood win (6f, good) and show further progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

20

(13)

21st Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:25 York

Game Striker

8st 11lb

J: David Probert

T: Hugo Palmer

Goodwood maiden winner (6f, good) but she's finished behind a few of these in her other races; cheekpieces will have to trigger a huge spike in form for her to be involved.

50/1

12

(10)

1st Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Goodwood

Game Striker

8st 11lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Hugo Palmer

Won over C&D (good) in June and has a more realistic chance on this nursery debut than when down the field in Listed fillies' race at Newmarket (6f, good to firm); however, others have more substance to their claims.

25/1

6

(3)

26th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Game Striker

9st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Hugo Palmer

Has the same form figures as Bella Lyra, albeit had a lot less to spare than that opponent last time; nevertheless, may build on that Goodwood win (6f, good) and show further progress.

10/1

6/1

Form: 6124

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Won at Musselburgh on second start; ties in very closely with Argentine Tango on Hilary Needler form and subsequently appeared to run well in small-field Group 3 at Chantilly (6f, good to soft); has progressive RPRs and leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(3)

2nd Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:10 Newmarket (July)

Meelaf

9st 9lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Went close in the Hilary Needler at Beverley (5f, good) in May when clear with Wednesday's Molecomb runner-up, and similar form when close fourth of five in Group 3 at Chantilly (6f, good to soft) next time; well beaten in C&D Listed race latest but that was her first run on fast ground; not ruled out.

5/1

7

(2)

26th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Meelaf

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won at Musselburgh on second start; ties in very closely with Argentine Tango on Hilary Needler form and subsequently appeared to run well in small-field Group 3 at Chantilly (6f, good to soft); has progressive RPRs and leading claims.

6/1

6

(3)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:10 Beverley

Meelaf

9st 2lb

J: Shane Gray

T: K R Burke

105,000gns yearling; ran below market expectations on Newmarket debut but showed her true colours when coming from last to first in a small field at Musselburgh (good); others have achieved more but this filly is well regarded.

11/2

Form: 41 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Related to several winners for her connections; has duly shown clear promise, last time winning tidily at Hamilton (6f, good); this twice-raced filly is likely to improve further and she represents last year's winning stable to boot; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

(7)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Ascot

Midnight Tango

9st 0lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Ran well in Listed/Group 3 company last summer following her maiden win at Hamilton and her two lesser efforts at the end of the campaign can both be excused; this free-going filly shouldn't mind the return to sprinting but she will need to raise her game a notch.

33/1

10th

5

(7)

10th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newmarket

Midnight Tango

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Has Listed and Group 3 form, including at Newmarket, but seems to have stopped progressing; chance partly depends on how well she responds to first-time headgear.

12/1

8

(5)

6th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:50 Haydock

Midnight Tango

8st 13lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Holding her form well, fourth in fillies' Group 3 events on her last two outings; rallied over 7f at Newmarket four weeks ago, giving hope that she'll stay this extra furlong; should give her running but she's up against some unexposed colts.

11/1

Form: 164

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Limitations have become somewhat exposed over 5f since debut win (AW) and she finished behind Argentine Tango most recently; chance depends on whether the new trip sparks progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(3)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

14:00 Nottingham

Miss Piggle

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Hugo Palmer

0-7 since winning on debut at Southwell (5f, AW) in April; didn't run badly when fourth in nursery at Leicester (6f, good to soft) last time but didn't pose a threat and needs to raise her game this afternoon.

14/1

1

(4)

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:18 Leicester

Miss Piggle

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Hugo Palmer

Won a 5f novice on debut in April; has faced some stiff tasks since, including nurseries at the Ebor and St Leger meetings, and this looks more realistic; rider's claim useful too; cheekpieces return after being left off latest.

12/1

12th

11

(4)

11th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 111y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Miss Piggle

8st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

AW success on debut; no progress on turf since but the combination of a physical tweak (wind surgery since last run) and Oisin Murphy (up for first time) may do the trick.

12/1

Non-runners

Awraad

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bella Lyra

The Guardian:

Amberia

RP RATINGS:

Meelaf

Daily Mail:

Amberia

D Express:

Amberia

Daily Mirror:

Amberia

The Sun:

Amberia

The Star:

Amberia

TOPSPEED:

Bella Lyra

POSTDATA:

Bella Lyra

LAMBOURN:

Bella Lyra

The Times:

Bella Lyra

Telegraph:

Bella Lyra

Daily Record:

Bella Lyra