Summer Romance failed to live up to expectations last time out, but looks worth another chance to build on previous promise and get back to winning ways in the feature race at Salisbury on Thursday – the 6f Group 3 Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes (15:40).
That run came in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stake at Ascot where, after being sent off a heavily backed 4/5 favourite, the Charlie Applbey trained daughter of Kingman finished a 3 3/4 lengths sixth of nine to Under The Stars.
Summer Romance was never travelling at any stage and in the end could only plug on at the once pace under James Doyle. It was a run which was simply too bad to be true.
Prior to that, the Godolphin owned filly had looked a top notch prospect in winning both her starts and had been the 12/1 ante post favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
Summer Romance created a huge impression when making a winning debut in a four-runner affair at Yarmouth in June.
Stunning success in Empress
After travelling ominously well throughout on the heels of the leaders, she quickening instantly clear after the furlong marker and beat Brededbury by two lengths.
She scored with tons in hand. It was a performance which suggested Summer Romance had a big future ahead of her.
That view was confirmed when she took the step up into Listed company in her stride and totally destroyed the opposition in the Empress Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket.
Summer Romance raced keenly on the heels of the leaders in the early stages, before being produced to take up the running a furlong from home by Doyle.
She then stretched effortlessly clear to slam Uruslina – a previous four-length winner on debut – by six lengths.
It was a breathtaking performance which oozed class. Judged on that display, Summer Romance is the one to beat in this.
So, with the stable in fine form and William Buick now taking over in the saddle for the first time, this top rated filly gets our vote.
Summer Romance looks worth siding with at 13/8 with Betway to land the Dick Poole spoils and get her career back on track.
Irish raider Millisle a major player in Dick Poole
Irish raider Millisle has shown improved form in each of her three outings, winning twice, and looks the one to give Summer Romance most to think about.
After drawing clear to win in good style by 4 3/4 lengths on debut at Bellewstown, the Jessica Harington trained daughter of top sprinter Starspangledbanner found only Think Big too good when beaten 1 1/4 lengths in a 14-runner contest at Down Royal.
Millisle kept on well despite being short of room inside the final furlong, and the winner has since run well to finish fourth in a Listed contest at York. The third home, The Peckhamouncer, has won since.
That gives the form a decent look and Millisle has since gone on to land a Listed affair at The Curragh when staying on strongly to get up close home and beat Isabeau by half-a-length.
There was lots to like about the way in which she got the job done. The front two pulled nicely clear of the third home Lil Grey, who had previously finished runner-up in a Group 3 at the same venue.
This demands more, but Millisle is clearly going the right way and the fact that Harrington has decided to send here over for the Dick Poole speak volumes.
She looks well worth a crack at this level and can be backed at 7/2 with Boylesports here.
Dark Lady can’t be discounted
Given that she finished in front of Summer Romance in the aforementioned Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot, Dark Lady is another with claims in whats looks a competitive renewal of the Dick Poole.
This filly hails from the yard of Richard Hannon who saddled Anna Nerium to land the spoils in this in 2017.
After winning second time up by five lengths at Lingfield, the Cheveley Park Stud owned daughter of Dark Angel stuck to the task well when a 2 1/2 lengths third to Under The Stars in the Princess Margaret.
Dark Lady backed that up with a solid 1 3/4 lengths third to West End Girl in the Group 3 Sweet Solera at Newmarket, before going down all guns blazing last time out when beaten just a neck by the progressive Boomer in the same grade Prestige Stakes at Goodwood.
The form of those races read well in relation to this and Dark Lady is a tough and consistent sort who looks sure to give it her best shot. At 8/1 with Coral, she looks to hold a solid each-way shout.
Dear Power another player under in-form Murphy
Title chasing jockey Oisin Murphy has been firmly among the winners of late and partners a very interesting sort in the shape of Dear Power.
This Roger Varian trained daughter of Acclamation created a good impression when making a winning debut in an eight-runner novice contest at Chelmsford last month.
After tracking the leaders, Dear Power was produced to take up the running inside the final furlong and kept on strongly to readily account for Jm Jackson by 2 3/4 lengths.
The runner-up is no slouch and the third home Jovial has come out and won since, so the form does not look to shabby.
It’s also very interesting that Dear Power holds future entries in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket and Group 1 Cheveley Park at the same venue.
That suggest she is held in high regard and her trainer does not go tilting at windmills with his juveniles.
So, at 15/2 with BetVictor, the King Power Racing owned Dear Power is another that appeals each-way and thus completes our 2019 Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes preview.
