Ed Walker is gearing up for the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday with his talented York scorer, Scenic.
Scenic, a daughter of Lope De Vega, began her season with a victory at Kempton in the spring. Though she struggled in subsequent Group Three and Listed races at Haydock and Pontefract, she showed promising form when stepping up to nearly two miles at Deauville in July, finishing a close third.
The four-year-old then returned to a mile and a half for the Galtres Stakes at York last month, where she surged home off a fast pace to secure a decisive win. This performance has earned her a chance at Group Two level during the St Leger Festival.
Walker commented, “She’s in great shape, although this race comes up a bit sooner than we’d ideally like. She’s looking fantastic, and we’re optimistic about a strong performance. I believe stepping back up to a mile and six furlongs will suit her better than the mile and a half, which is exciting.”
Oisin Murphy, who previously rode Scenic to victory at York, will not be aboard this time. Instead, Tom Marquand will take over, as Murphy will ride Night Sparkle for Andrew Balding.
Night Sparkle, who disappointed in this race last year on her debut for Balding, has since shown her ability with several solid performances, including runner-up finishes in the Coral Marathon and Lillie Langtry Stakes, and a fourth-place finish in the Lonsdale Cup at York.
Murphy remarked, “Night Sparkle has been training well. I might have gone for home a bit too soon at York last time. This race seems like a good opportunity for her, as she’s one of the top-rated horses. Both Mistral Star and Scenic deserve attention, but winning on Night Sparkle would be particularly meaningful for me.”
Hughie Morrison’s Mistral Star, who finished fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks at York, steps up to a mile and three-quarters for the first time. Morrison said, “We’re hoping she stays the trip. With limited Group races over a mile and a half this time of year, we need to take our chances when we can. She didn’t handle the ground at Ayr and was unlucky at Haydock, but she’s performed well elsewhere, so we’re hopeful.”
Sumo Sam, trained by Paul and Oliver Cole, returns to defend her Park Hill title. However, with conditions expected to be less testing than last year, connections will inspect the ground before making a final decision on her participation. Oliver Cole noted, “We’ll check the ground in the morning. If it’s not suitable, we’ll head to Salisbury on Friday. She’s in superb form.”
Ralph Beckett’s Oxford Comma is an intriguing contender, having won novice races at Salisbury and Doncaster earlier this year. Racing adviser Alex Elliott explained, “Her absence wasn’t due to any issues; it’s just been a matter of timing. We’ve had to wait for the right ground conditions. Although jumping up in class is a big ask, we’re excited about her future and will learn more about her on Thursday.”