York ‘stepping stone' for Ascot hope Glittering Surf
Glittering Surf could book her ticket to Royal Ascot if shining brightly at York in the Sky Bet Fillies' Stakes.
Owen Burrows' daughter of Oasis Dream made it two from two with a taking success at Kempton in March and her handler has been thrilled to see that form franked ahead of this Listed event, which is seen as the perfect stepping stone towards a potential Coronation Stakes bid.
'She's very well and Ed Walker's horse American Gal, who was third to us at Kempton, won a Listed race in France to boost the form and I'm looking forward to getting her back on track,' said Burrows.
🏄♂️ Glittering Surf picks up well to score at @kemptonparkrace & make it 2-2 in her career 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/OyUWEc9je7
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 29, 2025
'I will be just making sure I'm happy with the ground but I've spoken to York and they normally do a nice job, so I'm expecting it to be nice, safe, fast ground.
'It's still the thinking that we use this as a stepping stone to Royal Ascot, but obviously she has to get through the next step on Friday before we can really concentrate on that, but hopefully that will be the plan.
'Let's see what we have got on Friday as she does enough at home without blowing us away, but fingers crossed there is more in her locker than what we've seen so far.'
William Haggas' Consecrated is another Coronation Stakes entry, who dazzled on debut at Newbury and is now asked to see if she can confirm the potential of that display in deeper waters.
'We were very happy with her win at Newbury and she certainly enjoyed herself and was quite impressive,' said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park. 'We now need to step up and see if we have a serious filly.
'She would have perhaps enjoyed a bit of ease in the ground, however that is not going to be and she has done very well since Newbury and we're looking forward to seeing what Friday brings.
'We're hoping she's a nice filly and she pricked her ears and enjoyed herself and skipped over the ground at Newbury, but it's going to be a good indicator to see if we've got a progressive filly and we hope that she is.'
A total of 10 fillies head to post, with others of note including Roger Varian's Gulya, who was unlucky not to get off the mark at Ascot recently, Jane Chapple-Hyam's Kon Tiki and Karl Burke's Serving With Style, who finished second in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on her final start last year.
She could be smart!
Love Olivia – a 140,000gns Havana Grey filly bought by @amoracingltd – shows a sharp turn of foot turning in before romping home on debut!
@CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke | @WolvesRaces pic.twitter.com/CHSLTzZ2bl
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 21, 2025
Burke has won the Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies' Stakes twice in the last three years and holds a strong hand again, the with Amo Racing-owned Love Olivia the one the layers fear most in the Listed event after a wide-margin win on debut at Wolverhampton.
Burke said: 'Love Olivia is very quick, I'm looking forward to seeing her run, she worked very well last Friday and she goes there with a big chance.'
The Spigot Lodge handler also saddles Alaskan Light and added: 'She only had her first run the other day, she's only a very small filly and it's a typical Nick Bradley (Racing, owner), trying to nick some black type if we can.
'I think it might be tough for her and she'll be better with some juice in the ground. There's not many runners, so we'll give it a go.'
Alaskan Light is one of two for the Nick Bradley Racing syndicates alongside rookie trainer Jack Morland's impressive Beverley scorer Saucy Jane.
Wow she's quick 😮💨
SAUCY JANE wins nicely on her second career start for @NBradleyRacing 👏 pic.twitter.com/vTezfh641X
— Beverley Racecourse (@Beverley_Races) May 5, 2025
Morland said: 'I'm over the moon with how things are going, delighted to be able to take what I think is a very exciting filly to the Marygate Stakes.
'She was pretty impressive from a poor draw at Beverley and put the race to bed with a bit of authority and like a filly with plenty of quality. I think this is the next logical step for her.
'It's normally a big field but only nine run this year and I was going through last year's race and the filly who won it, Betty Clover, was drawn one, so hopefully we have a good draw in two.
'She has come out of Beverley well and it was only 11 days ago, so I've just freshened her up and she looks in good form and ready to go.'
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