Luc Be a Lady

Newmarket’s new initiative needs a star filly as well as a colt to illuminate the card and Lucida (Ire) (Shamardal) could be the answer in today’s G1 Dubai Fillies’ Mile. Already successful in the venue’s Sept. 26 G2 Rockfel S., Godolphin’s bay looked as if this step up in trip would suit as she ground out that win over seven furlongs having finished second in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over that distance at The Curragh 12 days earlier. Others making up a strong representation from Ireland are Clipper Logistics’ Agnes Stewart (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who hails from the all-conquering Eddie Lynam stable and who has already shown her prowess when taking Doncaster’s G2 May Hill S. over this trip last time Sept. 12; and Susan Magnier’s Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The latter booked her ticket with a commanding score over this mile in The Curragh’s Listed Staffordstown Stud S. on Sunday and will appreciate the ground, as will Rockcliffe Stud’sMarsh Hawk (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Interestingly, Marsh Hawk had the Rockfel runner-up Fadhayyil (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) seven lengths behind on debut on a testing surface over seven furlongs on the July Course Aug. 9 prior to finishing second in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies’ S. over six at Salisbury Sept. 4 and winning again over an extra panel at Newbury Sept. 19. “Marsh Hawk will love the ground,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “She surprised us first time out on the July Course and then we made the mistake of dropping her back in trip when she just got beat at Salisbury. But she then showed us just how good she was when winning impressively at Newbury and we feel that she has what it takes to go all the way. Obviously, Lucida will be a tough nut to crack, but we like our filly a lot.”