Sandown's G3 Redrock Entertainment Atalanta Fillies' S. has played host to some future stars in recent times, with Strawberrydaiquiri (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Theyskens' Theory (Bernardini), Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Fintry (Ire) (Shamardal) all going on to make their mark at the highest level afterwards.
Saturday's renewal features the exciting 3-year-old Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who extended her unbeaten record in the Listed Sandringham H. over a mile at Royal Ascot in the manner of a filly going places last time June 15. “She's been fine since Ascot, but there haven't been that many races for her,” Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson explained.
“We had an opportunity to consider France, but we found the ground was going to be too quick for her there and they'd had a lot of racing there. We'd been looking for a group three and this looks the sort of natural progression. She's in good form and I don't think the rain will inconvenience her too much. It's a nice progressive step.”
After two disappointing efforts at Ascot when 11th in the June 15 G2 Duke of Cambridge S. and July 9 G2 Summer Mile, Barbara Keller's Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) returns to the race in which she was second last year. After that run, she was second in Belmont's GII Sands Point S. over nine furlongs in September and connections are hoping she can get back to that level.
“She was second in this race last year, but has had an unlucky year so far,” trainer Andrew Balding said. “The ground was too soft for her at Ascot and she blew the start last time, which we've done a bit of work on and hopefully it won't happen again. On the best of her form, she'd be very competitive.”
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