Second Middleton For See The Fire

Making history on York's Knavesmire on Thursday, Jeff Smith's See The Fire (Sea The Stars) became the first to win the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes for a second time.

Always travelling with menace stalking the multiple Group 1 winner Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot), the Andrew Balding-trained homebred was let loose by Oisin Murphy approaching two out and held Red Letter (Frankel) at bay to score by 3/4 of a length. Diamond Rain (Shamardal) was a further 1 1/4 lengths away in third.

“It was so tactical, we went really, really steady. She didn't really fight me, she kept breathing and then it was a mad dash quite early in the straight,” Murphy explained. “Often you don't want to be the first one to commit, but she showed an incredible kick and she got through the line really well. She really is outstanding at this course. Her dam beat Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International and she's by Sea The Stars who won the Juddmonte International as well, so she's bred for York.”

See The Fire, who won this by 12 lengths last term, has been placed six times at the highest level and Anna Lisa Balding is hoping the breakthrough will come in 2026. “Oisin got off her and just said she's an absolute machine, so we're delighted. She's not a straightforward filly, so it's big credit to the team,” she said. “She's got an entry [in the Coronation Cup] at Epsom but who knows, hopefully it will be a good, long season ahead. Fingers crossed there's another big one in her.”

It is 50 years since Jeff Smith first celebrated a winner on the Knavesmire and one of Britain's longest-standing owner-breeders has been justly rewarded once more for keeping his fifth-generation homebred See The Fire in training in pursuit of a deserved Group 1 victory.

David Bowe, manager of Smith's Littleton Stud, said at York, “It's extraordinary, I think, if I'm not wrong, she's the first filly ever to have won this race twice.”

“She's in everywhere–the Coronation Cup, Prince of Wales's, Pretty Polly–we've got all sorts of options for her. Andrew and Jeff will get together and make up their minds what happens, but we're just delighted to get her off the mark.”

“Oisin got her beautifully positioned and just sat on the wing, and then produced her. It was just magnificent to watch. I'm just delighted the whole family, having bred her, and we've got a No Nay Never filly coming in behind her at Andrew's, a two-year-old out of the dam, so it's exciting.”

On taking the decision to keep See The Fire in training at the age of five, Bowe added, “We did very similar with the granddam, Barshiba, when she was with David Elsworth, and there was no debate with this filly because Andrew was adamant that there is a Group 1 win in her, and she's just been unlucky on a couple of occasions. I think she deserves to be in training, and she's shown it here.

“She's matured mentally, which has helped an awful lot, and she looked the picture of health walking around there today. She's small in stature in comparison with the rest of them, but to be able to do what she did is quite impressive, so I think there is a Group 1 there, and we'll be following it anyway.”

Successive wins in the G2 Middleton Stakes for See The Fire

🏆 2025
🏆 2026@ABE_Dubai | @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/RlJja3QR1x

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 14, 2026