Progressing filly Forty Years On sets Doncaster target after facile Goodwood success
Forty Years On confirmed her autumn prospects with an authoritative display at Goodwood, where connections revealed the mare is likely to head to Doncaster’s Sceptre Stakes next month. The George Scott-trained Mayson filly, ridden with confidence by Hector Crouch, produced a powerful travelling effort before being pushed out inside the final furlong to win by two lengths in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap.
Having already won four of six starts for the Scott stable and recorded a seasonal success at Newbury in June, Forty Years On continued her upward curve on Sussex Downs ground that had been softened by significant rainfall. The gelding’s latest success came as the 6-4 favourite and underlined her effectiveness over seven furlongs, which her trainer intends to retain as her primary trip through the autumn.
Connections eye a step up to the Sceptre Stakes
Rather than ramping up the distance, the plan is to keep Forty Years On to seven furlongs and aim her at the Sceptre Stakes on Doncaster’s Town Moor. Her Goodwood performance suggested she remains a filly on the up, and while a speculative entry was made for the Prix de la Forêt, her handlers regard that as a considerably bigger jump in class and distance from her current level.
Too Soon also in line for Doncaster after taking race comfortably
Gary and Josh Moore’s Too Soon produced a decisive success in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap, pulling four-and-a-half lengths clear under 3lb claimer Warren Fentiman. The gelding relished the rain-affected surface, a factor his trainer highlighted as beneficial, and may be campaigned over further later in the season. The November Handicap at Doncaster has been mentioned by connections as a possible target for the progressive performer.
Youthful fillies on the up
Two juvenile winners added to the day’s highlights. Marcus Tregoning and David Probert combined to take the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes with Silverella, a 14-1 shot who broke her maiden on the day after finishing fifth on her debut at Lingfield three-and-a-half weeks earlier. Tregoning noted the filly had clearly handled the testing ground and remains a lightly-raced prospect with scope to improve; she is a half-sister to Rebel Rocker, who achieved a noteworthy placing in the Derby.
Probert completed a double later in the card aboard Chimes Of Thunder for William Haggas in the Darley EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. The daughter of Haggas’s yard, sent off at 9-2 having been placed several times previously, asserted herself to win by four and three-quarter lengths, with Queen Of Scotland running on for clear second. Maureen Haggas, assistant to her husband, commented that the filly had thrived and that the ground may have been to her advantage.
Goodwood takeaways
- Forty Years On continued a convincing run of form at Goodwood and is likely to contest the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster over seven furlongs.
- Too Soon impressed on testing ground and is being considered for further assignments at Doncaster, including the November Handicap.
- Two promising juveniles — Silverella and Chimes Of Thunder — opened their accounts, reinforcing the depth of two-year-old form emerging ahead of the autumn festival fixtures.
With the main autumn meetings approaching, Goodwood provided a timely reminder of a handful of horses whose campaigns will now be plotted with an eye on the major handicaps and pattern races to come at Doncaster and beyond.
