Musical Times maintains flawless record in bet365 Fillies’ Mile
Charlie Appleby’s Musical Times completed a three-from-three juvenile campaign when she extended her unbeaten run with victory in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.
After earlier wins on the July Course and at Yarmouth, the filly had added the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster to her CV last month and went into the contest at the Rowley Mile a short-priced favourite. William Buick was in the saddle and, despite encountering traffic in the straight, produced the filly when a gap appeared to overhaul Aidan O’Brien’s Haven and prevail by a length.
Traffic and teamwork
The race did not unfold entirely smoothly for the favourite. Buick found openings hard to come by in the closing stages, and the pair had to be patient before being able to strike. Once they did, Musical Times quickened decisively and proved too strong for her rivals on Newmarket’s uphill finish.
Appleby reported that the run had been instructive for the filly: she had to work for her win, learned from the experience and had shown her capacity to finish strongly over the mile. The trainer also noted that the ground and course configuration had required a bit more of her than at Doncaster, but that she nonetheless coped with the dip and the tighter going.
Classic prospects and next steps
Connections have already begun to eye the 1000 Guineas as a logical target. Musical Times was installed among the early market leaders for next year’s fillies’ Classic with bookmakers shortening her price after Newmarket, and Appleby indicated the plan is to prepare her via the customary Craven meeting gallop before aiming at the Guineas.
While Appleby described her primarily as a miler with abundant natural pace and a sharp turn of foot, he left open the question of whether she might stay further in time. For now, the emphasis appears to be on consolidating her standing among the leading juvenile fillies and progressing towards the traditional spring targets.
Runner-up profile: Haven eyed at middle distances
Aidan O’Brien’s Haven produced a solid performance in defeat. The filly, who has previously shown promise at Dundalk, took the step into Group company in good order and finished clear of the remainder, marking herself out as a filly to watch next season.
O’Brien suggested that Haven is likely to be seen over middle distances in the future, with a mile-and-a-quarter to a mile-and-a-half range considered a realistic long-term aim for the filly as she matures.
Implications for the fillies division
The result underlines the strength and depth in this season’s fillies’ division. Musical Times’ victory keeps her unbeaten record intact and places her firmly on the radar for the spring classics, while Haven’s second indicates potential for those looking to step up in trip next year.
Newmarket’s Fillies’ Mile provided a proper test of class and stamina for the juveniles, and both connections and observers will now turn their attention to how these fillies progress over the winter heading into their three-year-old campaigns.
This article may have been prepared in whole or in part with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
