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QIPCO Fillies and Mares Group II 12f preview

It will be a fantastic day at Ascot.... if it stops raining! Truly hope it doesn't get that wet that it ruins a fantastic day of racing. Stepping up to examine the girls' race is Jon da Silva, @creamontop.

QIPCO Fillies and Mares Group II 12f

Fillies and Mares have been having a rare old time recently from Zenyatta to Solemia. This season fillies and mares coming off thumpings have won Group 1s - Giofra, Danedream, Ridasiyna and Siyouma. Prior defeats have not stopped Solemia and Shareta either.

The Main Runners
+++++++++++++

Great Heavens
Form is hard to argue and her beating of Shimmering Surf gives some line into la Pomme D'Amour's bets effort. Some will argue she could bounce after a hard race yada yada just as her brother Nathaniel bounced off the Eclipse when all but winning the King George no doubt. It's not that horses do bounce but that they do not all bounce or indeed the same horse may not behave the same way in similar circumstances. At 5/2 a worthy favourite but nothing in her form to say the bookies have missed something even if bounce maybe over played.

Sapphire
Her one Group 1 resulted in her one defeat. At 7/2 it seems a ground bet. A reach but not forlorn but I don't like betting horses whose odds seem a reflection of a negative view of others at that sort of price.

La Pomme D'Amour
A French filly coming off a beating well must win? Actually some grounds for thinking that she is unexposed at 12 furlongs. The Vermeille was disappointing but it's not unusual for French horses to be given a break and brought back with the big international races in mind. I also feel the distance and uphill might suit her and there is some evidence ground will not be a problem and not utterly exposed at the distance. Beat Arc winner and Vermeille 2nd 2 runs back albeit on a yardsticking level 3L worse with Shimmering Surf than the favourite. 10/1

Was and Shirocco Star
Appear held on the distance ground by Great Heavens. In addition there appears little reason the bookies would have over priced them. Both have run 6 times this year and plenty at the trip.

Dancing Rain
Has not run this year and won this on very different going. She was 6/1 last year and faces a better field. She has been off since. She would have to be close to her best and I'm prepared to pass over. Also Great Heavens and Testosterone might press her for the pace.

Rest
Not without chances but equally I see nothing that says they are not rags. Testosterone once beat Danedream before that lovely filly rolled off 3 wins inc Arc. Rest I don't think have much chance at their bests even.

My Bets
La Pomme D'Amour Win @ 10/1
Great Heavens/La Pomme d'Amour exacta (maybe reverse)

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