This Listed fillies’ contest has drawn a solid group of middle-distance mares and older fillies, several of whom bring black-type form or the potential to reach that level. Run over nearly a mile and six furlongs, the Daisy Warwick Stakes regularly serves as an early-season stepping stone to Group 3 company, and the pace forecast this year suggests a strong gallop is likely – a potentially decisive factor given the presence of prominent racers and deep closers.
🏇 Leading Contenders
SCENIC (FR) (TFR 119)
A proven stakes performer, Scenic was a dominant winner of a Listed event at the York Ebor meeting last August and wasn’t disgraced in deeper waters when fourth in the Group 2 Park Hill at Doncaster. The return to this level, with a solid pace expected, should suit her running style ideally. Trainer Ed Walker has her entered in stronger races down the line, and while she returns from a 232-day layoff, she went well fresh last season. Timeform notes she went off at a shorter BSP than her SP last time, suggesting market strength – any strong support again would be a positive.
PANTHERA (FR) (TFR 117)
A consistent and improving type who made the frame in black-type company in France, including a near miss in the Prix Belle de Nuit. She wasn’t disgraced in a Group 1 last time and has the scope to do even better at this level. Trainer David Menuisier does well with staying fillies, and Panthera looks to have been freshened up specifically for this spring campaign.
CHORUS (TFR 112)
William Haggas’s charge ended 2024 with a clear-cut handicap win at Newmarket, and though she’s taking a step up in class, the strength of that form entitles her to respect. She also has the benefit of having proven herself over this trip. Haggas has a strong level-stakes profit with horses returning from breaks, so the 209-day absence isn’t a concern in itself. However, market signals will be revealing for a filly yet to prove herself at this level.
🔎 Main Dangers
SHAHA (IRE) (TFR 110)
Lightly raced with a pedigree pointing to stamina and further improvement, this daughter of Cracksmann shaped as if raw in French stakes company last season. The Gosden stable has won this race before (notably with Enbihaar in 2019), and their early-season strike rate over staying trips is consistently strong. A sizeable layoff (173 days) means she’s likely to come on for the run, but she represents a yard that rarely wastes entries at this level.
SUENO (IRE) (TFR 103p)
The least exposed runner in the field and a full sister to smart stayer Title. Her Wolverhampton win showed plenty of promise, and she’s bred to relish this sort of trip. It’s hard to quantify her ceiling just yet, but the fact the Gosdens pitch her into a race like this after just two starts is notable. A watching brief is advised, though any significant market strength would be a positive signal of intent.
💡 Interesting Outsiders
LOUGHVILLE (TFR 109)
Returned with a strong effort in a competitive handicap at Musselburgh, where she finished a close third. She’s race-fit and acts on a range of ground conditions, but has had her limitations exposed in higher-grade races before. Place claims if things fall her way tactically.
MOLTEN ROCK (IRE) (TFR 110)
Has French Listed form and usually races prominently, but stamina remains a slight question mark at this extended trip. She’s one to consider for minor honours, particularly if able to get a handy position without overdoing things.
📈 Trends & Trainer Notes
- Trainer William Haggas won this race in 2022 with Bartzella and has a good strike rate when reintroducing horses off breaks.
- John & Thady Gosden have a 21% strike rate with stayers and have sent quality fillies here in the past.
- Only one winning favourite in the last five renewals, suggesting this can be a tricky race for the market to judge early in the season.
- Strong pace expected: this has historically benefited horses who can settle off the leaders and stay well.
📝 Summary
Scenic sets the standard on Timeform figures and may well prove hard to beat if primed first time out, particularly given the strong pace forecast. Panthera and Chorus appeal as the most likely to give her something to think about, the latter especially if the Haggas yard has her tuned. Shaha and Sueno are fascinating for the future, and both represent powerful connections with a strong record in similar events – any market strength on their seasonal return would be very telling.
With 10 runners, each-way options are valid, and both Chorus and Panthera make some appeal in that regard given their proven stamina and scope for further progress.
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