A small but intriguing field lines up for this Class 2 fillies’ novice, which carries Listed-level prize money and has regularly served as an early-season launchpad for smart juvenile sprinters. Recent winners include Dramatised, Soprano, and Mountain Breeze, each trained by leading yards and well-fancied on the day. The race typically favours fillies with speed-focused pedigrees and powerful stable backing, while previous experience over the course and distance can also prove valuable.


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Leading Contenders

TWILIGHT STAR (Charlie Appleby | William Buick)
Timeform Adjusted Rating: 86
Appleby has a strong record in this race, having sent out Mountain Breeze to win it last year, and he returns with another Mehmas filly in Twilight Star. She made a promising debut over this C&D 19 days ago, shaping as if the experience would bring her on significantly. That maiden looked above-average for the time of year, and the form has already begun to work out. Buick retains the ride, and Appleby’s second-time starters often find notable improvement. The stats back that up—his strike rate with juvenile fillies on their second start at Newmarket (Rowley) is strong. With the benefit of race fitness and track experience, she sets the standard.

MOIRA EXPRESS (Roger Varian | Silvestre De Sousa)
Timeform Adjusted Estimate: 82
A Mehmas filly from a family stacked with 5f winners, including the smart Acklam Express, this €140,000 purchase represents a yard with a strong early-season record with 2yos. De Sousa is a positive booking and often seen on Varian juveniles when there’s confidence behind them. With no racecourse experience, it’s worth watching the market for signs of stable confidence—especially given her January foaling date, which may give her a physical maturity edge.


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Main Danger

LITTLE HAVANA (George Boughey | David Egan)
Timeform Adjusted Estimate: 79
This Havana Grey filly was a 200,000 gns yearling and makes plenty of appeal on pedigree. She’s closely related to speedy types and hails from a damline that’s produced multiple early winners. Boughey had two winners in the first four runnings of this race and is one of the better judges of a forward juvenile filly. That said, his best strike rate comes with fillies on their second or third starts, so a watching brief is advised unless the market speaks in her favour close to the off.


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Interesting Outsider

SPICY MARG (Michael Bell | Kieran Shoemark)
Timeform Adjusted Estimate: 75
From a sprint-inclined family, this Starspangledbanner filly is likely to need more time and/or a longer trip, judging by her pedigree and stable profile. Bell’s newcomers often improve significantly for their first start, and she’s the only one here not to make any sales headlines, changing hands for a more modest 50,000 gns. Given the depth in opposition, she may find this a bit sharp.


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Trends and Trainer Insights

3 of the last 4 winners were debutants, but all came from powerful yards with strong 2yo records (Appleby, Johnston, Fahey).

Charlie Appleby has won this race twice since 2020 and is 3 from 6 with 2yo fillies on their second start at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in the past three seasons.

Mehmas progeny have a 21% win rate over 5f with 2yo fillies in May, and two of today’s runners are by him (Twilight Star and Moira Express).



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Summary

Twilight Star sets the standard after an eye-catching debut and represents a yard that excels in this race and with second-time starters. She’ll be tough to beat with normal progression. Moira Express and Little Havana both have the pedigree and connections to make their presence felt, but will need to be well forward first time out. The market should guide on their readiness, particularly given Boughey and Varian’s tendency to nurse their better prospects through carefully.

Unless Twilight Star regresses or the ground shifts markedly, she should take plenty of beating here.