Whilst Royal Ascot draws to a close, high-class racing is far from lost this weekend, with Pontefract's Sunday card headlined by the Listed Sunday Series Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes.
The 1m4f Listed Sunday Series Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes (4:45) is centre stage this Sunday, with eleven runners taking their chance. The Tom Ward-trained Luisa Casati comes off the back of an impressive win in the Listed Daisy Warwick Stakes at Goodwood last month when beating the short-priced favourite Time Lock. Third in a Listed event in France earlier in the season, she looks an improving filly capable of making it two successive victories here.
John and Thady Gosden's One Evening is a lightly raced filly, wafter only four starts. She was fifth on seasonal reappearance in the competitive Group 3 Bronte Cup last month and can take a step forward for the run.
The four-year-old daughter of Teofilo, Thanks Monica represents Ralph Beckett. She was a very consistent campaigner last season, recording two victories and her only start this season was a fourth in the same Listed Goodwood event won by Luisa Casati last month. The daughter of Teofilo is probably seen to best effect over the trip (1-4).
The 6f Sunday Series Sprint Handicap (6:45) looks like a competitive affair with a field of 15 lining up. The Ruth Carr-trained Milbanke capped off last season with a win at Wolverhampton but has been unable to repeat that performance in any of his four starts this season. He has been out of the picture and recorded a close second over course and distance earlier this month.
Manila Scouse could be a big danger stepping up in trip from his previous starts this season. He was gelded at the end of 2021 and took a 563-day break before returning to the track. He's produced two seconds and a third this campaign and is given every chance to go better here.
The Jim Goldie-trained Abduction should also be noted. Following the switch to the Jim Goldie yard last September, he won two on the bounce over 7f. He has been placed in all bar one of his subsequent runs and can be competitive dropped in trip.
Fox Journey looks the one to beat in the 1m4f Sunday Series Middle-Distance Handicap (5:45) and commenced the season with a win at Newmarket before a respectable sixth in the Lester Piggott Handicap at Epsom. He brings the best level of form to this contest and looks a worthy favourite.
Geremia, the mount of Paul Mulrennan, could be a danger. He also reappeared in a Class 2 contest finishing fourth at Newmarket. He followed up with a Hamilton win and showed promise again last time out over an extended trip at Beverley. He drops down in distance from his previous runs this season.
Tamilla is set to be ridden by the in-form Tom Marquand for William Haggas with the pair coming here off the back of a hugely successful Royal Ascot week. Tamilla was a consistent performer last season, winning on two occasions over this distance. She made her seasonal reappearance last month when seventh but looked like she would come on from the run.
RACE 1 – WHOOP WHOOP
RACE 2 – PROPHET'S DREAM
RACE 3 – LUISA CASATI
RACE 4 – HAIZOOM
RACE 5 – FOX JOURNEY
RACE 6 – CONCORDE
RACE 7 – FARO DE SAN JUAN
