Sky Safari could be BetMGM Winter Oaks bound after extending her unbeaten all-weather record to five in the Listed BetMGM Fleur De Lys EBF Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield Park last week.
A winner at Wolverhampton last year, James Fanshawe’s filly lined up in the mile highlight on the back of three wins at Kempton Park in 2025, including the London Mile Series Final Handicap in September.
Settled in midfield by Daniel Muscutt, Sky Safari showed a willing attitude in the straight to wear down outsider Zariela and win by half a length, with the handicapper raising her 2lb to 99.
The daughter of Zoustar would have to prove her stamina in the 10-furlong BetMGM Winter Oaks, although her dam Moonlight Sonata won over 12 furlongs at Lingfield Park and is related to 2016 Floodlit Stakes victor Western Hymn.
Fanshawe said: “It was a bit of a messy race early on with horses on top of each other, but Dan got a lovely run from the bend to the furlong pole and Sky Safari has won well in the end.
“Sky Safari is clearly very effective on the all-weather. She has always been a big filly but now she has filled her frame. Hopefully, her owner Mrs Slack will keep her in training next year because she is a pretty useful filly.
“She did not have many races through the summer and now it is a question of whether she would get the trip in the Winter Oaks. It is a really good prize and she was not stopping today. There are also some nice races at Newcastle as well. As long as we space out her races, we will keep going.”
The Simon & Ed Crisford-trained Fairy Glen sealed a first Listed success on the same Lingfield Park card as she comfortably beat G2 Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Understudy in the BetMGM River Eden EBF Fillies' Stakes over 13 furlongs.
Elsewhere, Two Tempting comfortably reversed form with First Principle in a mile handicap at Kempton Park, with the duo having clashed in a class two contest at Southwell last month. Trained by Jonathan Portman, Two Tempting is now rated 100 following a 4lb rise.
Three-year-old Sharp Move may have lofty aspirations after thrashing the 81-rated Military Cross by seven lengths in a 10-furlong maiden at Newcastle. This win was the Frankel colt’s first appearance since disappointing on his debut in the spring.
Sharp Move’s trainer William Haggas was also on the scoresheet with Royal runner Aeolian in an 11-furlong handicap at Kempton Park. With an updated rating of 90, the daughter of Fastnet Rock is another filly who may have the BetMGM Winter Oaks on her agenda.
Newcastle witnessed a couple of other notable performances, with John & Thady Gosden’s Nebras repelling Bragbor by a head in a 10-furlong class two handicap. His first win since being gelded, the half-brother to Nashwa has a revised rating of 99.
Germanic looks one to follow in the Sprint category judged on his smooth display in a six-furlong handicap, in which he beat BetMGM Fillies' And Mares' Championships Handicap scorer Heavenly Heather by a length and a half. Now two from three on the all-weather, Julie Camacho’s winner will run off a mark of 92 next time out.
G2 winner West Acre was the headline act in a five-furlong class two contest at Southwell but had to settle for fourth behind the John Ryan-trained Sturlasson, who was racing from 3lb out of the handicap.
