Fillies and mares take centre stage at Wolverhampton on Monday, January 4 for the first Fast-Track Qualifier of 2021, with a field of seven declared for the Get Your Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost Fillies' Conditions Stakes (6.20pm).
The seven-furlong Tapeta contest offers the winner a guaranteed start in the Ladbrokes All-Weather Fillies & Mares Championship over the same distance at Lingfield Park on Finals Day, Good Friday, April 2.
Trainer James Tate and jockey PJ McDonald are aiming for a second Fast-Track Qualifier win at Wolverhampton this season, following Victory Heights’ battling success at the track in December.
The duo team up with Shimmering Dawn, a 99-rated daughter of Morpheus who has won four of her 10 starts on the All-Weather. She was in winning action last time out in a seven-furlong conditions race at Lingfield Park on December 19, overcoming Queen’s Course by a neck.
Tate said of the five-year-old: “Shimmering Dawn had an interrupted preparation going into her last start at Lingfield, so we were pretty pleased that she was able to get the job done under a 5lb penalty.
“She has come out of Lingfield in very good form and I am much happier with her heading into this race.
“On the ratings she looks to have a favourites chance and, all being well, she will hopefully be bang there.”
Hollie Doyle rides the Archie Watson-trained Dancing Feet, who was just touched off by Godolphin filly Leafhopper in a seven-furlong conditions race at Wolverhampton in November.
Amniarix (Ed Walker/Richard Kingscote) is something of an unknown quantity after two impressive victories in handicaps, including over the course and distance in November. Bjorn Nielsen’s homebred has since recorded another eye-catching success over a mile at Kempton Park on December 9.
Newmarket handler Richard Spencer has two contenders in Odyssey Girl (Kieran Shoemark) and Stay Classy (Paul Mulrennan), who both have winning form on the All-Weather.
The seven runners are completed by Amber Island (David Loughnane/Rossa Ryan), who caused a 25/1 shock in a seven-furlong handicap at the track on December 7, and Starry Eyes (Jane Chapple-Hyam/Cam Hardie).
