Cheveley Park Stud's Indie Angel booked her ticket for Finals Day with a swooping victory in the Ladbrokes EBF Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes (12 runners), the first of two Listed prizes at Lingfield Park this afternoon, Thursday, October 29.
The mile Polytrack contest is a Fast-Track Qualifier, with Indie Angel now guaranteed a start in the Ladbrokes All-Weather Fillies & Mares Championship over seven furlongs at Lingfield Park on Finals Day, Good Friday, April 2.
Indie Angel (John Gosden), twice a winner on turf during the summer, sat last in the early stages before making her move widest of all rounding the home turn. The 12/1 shot challenged for the lead passing the furlong pole and strode clear under Frankie Dettori to score cosily by a length and quarter.
Group 3 scorer Lavender's Blue (Amanda Perrett/Jim Crowley, 7/1) snatched second close home, with Ummalnar (William Haggas/Tom Marquand, 5/1) a neck further back in third. The Evens favourite Cloak Of Spirits (Richard Hannon/Andrea Atzeni) led turning in before fading quickly, ultimately finishing 11th.
This was Indie Angel's second win from five starts on the All-Weather, with her other success coming in a mile novice contest at Chelmsford City in December.
Dettori said of the three-year-old Dark Angel filly: "I spoke to Rab [Havlin] and John at length this morning. I was told to sit out the back and then loop the field on the outside because Indie Angel does not like to go through horses.
"I thought 'well, that's quite difficult to do here', but I did exactly as they told me and they were proved right. She liked the clean air on the outside and won well.
"I started to make my move after the three [furlong marker] as we ran downhill, just to get a bit of momentum going so I could slingshot towards the leaders.
"Obviously, Andrea's filly looked the one to beat on paper - she is a very good filly having been second in the 1000 Guineas.
"The most important thing about today was to get black type by finishing in the first three, so to win is a bit of a bonus."
Sorrel (Sir Michael Stoute/William Buick, 3/1) brought up a three-timer in the second Listed race on the card, the Ladbrokes Football Acca Boosty EBF River Eden Fillies' Stakes (11 runners) over a mile and five furlongs.
A winner in handicap company at Leicester and Doncaster prior to today, Sorrel led turning for home and stayed on strongly to score by just under two lengths from Irish raider Elizabethofaragon (Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore, 11/4 fav).
William Buick said: "Sorrel is lovely; she stays very well and is very straightforward.
"From the awkward start we have here over this trip, she jumped well and got herself into a lovely position.
"The pace was pretty good and she was pretty close to it throughout. I was slightly worried that something may come from behind, but she went through the gears lovely and gets that trip very well.
"She has a lovely attitude and all she wants to do is please you. For me, she has improved again since Doncaster and I see no reason why she won't improve again next year."
