Group Two Middleton Fillies' Stakes York Guide 2023

Ralph Beckett sends his 103-rated filly State Occasion to the Middleton Fillies’ Stakes at York with the five-year-old making her second appearance here after winning class two handicap over 1m 2f last August. The filly has won a few times at lesser levels than this at the likes of Kempton and Goodwood but has struggled a little in listed company (fourth at Dundalk) and grouped company (eighth of 13 in group three at Newmarket in October).

She can do better than that but now in group two company, so unlikely that she could win this against some good runners. Ryan Moore is on board.

Richard Hannon has one in this York contest on Thursday with Aristia, the five-year-old who rounded off last season with a good win in Group One Darley Prix Jean Romanet Stakes at Deauville in August. Her form in the UK was a little sketchy last term, finishing second in this and second in Group One Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood but finishing ninth in Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot in June sandwiching those runs.

Her efforts in better company than this provide encouragement for a good run in this group two contest, so she should be in the mix here if going well, like she did at Deauville.

John and Thady Gosden boast one in the Middleton Fillies’ Stakes at York on Thursday with their five-year-old Free Wind. The filly has only suffered two defeats in her career, finishing fourth on debut at Wolverhampton in 2020 and second at Newmarket back in 2021. Since that last defeat, she has won three times – Group Three Prix Minerve at Deauville, Group Two Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster and Group Two Lancashire Oaks at Haydock last July.

All her victories have been fairly comfortable and despite being off ten months and only raced once in 2022, she looks a high-class filly who will be the one to beat here. Frankie Dettori does the steering for the Gosden’s.

Karl Burke boasts the slight market outsider in the Middleton Fillies’ Stakes with four-year-old Poptronic. The filly begun 2022 well, winning a class five at Ripon before backing that up with group three success at Newcastle last June, a length ahead of fellow runner Rogue Millennium. Struggled at the back end of the year when last of seven in Group One Yorkshire Oaks here and fourth in Group Three Dubai Stakes at Newmarket and now makes seasonal reappearance.

This is another tough ask for her and can be dismissed if she continues the form she showed at the end of 2022. Sam James is booked to ride.

William Haggas has one here in the form of four-year-old Sea Silk Road. The filly had a decent debut full year last term (one run in 2021, finishing sixth), following up a success at Nottingham with half-length victory in listed event at Goodwood over 1m 1f. Had some good efforts in grouped company too, finishing second in Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes, fourth in Group Two Prix de la Nonette Stakes and third in Group Three Dubai Stakes to finish off last campaign.

More improvement could be on the cards for the Sea The Stars filly in 2023, so she should not be discounted. William Buick is on board here.

Hamish Morrison has one in this group two event at York on Thursday with Stay Alert. The four-year-old had a mixed debut season in 2022, winning three times at Wolverhampton and Newbury (twice) including Group Three Legacy Cup Stakes in September. Below-par when fifth in Group Two Lancashire Oaks at Haydock (won by Free Wind) and last of 14 in Group One Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Royal Ascot towards the end of the season but able to do better.

She has the chance to bounce back from that Ascot run here but it will be tough to win, considering the strength of the market leaders. Not dismissed, though.

Tom Clover sends his four-year-old Rogue Millennium to this contest at York on Thursday after a couple of runs in 2023 already. She finished second at Kempton in Listed Magnolia Stakes last month before finishing third in a group three at ParisLongchamp towards the end of last month and now heads here, searching for group two glory for the first time.

She shouldn’t be totally dismissed, despite struggling a little in this sort of company last term. Jack Mitchell will do the steering.

Roger Varian sends his four-year-old Toskana Belle to the Middleton Fillies’ Stakes at York on Thursday with the filly making her debut for trainer Varian here. She’s been off the track for eight months since finishing second at Belmont last September and 2022 contained some good runs from her. She won three times last year over this sort of trip and could do well here on yard debut.

A tougher one to predict given her past but she’s lightly raced and clearly talented so could run a good race. David Egan is booked to ride.