Listed Lyric Fillies’ Stakes Guide 2023

Golden Lyra makes her second start of the season on Friday in the Listed Lyric Fillies’ Stakes, as William Haggas looks for a second win in the race.

The four-year-old returned from a 186-day break at Nottingham in early May, finishing 17th lengths behind One For Bobby in the Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes.

She retains plenty of ability, highlighted by her four-and-a-half-length win over Queen Treazy over a mile and two at Saint-Cloud in the Prix Solitude in October 2022. Paul Mulrennan takes the ride on the filly.

Jim Crowley’s ride in the feature at York on Friday comes onboard Mukaddamah. The four-year-old holds an official rating of 99, and will be looking to get back on track after finishing a distant 16th of 19 in Kensington Palace at Royal Ascot last month.

It appears hard to make a case for the four-year-old, as she has failed to win in seven starts on the turf for Roger Varian, with her career-best effort coming when fifth of 13 behind Creative Flair in the G3 Pride Stakes at Newmarket last year.

Archie Watson’s only runner in the Lyric Fillies’ Stakes comes in the form of Pink Carnation. The four-year-old returned to the track in early May, finishing a length behind One For Bobby in the Nottinghamshire Oaks.

However, she could not back-up that form at Ayr on May 24, as he finished six of seven in the Rothesay Stakes. Pink Carnation could be an each-way player at a double-digit price, and Connor Beasley takes the ride.

Rossa Ryan takes the ride on Queen Of The Skies at York on Friday, but this four-year-old is unfancied in the market. She produced a solid enough effort over a mile and two on her previous outing, taking second behind Peace Man in the Alhabayeb Stands At Meelin Stud Handicap.

However, she will have a lot to find in this company, with her only previous victory coming back in June 2022 on her second career start.

Midnight Mile returns to York this weekend after previously finishing fourth behind Soul Sister in the G3 Musidora on May 17. She has returned to the track since that outing, but she was a distant 13th of 17 in the G2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot.

Midnight Mile is back in calmer waters on Friday, and she retains plenty of ability shown last year by her fourth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Oisin Orr takes the ride on the Richard Fahey-trained runner.

Scenic is the only runner in the big race at York for trainer Ed Walker on Friday, with Tom Evans taking over in the saddle. This three-year-old is yet to win in three starts on the turf, but there have been encouraging signs in each of her previous two efforts over a mile and two.

The latest of those came at Longchamp on June 11, as she finished a decent fourth in the Prix Melisande. That performance scored a career-best RPR of 93, but she still needs to find more in this company on home soil.

Oisin Murphy and Sir Michael Stoute join forces at York on Friday, with Long Ago for Qatar Racing Limited. The three-year-old has been in excellent form this season. She won on her reappearance on June 18 at Chelmsford by a length and a quarter, holding off Cherry.

Long Ago then returned to the turf on June 29, winning the Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Nottingham by half-a-length from Elegancia. The manner of her recent performances was encouraging, and there would be little surprise if she is involved on Friday.

Karl Burke-trained Electric Eyes could be one of the more progressive contenders in this field, as the three-year-old will be making her third career start on Friday.

After a narrow success on debut at Thirsk, she was stepped up in grade at Newmarket. Electric Eyes ran an excellent race to take second in the final 100 yards of the G2 Rockfel Stakes, but she was no match for Commissioning.

She returns this weekend after a ten-month break, and she’s interesting for Daniel Tudhope.

Sparks Fly looks to be a filly going in the right direction for trainer David Loughnane. Laura Pearson will take the ride on the three-year-old at York on Friday, just as she did when the filly landed a six-timer on the turf at Ayr on July 9.

Sparks Fly kept on well to win by nearly two lengths from Alpine Sierra, achieving a career-best official rating of 98. This will be her first attempt in Listed company, but she’s certainly done enough to suggest that she will make her presence felt at York.

John Gosden will be chasing a record fourth win in the Lyric Stakes on Friday, and he holds a strong chance with Queen For You.

The three-year-old only made her debut on May 3 at Ascot, landing a two-length victory over Copy Artist.
She returned with a narrow defeat over a mile at York in The Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ Stakes.

Queen For You takes a step back in grade this week after recently finishing five and a quarter lengths behind Tahiyra in the G1 Coronation Stakes. Robert Havlin takes the ride, but the draw would be a concern.