Varian harbouring high hopes for Newbury contender Cabaletta

Filly steps up to Listed level on Saturday.

Roger Varian believes Cabaletta will have plenty in her favour when she puts her unbeaten record on the line in the British Stallion Studs EBF/MansionBet Abingdon Fillies’ Stakes.

The Mastercraftsmen filly will attempt to follow up her first-time-out success at Yarmouth in October by taking both a step up to a mile and a quarter and Listed company in her stride.

The form of that victory has already been given a major boost with the runner-up, and current Ribblesdale Stakes favourite, Frankly Darling subsequently bolting up on her return to action at Newcastle earlier this month.

Varian said: “Cabaletta is training nicely and is coming into herself at the right time. She stays well and will handle softer conditions as it was testing conditions when she won at Yarmouth.

“The form doesn’t need talking about as we all saw how the second Frankly Darling won up at Newcastle.

“She is a filly with a bright future and this is a lovely starting point for her. A track like Newbury on easy ground will suit her well.”

John Gosden is pleased with Franconia, who will be looking to go one better than on her debut at Chelmsford on her sole start at two.

Gosden said: “She is a nice filly and she ran well first time out on her only start. She was ready to run in a mile-and-a-quarter fillies’ maiden earlier on, but as that was lost she is running over the same trip in a Listed race.

“It is just typical of what has happened this year – you have to do some slightly unconventional things.

“I’ve been very happy with her. She is still learning as she is not that experienced, but it’s a nice, big galloping track which is nice for a filly like that.”

David Menuisier is excited to take the wraps off Saint-Cloud maiden winner Wonderful Tonight, who could set up a crack at the Prix de Diane should things go well.

He said: “When she ran first time out, she was very green for the first five or six furlongs and then she started to get the idea and made up some nice late ground.

“She was pretty undercooked when she went to France as she went on the back of one piece of work, but she travelled like a dream and though she won by a head, she could have won by further.

“She is in very good form and I’m pleased with her. I know she has run twice on heavy, but I don’t think she is ground dependant. I’m really looking forward to seeing her.

“The track, trip and ground will be ideal for her. She is in the Prix de Diane, so we need to try against better opposition if we are to go there.”

Jim Boyle hopes Hateya can make her race fitness count by building on her comeback run at Newmarket in the Watch And Bet With MansionBet At Newbury Maggie Dickson Fillies’ Stakes.

Boyle said: “She is an ultra-consistent filly that we have had a lot of fun with. It would be good to get some black type in the UK with her.

“She ran well at Newmarket last week and we are hoping for a big run. There are a few higher rated in the race, but she has a fighting chance.

“She has got a bit of sharpness on her side, which hopefully will be a help.”

Foxtrot Lady is another with match practice having finished fourth at the same level over a mile at Kempton 10 days ago.

Trainer Andrew Balding said: “It is a competitive Listed race, but she ran well at Kempton the other day and appears to have come out of it well.

“We are dropping back a furlong, but she has decent form over six and seven furlongs so she should give a good account.”

Ed Walker is confident Sunday Star can leave her three-year-old form behind and start to living up to expectations.

The Lambourn handler said: “We’ve always believed she is better than what she has shown and though she won a handicap, she was not on it for most of her three-year-old career.

“She didn’t behave in her races last year and she seems much more mature now.

“She has been working the house down. She is talented, but the only concern I would have would be the ground.”

Farzeen failed to make any impact at this level on her final start last year, but Varian expects her to be more effective back over a suitable trip.

He said: “Farzeen is training very sweetly and we are expecting her to run well. She got beat over six furlongs on her last start, but she is not a sprinter and she will actually stay a mile.

“We had her in at Kempton the other week but she got balloted out. This galloping seven furlongs should be no inconvenience to her.”

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John Gosden Roger Varian Jim Boyle

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