Cabaletta primed for Lancashire Oaks

PA Sport Reporters
July 4, 2020 6:32 pm

High hopes for Varian contender at Haydock.

Roger Varian expects Cabaletta to appreciate the step up to a mile and a half on her first start in Group-race company in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock on Sunday.

The daughter of Mastercraftsman looked as though she would suited by further when putting in good late work to finish second to Franconia in the Listed Abingdon Fillies’ Stakes at Newbury on her seasonal debut.

“Cabaletta has come out of her run at Newbury well and we have been pleased with her since,” said Varian.

“It was a good first run back on her step up into Listed company. She is taking on older fillies for the first time, but hopefully there should be more to come.

“The extra two furlongs will really suit her as her mother Allegretto was a very good stayer and she should get even further in time.

“The ground will be fine for her as well, as she won on heavy ground at Yarmouth on her debut.

“Hopefully after this we can look towards races like the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood and the Park Hill at Doncaster.”

Cabaletta is the only three-year-old among the six runners in a race that has lost a little of its gloss due to the withdrawal of Dame Malliot because of the soft ground.

Trainer Ralph Beckett is doubly-represented with Antonia De Vega and Manuela De Vega. Both made winning reappearances, with the latter lowering the colours of subsequent Hardwicke Stakes scorer Fanny Logan in the Group Three Pinnacle Stakes over this course and distance four weeks ago.

David O’Meara’s Makawee and the Brian Meehan-trained Spirit Of Appin complete the field.