Pride Cemented as Leading Filly or Mare with Champion Stakes Win
Pride, ridden by French jockey Christophe Lemaire, has solidified her position as the top filly or mare in training by claiming the Champion Stakes at Newmarket. Racing Post handicapper Paul Curtis has assigned Pride a rating of 123 for her three-length victory over Rob Roy, but notes that this rating is 3lb lower than her performance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Curtis attributes the difference to the higher quality of the Longchamp race, in which Pride finished second to Rail Link.
Key Takeaways:
- Pride's rating of 123 in the Champion Stakes is 3lb lower than her rating in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, indicating a slightly lower level of form.
- Curtis employed the mark of 117 from Olympian Odyssey, who finished fourth in the Champion Stakes, as a base for his calculations.
- Hurricane Run, who finished second to Pride, seems to have run to a lower level of form due to his inability to maintain his pace and lack of response to Pride's quickening up.
- Sir Percy's disappointing performance in the Champion Stakes makes it difficult to calculate his exact ability, although he is likely to have run below his best.
- Pride has achieved a career-high rating of 126, putting her 2lb ahead of Ouija Board at the head of the figures for fillies and mares currently in training.
Statistics:
- Pride's rating of 123 in the Champion Stakes
- Hurricane Run's rating of 120 at Newmarket
- Olympian Odyssey's mark of 117 from the 2,000 Guineas
- Pride's career-high rating of 126
- 3lb difference between Pride's rating in the Champion Stakes and her rating in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Sources:
- "Champion Stakes form book" by Paul Curtis, Racing Post
- "Newmarket Champion Stakes result" by David Lawrence, Racing Post
- "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe result" by David Lawrence, Racing Post