Meeznah has ‘set the music’ by winning the DFS Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster
Judging through Meeznah’s victory under Frankie Dettori at the DFS Park Hill Stakes, it is pretty evident that the expectations linked with the Queen’s Set To Music have shattered quite severely. The confidence upon his rapid improvements and claims for a victory failed to surface on the tracks that day.
However, the sincere effort put in by the horse cannot be discarded.
Set To Music did push through the track as long as he could but Meeznah had a firm grip on the lead and ended up winning by three and a half length at Doncaster St Leger Festival.
This turns out to be a roaring achievement for Meeznah as her failure at Newsbury had left an adverse impact upon her chances to win this one. Especially her trainer, David Lanigan had reservations keeping in mind the most recent disappointing experience.
Not the sole reason but of course a major dominating factor for the win has to be the condition of the ground, which according to jockey, Frankie Dettori, was unfavourable at Newbury for the filly and here at Doncaster ‘she got her ground’ and proved herself.
This was a Group 2 race of a one mile and six and a half furlongs for three year and above fillies and mares.
This accounted for Meeznah’s second major win this season having landed Group 3 honours at Glorious Goodwood in July.
The Park Hill Stakes resulted in Set to Music playing the trumpet on the second position and Polly’s Mark was left on the third rank.
The course of the race ever since the ‘blow of the whistle’ was not in terms of Meenzah rather it would not be inappropriate at all to state that she had to earn her lead of the lot. Initially the most determined horse set a strong gallop for the track.
Both Meeznah and Set To Music were in the lead a good ten lengths with Jamie Spencer trying his best to push Set to Music further on. Both the jockeys were settled for third and fourth place at that moment of time.
With time turned the wheels too and the followers started picking up lead, putting pressure upon those in the front. Around the longhome bend, Meeznah, Set to Music and Polly’s Mark started closing in.
Spencer chased, almost perfectly in tow as Dettori raced Meeznah wide. After stoking up his mount, Dettori flashed the horse ahead sealing an ultimately decisive two length lead on Set To Music, which at the line became three and a half lengths.
The uncertain and worried David Lanigan was now bubbling with pride and said:
"All year this has been the plan so I'm delighted to get it right. I'll sit down with the owners to see where to go next, she could run in the fillies' race at Ascot, she could go to France and she's in the Melbourne Cup. There's a lot to decide”.
Hopefully whatever decision the connections end up taking for Meeznah would be in her best interests and would leave a shining mark on her records.
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