The month of September becomes more exciting with the Grade 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket
The Group 1 Fillies’ Mile is the highlight of British Racing hosted every year at the Rowley Mile in Newmarket since 1973.
Covering the distance of 1 mile, the race is especially reserved for juvenile fillies, and holds a purse of £150,000 as of 2011, held in September annually.
Since the inception of this race, Newmarket wasn’t the first venue. The grand-event was initially held at Ascot, and was known as the Green Shield Stakes because it was sponsored by Green Shield catalogue shops.
The race was sponsored by Argos for a short period and during that phase, it was known as the Argos Star Fillies' Mile. In 1978, the sponsors changed and this time it was Hoover, who took over.
Previously, a Group 3 race since 1975, it was promoted to a Group 2 category in 1986 and was associated with this particular sponsor until, 1989.
This Fillies’ Mile earned a Group 1 status in 1990 and has been that way since then. Since Ascot was under construction in 2005, the event was moved to Newmarket. It was permanently moved in 2005, and is now sponsored by Shadwell.
The prestigious event’s status was further elevated in 2008, when it was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge.
The winner of the Fillies’ Mile now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, which will be held at Santa Anita this year.
Over the course of time, some memorable events have taken place here. For some it served as a platform which helped their career and for others, it meant gruesome defeat.
Frankie Dettori is one of those talented riders, who have made this event with six victories to his name in this race. He now holds the record for the most victoriesin the Fillies’ Mile.
In 1990, he guided Shamshir to victory, Glorosia in 1997, Teggiano in 1999, Crystal Music in 2000, White Moonstone in 2010, and Lyric of Light last year in, 2011.
Sir Henry Cecil is the trainer who saddled the most winners over the years in the Fillies’ Mile, starting from Formulate in 1978, Oh So Sharp in 1984, Diminuendo in 1987, Tessla in 1988, Bosra Sham in 1995, and Reams of Verse 1996.
In 2011, Frankie Dettori guided the Godolphin owned, Lyric of Light, to victory and the leading jockey might come back for more this year.
Tags: