Lilac Road

12th-May-2022

I am taking a chance on Lilac Road in the Middleton Stakes.

She was beaten by Ville De Grace last time in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, and Ville De Grace ran a big race there, just going down by a nose to Dreamloper, but Lilac Road ran well for a long way, on her seasonal debut.

She travelled well through her race, and she made good ground on the far side.  She probably headed Dreamloper on the far side on the run to the furlong marker, but she just tired from there, as lack of a recent run probably told.  Tom Marquand wasn’t hard on her once her winning chance had gone.

She shaped there as if she would come on for that run, and it wouldn't be surprising if William Haggas, a proud Yorkshire man who loves to have winners at this meeting, has had this race in mind for her since last year.  There is every chance that Lilac Road will progress by at least the two lengths by which Ville De Grace beat her at Newmarket.  There was only a half a length between them in the Pride Stakes at Newmarket last October, when Lilac Road came home without one of her shoes.  There shouldn’t be as much between them in the market as there is.

The two Newtown Anner Stud mares, Thunder Kiss and Forbearance, are both talented.  Forbearance won the Galtres Stakes at York last August, and Thunder Kiss just continues to progress, there is no telling how high Ger Lyons’ mare could go this season.  However, Thunder Kiss has been well found in the market, and I think that both fillies are better over a mile and a half or even further.  There is a chance that they will be found out for pace over 10 and a half furlongs today.

Noon Star is an interesting filly, second to Snowfall in the Musidora Stakes at this meeting last year, and progressive, it’s a good race but, at the prices, Lilac Road is the bet.

LILAC ROAC WON (ADV 10/1, SP 15/2)