Turf Talk: Maid Up's a bit of a mystery but on the right track insists jockey Hornby

Jockey Rob Hornby admits he still does not know how good Maid Up is ahead of her tilt at Saturday's William Hill St Leger at Doncaster.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Sep 2018, 10:00 BST
Updated 13th Sep 2018, 10:02 BST
Maid Up jockey, Rob Hornby. PIC: Anna Gowthorpe/PA WireMaid Up jockey, Rob Hornby. PIC: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Maid Up jockey, Rob Hornby. PIC: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

Andrew Balding’s filly has won four of her last five races and produced a career-best performance when landing the Group Three March Stakes at Goodwood on her latest appearance. She was supplemented for the Town Moor showpiece on Monday and will provide Hornby with his first-ever Classic ride this weekend.

“She’s just an incredible filly, when you see her at home you couldn’t pick her out, she just mosies along doing her own thing,” said Hornby. “I galloped her on Saturday as her usual rider was on holiday and she doesn’t give you a feel of what she shows you in a race. Even in a race for the first half of it you are thinking ‘oh God, she’s not going at all’, but as soon as you ask her and put the bridle into her mouth she’s there for you straight away.

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“She’s improved so much and you don’t even know how good she is. As long as she’s got something in front of her she’ll run her heart out and chase them all the way to the line.

“She’s won at the course before. You don’t need to interfere with her for the first part of the race, as long as you don’t have to make up too much ground just hunt away and then really come home strong.”

n Ed Walker will continue to take small steps with Agrotera after ruling her out of a tilt at the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on October 6.

Since winning the Sandringham Stakes in June, the daughter of Mastercraftsman has been held twice in Listed company, most recently finishing a close second at ParisLongchamp. The three-year-old will be kept at the same level on her next start in either the Prix Coronation at Saint-Cloud or the Muhaarar British EBF Rosemary Stakes at Newmarket.

SOBOT’S SELECTIONS

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DONCASTER: 1.50 Winter Light (treble), 2.25 Accordance, 3.00 PILASTER (NAP), 3.35 The Irish Rover (next best), 4.05 Black Isle Boy, 4.40 Plutonian, 5.10 Ulshaw Bridge.

FFOS LAS: 2.15 Face Like Thunder, 2.50 Sesame, 3.25 Sylvia’s Mother, 3.55 Fox Fearless, 4.30 Muraahin, 5.00 Del Parco, 5.35 Landue.

HAMILTON: 3.45 Rockley Point, 4.15 Autumn Flight, 4.50 Jack Blane, 5.20 Rosemay, 5.55 X Rated, 6.25 Princes Des Sables, 6.55 Nuns Walk, 7.25 Faldo.