Superfly? Quotes and analysis as exciting Fly Miss Helen tackles Sweet Solera

Betway Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) | 7f, 2yo | ITV4/RTV

This is a race that certain trainers seem to target. Barry Hills went through a golden period when winning it four times in six years between 2001-06, but he now shares the honour of most wins (four) with Mark Johnston, who has won three of the last six runnings.

Johnston is bidding for three in a row following Main Edition’s victory two years ago and West End Girl last year. He saddles Dubai Fountain, who takes the same route as last season’s winner.

Dubai Fountain finished second in the Star Stakes at Sandown on her last run and that’s three places better than West End Girl could muster when fifth in the same race last year.

Dubai Fountain had the reopposing Setarhe behind in third and that form sets the standard, but it’s not an outstanding level and two of these rivals look like they might have that kind of potential.

Fly Miss Helen was heavily backed to make a winning debut at Newbury last month and the Richard Hannon-trained filly didn’t disappoint. She was hampered at the start but overcame the trouble to win going away by two and a quarter lengths in the style of a smart performer.

That form is largely untested and the time was just under a second slower than that recorded by Method in the following Listed event, but Fly Miss Helen did it well and is bred to improve for the step up to seven furlongs.

Hannon is on record saying that if one of his wins first time out they are usually smart and he had the Group 1 Moyglare in mind for Fly Miss Helen, so must think the world of this filly.

Godolphin won this race five years in a row from 2009-13, and they have another of the potentially top-class runners in the line-up with Danilova.

The Dubawi filly had them strung out behind her when landing a novice over course and distance last week, and the runner-up, Senita, is from one of Juddmonte’s best families. She is a Frankel foal out of a sister to Group 1 winner Midday. They don’t come more blue-blooded.

Senita pulled clear of the third but couldn’t lay a glove on Danilova, who recorded a good time in the process, and improvement on that form might be enough for her to win this.

Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'We're hoping she could be the real deal'

Richard Hannon is hopeful favourite Fly Miss Helen can prove the real deal after making a big impression when striking on debut at Newbury last month.

She moves into Group 3 company for her second start and Hannon and jockey Sean Levey, who combined to win the 1,000 Guineas two years ago with shock 66-1 winner Billesdon Brook, know what it takes for a filly to climb the ranks.

While, as a two-year-old in this month, Billesdon Brook was winning a nursery in memorable style at the Goodwood festival on her sixth start, Fly Helen Fly remains an unknown quantity.

Hannon, who had mentioned the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes after her debut win over 6f, said: "I hope she can pass this test first and she definitely wants this seven furlongs.

"I was very pleased with her first run and Sean, who rides her out a lot, is very pleased with her work since Newbury.

"The ground should be fine for her and she’s a filly we’ve always held in the highest regard and are hoping that she could be the real deal."

What they say

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Danilova
We are turning out Danilova quite quickly but she has come out of her last run in good order and has two good runs over this course and distance under her belt. She will need to improve again with the step up to this grade but the signs have all been good and we felt that this was a nice opportunity for her.

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Star of Emaraaty
This looks a good opportunity for her to get some black type and she has definitely earned the step up in class. The ground was a touch too firm for her at Sandown last time. She got a little unbalanced and was unlucky not to be placed in what appeared to be quite a strong race.

Setarhe (left): winning at Newmarket's Rowley Mile last monthCredit: Pool

Roger Varian, trainer of Setarhe
She's not done much wrong and I think it was a strong Star Stakes when she was third last time. That looks solid form and, although she hasn't run on the July course before, she handled the undulations well when she won on the Rowley Mile first time out.

William Haggas, trainer of Spirit Of Bermuda
They finished bunched up in her Goodwood maiden win but she did it well and if she has made good improvement for that run she would have a chance. It is a little bit quick running her again but these opportunities don't come along too often so you have to take them.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Mere Green
It's a tough ask but we're trying to get some black type with her and going up to seven furlongs will definitely suit.

Reporting by Bruce Jackon

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