Listed Action At Ayr, On Wednesday – Rothesay Stakes Preview

There’s Listed action at Ayr today, in the shape of the Rothesay Stakes (5.20pm). This is a 1m 2f contest for fillies and mares aged 4 years and up. The race was only introduced in 2016 and Maleficent Queen was the winner of the inaugural event. Let’s take a look at the 3 horses that are most-likely to come out on top today….

Nezwaah
Age: 4 (Foaled February 25th, 2013)
Sex: Bay Filly
Breeding: Dubawi (IRE) – Ferdoos (Dansili)
Trainer: R Varian
Owner: Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum

Roger Varian’s charge looks certain to go-off as favourite, based on strong performances in the previous campaign. She won the Listed Hoppings Stakes, at Newcastle last June, by 3 lengths and looked very comfortable. She was also runner-up in the John Musker Fillies’ Stakes (Yarmouth), finishing just half a length behind So Mi Dar.

Maleficent Queen
Age: 5 (Foaled March 28th, 2012)
Sex: Bay Mare
Breeding: Mount Nelson – Manila Selection (USA) (Manila)
Trainer: K Dalgleish
Owner: Weldspec Glasgow Limited

The 5-year-old returns to defend her crown, but she hasn’t won since then and looked very one-paced when coming 4th of 7 in the G3 Sagaro Stakes last time out. Maleficent Queen did finish ahead of both Pallasator and Battersea though and also secured the runners-up spot in the Queen’s Cup Handicap, at Musselburgh.

Pure Art
Age: 4 (Foaled March 20th, 2013)
Sex: Bay Filly
Breeding: Dutch Art – Pure Song (Singspiel (IRE))
Trainer: R M Beckett
Owner: Mr R Barnett

Ralph Beckett’s inmate has won twice in 7 outings, if her unsuccessful trip to France is included and can’t have been helped a great deal by being partnered with 4 different jockeys for those races. She showed significant signs of improvement, when 3rd in the Listed Pride Stakes at Headquarters last October and there will be plenty of eyes of the 4-year-old as she makes her seasonal reappearance.

More Mischief and Sophie P make up the remainder of the field, along with Irish raider Elm Grove.

Racing At Ayr

There are 5 more important races to look forward to, at Ayr this season. The Land O’Burns Fillies’ Stakes, the Harry Rosebery Stakes and the Doonside Cup are all Listed affairs, while the Firth of Clyde Stakes enjoys G3 status.

Of course, the biggest race of the year at Ayr is a handicap contest and the world-famous Gold Cup takes place in September. Keep checking our ante-post markets, as it won’t be long before betting on the 2017 renewal becomes available.

Ayr is one of the oldest racecourses in Great Britain and records show that horses were competing here as early as 1576. Official meetings began around 200 years later. Both flat and National Hunt encounters take place at Ayr and you can bet on them all when you create an account with RaceBets.