Promising fillies take spoils at Windsor

Likeable two-year-old fillies Speedfit Girl and Ishbelle starred on the racecourse at Windsor today on an afternoon when football dominated proceedings.

Likeable two-year-old fillies Speedfit Girl and Ishbelle starred on the racecourse at Windsor today on an afternoon when football dominated proceedings.

The Community Shield was taking place a few miles away at Wembley and the theme of the imminent arrival of the Premier League season was replicated by the Thames on Football Furlong day.

Coming hot on the heels of the Shergar Cup during the traditional August lull, runners wore the silks of the 20 top clubs on a charity occasion to raise funds for the Peter Osgood Trust.

Both juvenile winners are still on a learning curve but there was plenty of promise from each.

Speedfit Girl (3-1) had been unfortunate enough to contest the hot Ascot event landed by White Moonstone, but she made amends in the Judicare Maiden Auction Stakes.

Godolphin's White Moonstone looked a star in the making in Saturday's Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket but although this was a considerably less difficult examination, it was no mean performance from George Margarson's filly.

Philip Robinson booted her in front from the outset in a bid to overcome a disadvantageous draw in stall one and she stayed there until the line, scraping half a length in front of Bahri Sheen.

"It might be the first time Blackpool win for a while," chuckled Margarson, commenting on her silks.

It was the first time a horse had won for owner John Guest since his death.

The trainer added: "The form got a boost on Saturday and she's still green. I think she would have won nice with a better draw but she has done the job.

"I don't want to get carried away with her and go for a Listed or Group race, I'd like to find a nice conditions race somewhere."

Ralph Beckett's Ishbelle had already taken her maiden at Ripon and was the 9-4 favourite for the Ossie & Hutch Memorial Fillies' Auction Nursery.

She almost fell out of the stalls but cut right through the field between the two- and one-furlong poles to win cosily under Jim Crowley.

"For a May foal she shows plenty," said Beckett.

"I have never really done much with her at home, she has really got there on her own.

"She is still green and she's a home-bred, so we'll have to see where we go from here."

Both riders went on to complete doubles, Robinson's coming in the Virgin Atlantic Maiden Fillies' Stakes when the experienced Ellbeedee (4-1) proved a touch too good for Ryan Moore and 4-7 favourite Entitled.

Crowley supplemented his haul on Bobs Dreamflight (9-2) in the Kick It Out Handicap.

Guest of the afternoon was Harry Redknapp, an old friend of the late Osgood.

The Tottenham manager is a confirmed racing fan but has not had much luck with his colt Arry's Orse, not seen since collecting a Lingfield maiden in February.

"He's with Bryan Smart but he's just had these little problems and we haven't been able to get him on the track," reported Redknapp.

"I've also got Tuppenny Piece with Alan King and have bred a few with Colin Tinkler."

Reflecting on the prospects of Spurs this season, he added: "We've got a chance. It's quite an open one, the usual teams will be there, Everton and Aston Villa will be strong and Manchester City have spent a lot.

"Then we've got the Champions League qualifier next week and hopefully we can get through that and get to the group stages."

This has already been a memorable campaign for Kieren Fox, who is now based with John Best, and he continued his association with the John Flint-trained Urban Space (11-4) in the Case Security Handicap.

Pat Cosgrave earned a lucky spare from the absent Adam Beschizza to force 9-4 favourite Mr Harmoosh home in a tight finish for the givemefootball.com Handicap.

For the record, Stoke City were crowned champions of Football Furlong day.

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