Promising fillies line up in Lowther

Special Purpose and Natural will represent Qatar Racing in the Gr. 2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York on Thursday.

Special Purpose is unbeaten after winning at Lingfield and Beverley, and she gave 7 lb and a three-and-a-quarter-length beating to a next-time-out winner for her later success. She was ridden both times by Oisin Murphy, who retains the partnership, while her trainer William Haggas has won the Lowther twice with Rosdhu Queen and Besharah. Special Purpose is by the influential, but sadly late, sire Scat Daddy and was purchased for £90,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.

Jamie Spencer will ride our other filly, Natural. She looked a very good prospect when making a winning debut at Doncaster and, after disappointing at Royal Ascot, bounced back to form when second to Madeline in a Listed race at Newbury. Natural clearly has work to do to reverse form with Madeline, but we wouldn't be running her if we felt she didn't have hope of reversing the form.

Qatar Racing's Count Octave was taken out of the Gr. 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Wednesday because the ground was deemed too soft for him. His Queen's Vase second obviously came on good to firm ground, and his trainer Andrew Balding had the foresight to enter him for the Listed Lewis Badges 1832 March Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday as a back-up. Another big performance there would set him up for the Gr. 1 William Hill St Leger at Doncaster on September 16.