Destiny heads sponsor's market for the bet365 Empress Stakes
NEW DESTINY is 3/1 favourite with the sponsor to add a fifth Category One title to her stellar cv by successfully dropping back to four bends in the bet365 Empress Stakes over 500m at Towcester.
Fourth behind Avongate Venus in the final last year, she most recently had to settle for second in the Monmore Summer Stayers Classic won by kennelmate Vhagar and looks to have drawn a relatively gentle introduction in heat five on Sunday.
The competition is spiced by a couple of Graham Holland-trained Irish entries headed by Cork Oaks winner Silverhill Freya, who ran at Nottingham last week in the Select Stakes won by Wicky Ned.
Pat Cooney, bet365 spokesman, said: "This is our fourth year sponsoring the bet365 Empress Stakes and the three previous winners - Fabulous Azurra, Crafty Shivoo and Avongate Venus - were all top class and well backed ante-post.
"This year’s renewal looks just as classy thanks to the welcome addition of some Graham Holland entries, notably our second favourite, Silverhill Freya.
"Heading the list, though, is New Destiny, a real top competition bitch who has won 34 of her 59 races.
"At the other end of the experience spectrum, her trainer Mark Wallis also has third favourite Strike It Skye, a January 2024 puppy who has won three of her four races.
"They head our market but there are many talented bitches at big prices who are more than capable of reaching the final. We’re delighted with the entries and wish the best of luck to all connections!"
The £10,000 to the winner competition is staged over the next three Sundays.
Bushpark Mel and Dreamin Francis have both been withdrawn lame leaving T1 vacant in heats one and six respectively.
bet365 (Empress Stakes): 3 New Destiny, 7/2 Silverhill Freya, 6 Strike It Skye, 10 Fabulous Sonique, 12 Bockos Sapphire, 14 Slick Skylark, 20 Bacardi Bullet, Coppice Saphire, Fabulous Riki, Indian Floyd, Raebella Bullet, 25 Ballymac Kinga, Baroness Velvet, 33 bar (e-w 1/4 1,2,3,4).
