LIGHT-FRAMED fillies are a dime a dozen in horseracing, but big really is beautiful in the case of Young Rosein, a magnificently manicured five-year-old mare, fancied to win this afternoon's £15,000 Hearthstead Homes Handicap at York.
It's no wonder Young Rosein (2.40) is having such a fine season given the astonishing physical improvement she has made over the previous 12 months.
Blessed with an imposing set of hindquarters and rippling from head to toe with well-toned muscle, the selection has hardly put a foot wrong this term, winning at Ripon and Haydock, as well as picking up pots of extra place money along the way.
Geraldine Rees's raider was especially impressive on her latest start at Haydock, pulverising a decent seven furlong field with a blinding burst of speed.
Another mare of a similar disposition, although streets ahead in terms of ratings, is Hot Tin Roof (3.10), bidding to win the Listed Stanley Racing Summer Stakes for the second year in succession.
Tim Easterby's top-weight showed she was right back to her best by chasing home the incredibly fast Summerhill Parkes at Haydock in early June.
It's certainly "ladies day" as far as this column is concerned since I also feel the John West-sponsored Showcase Handicap will fall to the fairer sex in the shape of Love Everlasting (3.40).
She's a big rangy filly, apparently screaming out for a mile-and-a-half having been unable to go the early pace over ten furlongs at Newcastle recently.
Love Everlasting's dam, In Perpetuity, is a half sister to the 1978 Derby winner, Shirley Heights, so there's a barrel load of stamina to be drawn from that side of her pedigree.
Viewers of Sky's the Winning Post can see all of the action at Chester and Hamilton from the comfort of their living rooms.
Barry Hills is by far and away the most successful trainer at the famous Roodeye, so it will be no surprise if he snaps up the opener with Queenie (6.50).
She'll be a relatively short-price in contrast to my premier pick at Hamilton, Xaloc Bay (8.00), heading for the Tennents Scottish Stewards Cup.
He'll go off at 10-1 or better on what he's achieved to date, however his Middleham handler, Karl Burke, has always thought a lot about this three-year-old, hinting of better things to come.
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