Race To Watch / Timeform / 07 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Back-end Leicester maidens often prove a fruitful source of future winners and this looks one such race, quite a few potential improvers and plenty of top stables represented by good-looking types.

Marie De Medici hadn't looked anything out of the ordinary on her first two runs but returned from three months off to show considerable improvement, favoured by a positive ride yet still impressing as she went clear without being fully extended. Mark Johnston's filly has got plenty about her physically, seems sure to train on well and has the makings of a useful three-year-old, sure to be better suited by a mile plus.

Beaten two lengths but still eight lengths clear of the third was Faithful One, who has now been runner-up three times from as many starts in maidens. This represents her best effort in form terms, however, and she'll surely go one better in a similar event this year. She's yet to try a mile, shaping as though sure to be at least as effective at the trip.

One having just her second start was Sign of Life. The Walter Swinburn-trained filly still showed signs of greenness when asked to quicken and it was to her credit that she was able to hold her position. She'll be suited by further.

Of the newcomers, Al Jaadl was at long odds yet made an encouraging start, her greenness and high draw making things difficult yet making late inroads without being asked a serious question. The Luca Cumani-trained Queens Envoy impressed beforehand, being a tall, lengthy filly with scope, and is just the type to make a much better three-year-old, patently in need of the experience here.

Finally, Ice Diva was another to show clear signs of ability despite being in need of the run, Paul d'Arcy's filly being green under pressure and unable to sustain her effort; she's from a middle-distance family on the dam's side, likely to need a fair bit further in time.

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