Why the EBF Star Stakes Matters
Every summer, Ripon gets its moment in the spotlight, and the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes is the centrepiece. This Listed contest over seven furlongs is one of the most informative juvenile fillies' races on the northern calendar — a genuine form reference point that regularly produces horses who go on to feature in the Fillies' Mile, the Cheveley Park, and beyond.
At £55,000 in prize money, it attracts connections who mean business. You don't send a lightly-raced two-year-old filly up to North Yorkshire in late July unless you think she's ready to step forward. That's what makes this race so interesting from a punting perspective — trainer intent is written all over the declarations. Eight runners, all fillies, all carrying 9-2, and the going is riding Good to Firm, Firm in places. It's a proper summer test.
Check out the full Ripon racecard for Thursday's card before we get into the detail.
Going and Draw: What the Conditions Tell Us
Good to Firm, Firm in places at Ripon in July is exactly what you'd expect, and it's a surface that rewards horses with a fluent, ground-eating action rather than those who need cut to show their best. If your filly is a big, heavy-striding sort who wallops the ground, look elsewhere. The winners here tend to be athletic, quick-footed types.
The draw over seven furlongs at Ripon is worth a mention. The track bends left-handed into the straight and there's a slight lean towards low-to-middle draws at this trip, particularly on faster ground when the pace tends to be honest and the race is run more truly. Stalls one through four have a reasonable record, though it's not the dramatic bias you see at some tracks. Don't let a high draw put you off a genuine talent, but it's a tiebreaker worth keeping in mind.
With that in mind, Tall Trees (stall 1) and War Banner (stall 4) are positioned nicely on paper. Bayside View (stall 2) and Celestia (stall 3) also sit well. Aperoll in stall 7 and Guadalevin in the widest berth of all — stall 8 — will need their jockeys to be switched on from the gates.
Contender-by-Contender Breakdown
Aperoll (Richard Hannon / Pat Dobbs) — Rating 92
The highest-rated filly in the field and the one everyone else has to beat. Richard Hannon's yard has a strong record in juvenile Listed races and Pat Dobbs knows this horse better than anyone. A rating of 92 at this stage of the season for a two-year-old filly is serious — it puts her clear of the rest on official figures. The concern is stall 7 on ground that's riding quick, but Hannon will have done his homework and Dobbs is more than capable of compensating with a positive ride. If she's anywhere near her best, she takes plenty of beating.
Bayside View (Michael Bell / Oisin Murphy) — Rating 90
Two pounds below Aperoll on official ratings but with a distance win already on her CV — that form flag matters over seven furlongs here. Michael Bell is an astute handler of young fillies and Oisin Murphy in the saddle is as good as it gets at this level. Drawn in stall 2, she gets a lovely pitch. If she's trained on from her winning run and Bell has her cherry-ripe for a step up in class, this is the one most likely to upset the favourite. Strongly fancied.
Tall Trees (Brian Meehan / Jamie Spencer) — Rating 88
Jamie Spencer on a two-year-old filly at a northern track in a Listed race — you sit up and take notice. Spencer doesn't make the trip for fun, and Brian Meehan has a habit of producing horses ready to win when they step into black-type company. A rating of 88 and the prime draw in stall 1 makes her a genuine each-way contender. Watch the market here; if she drifts, take note, but if she's supported, she could easily outrun her odds.
Celestia (Harry Charlton / Lewis Edmunds) — Rating 84
A distance winner in the field, which counts for something, but the rating of 84 leaves her with a bit to find against the top two. Harry Charlton is a trainer who improves horses markedly with each run, and Lewis Edmunds has been riding with real confidence this season. She's not without a chance if the form from her winning run has been franked since, but on ratings alone she needs to find a chunk of improvement. One for the each-way column at a price rather than a win bet.
War Banner (Ralph Beckett / Rossa Ryan) — Unrated
No official rating is the biggest question mark in the race, but Ralph Beckett doesn't send unrated fillies to Listed races unless he thinks they belong. Beckett's record with lightly-raced two-year-old fillies is exceptional — he's produced Classic fillies from exactly this kind of low-key starting point. Rossa Ryan is a smart jockey who rides with his head. Stall 4 is perfectly acceptable. This is the dark horse of the race. If Beckett has her ready, she could be very well handicapped against a field where the top-rated runners are known quantities. Watch the market closely.
Grey Tamam (James Tate / James Doyle) — Unrated
Another unrated runner, but James Doyle is not a jockey who takes Listed rides lightly. James Tate has been in excellent form and he clearly thinks enough of this filly to pitch her straight into black-type company. The wide draw in stall 6 is the only mild negative. If the market shows any support, treat her with respect.
Value Picks and Dangers
- Aperoll — The form pick. Highest rating, top trainer, experienced jockey. The draw is the only query.
- Bayside View — Proven at the trip, ideal draw, top jockey. The value alternative to the favourite.
- War Banner — Beckett's unknown quantity. If she's backed, she could be the biggest danger in the race.
- Tall Trees — Spencer's booking and stall 1 make her the each-way value option at likely bigger odds.
My Selection: Bayside View
I'm going to side with Bayside View at the prices. Yes, Aperoll holds the ratings advantage, but two pounds is not a gulf, and Bayside View brings proven seven-furlong form to the table in conditions that should suit her down to the ground. Oisin Murphy from stall 2 on a quick surface is a combination that makes sense — he'll have her travelling sweetly on the rail and will time his challenge to perfection.
Michael Bell is a trainer who takes his time with fillies and brings them to peak condition for their big days. The fact she's declared here, with Murphy booked, tells you everything about how Bell views her chance. She's a filly who has already shown she handles this trip, and on Good to Firm ground, I'd expect her to be even more effective.
Aperoll is the one to beat and I won't be shocked if she wins, but at the right odds, Bayside View represents the smarter bet. Each-way at minimum, win if the price is generous.
Selection: Bayside View (EW)
Who is the favourite for the EBF Star Stakes Listed Race at Ripon?
Based on official ratings, Aperoll (rated 92, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Pat Dobbs) is the market leader heading into this race. She holds a clear ratings advantage over the rest of the field and represents a yard with an outstanding record in juvenile Listed races. However, the betting market on the day will give you the definitive picture — keep an eye on War Banner and Grey Tamam if either of the unrated runners attracts significant support.
Does the draw matter at Ripon over seven furlongs?
It's a factor rather than a decisive one. Low-to-middle draws have a modest advantage over seven furlongs at Ripon, particularly on fast ground when the pace is honest. Stalls one through four are generally considered favourable, which is good news for Tall Trees, War Banner, Bayside View and Celestia. High draws like Aperoll (7) and Guadalevin (8) aren't impossible, but their jockeys will need to be proactive from the gates.
Is the EBF Star Stakes a good pointer to the Fillies' Mile or Cheveley Park?
Historically, yes. The race has a solid record of producing fillies who go on to contest the major autumn two-year-old targets. The step up in trip to a mile for the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket suits several types who win here, while those who show real pace and brilliance over the seven furlongs often reappear in the Cheveley Park. It's well worth keeping the form of this race in your notebook for the rest of the season.
