Setting the Stage for Fillies' Fireworks
Saturday's Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies' Handicap Stakes at Ascot promises to be an absolute cracker! This £50,000 Class 2 contest over the mile has attracted a stellar field of ten fillies and mares, all gunning for glory on one of racing's most prestigious stages.
The timing couldn't be more perfect. With Royal Ascot just around the corner, connections will be eyeing this as the ideal prep race. The good ground with good to firm patches should suit the speed merchants, while the straight mile at Ascot always produces thrilling finishes.
What makes this race so compelling? You've got proven course specialists, unexposed improvers, and battle-hardened campaigners all thrown together in a handicapping melting pot. The spread of ratings from 80 to 89 ensures we're in for a proper scrap from start to finish!
The Main Contenders Battle for Supremacy
Zgharta sits at the head of the weights with Oisin Murphy in the saddle, and Andrew Balding's charge looks the one they all have to beat. Her 89 rating tells you everything about her class, and that middle draw in stall 5 gives Murphy options aplenty. The hood goes on for the first time, which could be the key to unlocking improvement.
Alobayyah matches Zgharta's rating but gets the same weight, making this essentially a match race between the top two. Billy Loughnane takes the ride for William Haggas, and her inside draw in stall 2 could prove crucial. She's a proven distance winner, and Haggas rarely runs them unless they're spot on.
Deedaydiva represents the three-year-old challenge with just 8-12 on her back. Alan King's filly carries an 88 rating and gets a handy weight allowance that could prove decisive. Sean Levey's booking catches the eye, and her draw in stall 4 keeps her out of trouble.
Radiant Beauty brings experience and proven form to the party. James Doyle climbs aboard the 5-year-old mare for James Owen, and her wide draw might not be the disaster it appears if the pace is strong early.
Ground Conditions and Draw Analysis
The going stick reading of 7 on the straight course suggests perfect conditions for speed. This good ground with faster patches will suit the hold-up horses who can quicken in the final two furlongs.
Draw analysis becomes crucial over Ascot's straight mile. The low numbers look favoured, with stalls 1-4 historically producing the most winners. That gives Electrifarhh (1), Alobayyah (2), Politely (3), and Deedaydiva (4) a significant advantage.
The high draws face a tougher task, but don't write them off completely. David Egan on Bella Perla from stall 10 will need to be creative, while Radiant Beauty in 9 might benefit if the pace collapses.
Wind direction could play a part too. If there's a helping tail wind, those drawn low can tuck in and time their challenge perfectly.
Value Picks and Potential Dangers
The value play has to be Politely with Saffie Osborne taking 5lb off. Martyn Meade's three-year-old filly is a distance winner with an 86 rating, and that low weight of 8-10 could see her outrun her odds.
Electrifarhh from the rail presents interesting each-way value. Kieran Shoemark knows Ed Walker's horses inside out, and that plum draw gives her every chance if the pace sets up right.
Don't overlook Song N Dance either. Daniel Tudhope's mount for S.P.C. Woods has solid form figures and the 9-7 burden looks manageable from stall 6.
The danger could come from Jannas Journey. Jim Goldie's mare travels down from Scotland with Lauren Young aboard, and northern raiders often spring surprises at big prices when the handicapper underestimates them.
Who Will Claim Victory in the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Fillies' Handicap?
This looks a race where the draw could prove decisive, and that swings the vote towards Alobayyah. William Haggas has his string in tremendous form, and Billy Loughnane's 7lb claim effectively puts her on level terms with Zgharta.
The stall 2 draw gives Loughnane the perfect position to track the early pace and strike when it matters. Her proven form at the distance removes any stamina doubts, and Haggas wouldn't be running her here unless confident of a big show.
Deedaydiva gets the each-way vote as the value alternative. That 4lb weight advantage for the three-year-olds could prove telling, and her draw keeps her in the firing line throughout.
Expect fireworks from the off in what promises to be a thrilling renewal of this prestigious fillies' contest. Check out the full Ascot racecard for all the day's action!
What Time is the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Fillies' Handicap?
The Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies' Handicap Stakes goes to post at 13:45 on Saturday, 9 May 2026 at Ascot racecourse.
Who is the Favourite for the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Fillies' Handicap?
Zgharta and Alobayyah are likely to share favouritism given their identical 89 ratings and 9-12 weights, with the market probably splitting between these two proven performers.
How Much Prize Money is on Offer?
The total prize fund for this Class 2 handicap is £50,000, making it one of the most valuable fillies' races outside of the major festivals and providing significant prize money down to sixth place.
