DADDY’S DAUGHTER was perhaps the most appropriately named winner of the day, striking as she did at Salisbury on Father’s Day!
The daughter of Scat Daddy, who cost $150,000 as a yearling, was one of eight runners who lined up for the 0-75 fillies’ handicap over 7f at the Wiltshire track. A winner on her debut last year at Kempton over a mile, she had had two runs this year, again both on the all-weather. Last time out, she pulled for her head and found the 1m2f trip too far. The drop back to seven clearly suited her and she destroyed the opposition in a pillar-to-post victory which saw her win by three and a half lengths from the in-form Chica De La Noche.
The going was soft which was an unknown for Daddy’s Daughter, who was making her handicap debut off top weight. She is not the easiest of fillies at home but the first time hood helped keep her calm and this combined with front-running tactics over a shorter trip seemed to do the trick. Robert Winston kept it simple, jumped her into the lead early on and she was always in command and ran out a comfortable and impressive winner at the line.
Congratulations to successful owners, Heather and Michael Yarrow and also her lass, Natalie Byrne, who has done a fine job with the filly at home. The handicapper will undoubtedly have his say after today’s romp but there should be more to come from Daddy’s Daughter.
Today’s win was the third in a row for Harper Lodge Farm, following the success of Dor’s Law on Thursday and Badenscoth on Friday and that makes it 21 victories for the season to date. They have all been impressive winners and all on soft or heavy going. Maybe we need it to keep raining!