Haigh hoping Rosa can reign

Vicky Haigh has high hopes of landing the biggest prize of her career with bargain buy Rosabee in the skybet.com Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Rosabee, who cost only €4,400 as a yearling at Goffs last October, is the highest rated of the 14 fillies set to contest the seven-furlong Group Three contest.

She goes into the race in tremendous form for, after completing a quickfire hat-trick in nurseries last month, she was a close second to African Skies in the Princess Margaret Stakes over six furlongs at Ascot on her Pattern-race debut.

“Rosabee hasn’t done a lot since Ascot – she’s a fit filly so we didn’t have to do a lot with her but she’s in good form and we’re looking forward to the Sweet Solera,” said the Nottinghamshire trainer.

“The step up to seven furlongs will definitely suit her and I’d even be confident in saying she’d get a mile next year as she’s a very big, scopey filly.

“I’ve looked at the form and on the book she’s the best horse in the race.

“The Princess Margaret was a good race – the winner was less than three lengths behind Cuis Ghaire in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot after not getting a great run. If we’re only four lengths behind Cuis Ghaire, we’re a good filly.

“She’s entered in the Cheveley Park Stakes later on and the ground would suit her at that time of year. She’s one of the best two-year-old fillies in the country and you can’t ask more than that for three grand (sterling).

“I’m absolutely over the moon with the filly and with how things have gone in general this year. We’re going from strength to strength and I feel that I’ve made a major leap forward.

“I’ve been smart with my purchases and in placing the horses and the next step is moving up into the next league so we can attract some big owners.”

David Simcock also believes the step up to seven furlongs will suit the Sultan Ali-owned Ahla Wasahl, who was third in the Group Two Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting.

“The step up to seven furlongs is in her favour – she desperately needs it, in fact,” the Newmarket trainer told www.rabbah.co.uk.

“Her work has been good since the Cherry Hinton Stakes and she won’t mind the ground. She’d handle any ground apart from extremes, although on the fast side of good would be ideal.”