Sesmen Team Have Grounds For Concern

Marco Botti hopes Sesmen can rise to the challenge and maintain her unbeaten record in tomorrow's Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile at Ascot.

The daughter of Inchinor has gone from strength to strength in three runs this year and ran out a cosy winner of a Group Three contest at Goodwood on her most recent outing.

She pleased connections sufficiently since that success to prompt them to supplement her for the £200,000 test, but Botti admits his confidence in her chance is waning as the rains continue to fall.

'She's done everything right so far and she's in good form, but we are now very concerned about the ground because it looks like it's changing and going soft,' he explained.

'She will run because the owner paid to supplement her, but we are not as confident as we could be if it was good ground because she has won well on good ground.

'The trip won't be a problem, the mile is perfect for her,' he added.

'Obviously all the fillies should be respected ? there is Barry Hills' filly (English Ballet), Jeremy Noseda's (Simply Perfect) that won the Group Two at York, and the two Irish fillies too.'

Among her seven rivals is the Stan Moore-trained Satulagi, who has acquitted herself well in good company of late.

She proved too strong for her opponents in a Listed contest at the course back in July before running well to finish third behind English Ballet in the Sweet Solera last month.

Moore expects further improvement now she steps up to a mile for the first time but warns her participation hinges upon the state of the going.

'She's in tip-top form and she's a real tough filly,' he enthused.

'She ran well when third at Newmarket on soft ground but she's a far better filly on fast ground.

'It's probably 50-50 whether we run or not, we'll take her down tomorrow, have a look at the ground, and make a decision then.

'The mile wouldn't be a problem for her, I'd say she'd probably be better over it as she's been crying out for it.

'Everything's gone well with her ? her blood is perfect, she's been working really well and she looks a million dollars but it's just the weather that's a worry.'

Simply Perfect is another contender to have held her own at a high level this summer and Jeremy Noseda is looking forward to saddling her at the weekend.

Having finished only two lengths behind subsequent Goffs Million heroine Miss Beatrix in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, the Danehill filly went on to get the better of English Ballet in the May Hill at York last time.

'Simply Perfect should enjoy the stiff mile. She is a genuine and honest filly and I'm sure she will again put up another good show,' her handler told www.jeremynoseda.com.

(C) PA Sport