In reports published on 9 October, Musical Times stayed unbeaten by winning the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, overcoming a troublesome passage before beating Haven by one length under William Buick. The Charlie Appleby-trained two-year-old’s fourth victory from four starts gave her a Group One success and led her trainer to outline a possible route towards next season’s 1,000 Guineas.
The odds-on filly had arrived at Newmarket following wins on Newmarket’s July Course, at Yarmouth and in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Those earlier results had established her as a prominent juvenile, but the Fillies’ Mile presented a different test when she became boxed in among rivals as the field raced towards the stands-side rail.
Buick was required to wait for a gap and Musical Times did not have a clear run until the closing stages. Haven, trained by Aidan O’Brien, had taken advantage to move into contention, but Musical Times accelerated once in daylight and went on to score by a length. Sporting Life reported that she was well on top at the finish.
Appleby said the opening stages had caused some concern because Buick had been trying to find an opening in a tightly packed field. He said the filly had shown her class when the opportunity arrived, while also learning from a race in which she had to work harder than in her Doncaster success.
Traffic trouble adds context to unbeaten record
The Fillies’ Mile result was not simply another comfortable success. Musical Times had won the May Hill by seven and a half lengths, whereas her margin at Newmarket was one length. However, the difference in winning distances needs the race shape to be considered: her rider had to delay his challenge while seeking room, and Appleby said she was encountering Newmarket’s Dip for the first time without a clear sight of it.
The delayed run may make the race a more informative test of her temperament as well as her speed than the winning margin alone suggests. According to Appleby, Musical Times had travelled to post more settled than she had at Doncaster and then responded when Buick asked her to quicken through a narrow opening. Buick said he had expected it to be difficult to find an exit after the runners headed towards the stands’ side, but reported that the filly had answered each request to improve her position.
Her four wins include successes on the July Course, at Yarmouth, in the May Hill Stakes and in the Group One Fillies’ Mile. Appleby said she had seen out the mile strongly and suggested that her natural pace currently marked her out as a miler.
Guineas route is the immediate focus
Appleby said Musical Times would now be put away, with a racecourse gallop at Newmarket’s Craven meeting probably forming part of the preparation before a possible run in the 1,000 Guineas. He said the filly was entitled to be among the leading candidates for that Classic after proving herself over a mile.
The trainer did not rule out a longer-term move up in distance. He said a mile and a quarter could be within her reach and that she might possibly stay farther, although he stressed that she was a mile filly at this stage. Her Fillies’ Mile win strengthened Appleby’s stated hope of targeting the 1,000 Guineas.
Haven finished second by a length after taking the lead when Musical Times was delayed in traffic. O’Brien said his filly was still developing and had progressed well, while indicating that he expected middle distances of a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half to suit her next season. Her effort ensured Musical Times had to produce a decisive finishing run rather than merely protect an unbeaten record.
Musical Times has won all four starts as a two-year-old, culminating in a Group One victory, and Appleby said she would now be put away before a possible Guineas campaign.