Friendly Soul booked for long-awaited Haydock comeback

After almost 600 days off the track, Group One winner Friendly Soul is poised to make her long-awaited return at Haydock on Saturday.

Deemed an Oaks candidate after downing Kalpana in the Pretty Polly Stakes in the early stages of 2024, John and Thady Gosden’s daughter of Kingman would end that season by securing Group One honours in France, striking in the Prix de l’Opera.

That ParisLongchamp triumph took her overall career record to five wins from six starts, with defeat when favourite in that season’s Musidora the only blot on the CV.

It would also be the last time she was seen in competitive action, but she is now primed to return at Listed level in the William Hill Epic Boost British EBF Hedge Of Oak Stakes, a race in which owner-breeder George Strawbridge and the Gosdens also have the progressive Winter Oaks winner Morrophore entered.

The owner’s racing and bloodstock adviser Tom Goff said: “At the moment Friendly Soul is an intended runner, but she has clearly been off the track a really long time.

“She was in the Middleton, but the team thought it was better to wait for this, which I think is right. It’s very much a first step along the way for her and the York race was looking very hot and we didn’t want to throw her in at the deep end after so long off.

“We’ve found this race at Haydock and it could be a lovely starting point for her, but we do have to remember she has been off for a long time.

“It’s a big fact-finding mission, but it’s the plan at the moment and it’s been a huge effort from everyone to get her back.

“She is obviously going to come on massively for the run and we’re looking forward to seeing her.”

Friendly Soul is not the only talented Strawbridge-owned filly set for Listed action this weekend, with the Andrew Balding-trained Winged One – last seen finishing seven and a quarter lengths behind Oaks favourite Amelia Earhart in the Cheshire Oaks – slated for a visit to Goodwood for the Height Of Fashion Stakes.

“I think she is a possible for the Height Of Fashion,” continued Goff. “She went to Chester and was far from disgraced there behind Amelia Earhart.

“It was a good race and she was right there two furlongs out and we’ll have another go I think on Saturday and see where we go.”