Hayynah could be another to Star for Sangster

Hayynah may be the only runner in the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes yet to register a victory, but is backed to give Ollie Sangster a third straight success in the Sandown Listed event.

The daughter of Showcasing has shown great potential when hitting the crossbar in two outings to date and her handler is optimistic a step up to seven furlongs can see her thrive in a race he has made his own in recent years.

Sangster said: “She’s the only one in there who hasn’t won, but we feel her seconds have been good performances that can be marked up a bit.

“I hope the step up to seven furlongs will bring about some improvement and she’s a home bred of owner Ahmad Ziad Galadari so it would be nice to go there and pick up some black type.”

It was Shuwari who helped advertise Sangster’s ability as a trainer when landing this race in 2023, and after Celestial Orbit repeated the dose 12 months ago, the Manton handler admits the pressure was on to find another suitable candidate for this year’s contest.

He added: “It’s been a lucky race for us so I wanted to find something nice for it. I’m not sure she’s of the calibre of the fillies we’ve run in the race the last two years, but she seems to be progressing.

“There’s only 10 days between this and her last run at Windsor which is perhaps a little soon, but I don’t think she had an overly hard race last time and hopefully the stiff nature of the finish at Sandown might be beneficial for her.

“It’s not a big field but there’s some nice fillies in there who have won good maidens, so no doubt there is a bit of depth to it.”

Hayynah is among a field of eight for the feature event on Thursday’s card, with Richard Hannon’s taking Newmarket scorer Orion’s Belt chief leading the opposition.

John and Thady Gosden won this with Inspiral in 2021 and rely on Albany Stakes seventh Nandita, who steps up in trip while dropping in grade, with Charlie Johnston is another to win this race in recent years and his Jennifer Jane is already proven over the distance after a runaway win at Wetherby on her second start.

Edward Smyth-Osbourne’s Haydock scorer Tavana, Karl Burke’s Hope Queen and James Ferguson’s Electoral College have all raced once and one once, with Eve Johnston Houghton’s Mystic Moment the most experienced in the field and set to make her fifth start after opening her account at Epsom.