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Newmarket handler Paul D'Arcy is hoping to run smart two-year-old filly Shadow Hunter in Friday's Group Two Childers Stakes at Doncaster after her 33/1 success in the Listed Roses Stakes at York last month.
That York victory, over five furlongs on August 22, may have shocked punters but his trainer was not surprised after Shadow Hunter was a fast-finishing fourth in the Listed St Hugh's Stakes at the same trip after being slow away at Newbury on August 14.
The daughter of Arcano finished third on debut behind Lumiere in a six-furlong maiden at Newmarket on July 9
D'Arcy said: "Shadow Hunter has come out of York well and is a likely runner in the Flying Childers Stakes. It wasn't a surprise what she did at York.
"I've always thought she was a very good filly and that is why I ran her at Newmarket first time out. That is probably the best fillies' maiden run so far this year, but she came back with sore shins which probably explains why she didn't get the trip that day.
"There are only so many Listed races that she can go for, so I ran her at Newbury and I thought she was a little bit unlucky there. She was out the back whereas we rode her more prominently at York and that seemed to help."
Shadow Hunter will take on up to 16 opponents at Doncaster on the third day of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival, Socialites E-Cigarettes Doncaster Cup Gentleman's Day on Friday, September 11.
They could include three from Richard Hannon's powerful yard - Godolphin's Log Out Island and a duo for Al Shaqab Racing, Group One Prix Morny second Gutaifan and King Of Rooks. The champion trainer won the 2014 renewal with Beacon.
There may be a couple of Irish raiders, Qatar Racing's unbeaten Bear Cheek (Ger Lyons) and Coolmore's consistent Independence Day (David Wachman) who were first and second, a length and a half apart, in the Group Three Curragh Stakes at the racecourse of the same name on August 22.
Al Shaqab Racing has an interest in Easton Angel (Michael Dods) who ran well to finish fourth in York's Group Two Lowther Stakes over six furlongs last month, while another Northern-trained contender is Rosina (Ann Duffield) who has won on three of her four starts.
The Flying Childers Stakes has a new sponsor this year and Kate Stow, Head of Marketing for Doncaster Sheffield Airport, commented: "Doncaster Sheffield Airport is delighted to be sponsoring at the St Leger Festival for the first time.
"It is great to be working in partnership with Doncaster Racecourse and we are looking forward to developing a long term relationship with them.
"Passengers using Doncaster Sheffield Airport can now fly to and from Dublin five times a week thanks to Aer Lingus and we know that lots of people will be flying in for the Ladbrokes St Leger."
The feature race on Friday is the Group Two Socialites E-Cigarettes Expert Doncaster Cup (3.05pm), worth £100,000, over two and a quarter miles and 12 horses have been entered for the historic contest.
Times Up (Ed Dunlop) already successful twice in Socialites E-Cigarettes Expert Doncaster Cup (2012 & 2013), tries for a third victory at the age of nine, while both Irish trainer Willie Mullins and Newmarket handler Marco Botti could field two runners apiece.
Mullins, the champion Jump trainer in Ireland, has put forward Clondaw Warrior, successful during the summer in the Ascot Handicap and Galway's Guinness Handicap, and Simenon whose best run this year has been his fourth in the Group One Gold Cup over two and a half miles at Royal Ascot.
Botti may field both Tac De Boistron, who has not run since finishing last in the Gold Cup but has much better form when there is give in the ground, and Suegioo, who finished third in the Ebor at York last month.
The third Group Two race on the seven-race card is the 1stsecuritysolutions.co.uk May Hill Stakes (3.40pm) for two-year-year-old fillies over a mile, which has attracted 15 entries.
They include Fireglow (Mark Johnston), second in two Group Three races over seven furlongs, French Group three scorer Great Page from stable companion Marenko, two of three contenders for Hannon, and the Hugo Palmer-trained Hawksmoor who captured the Group Three Prestige Stakes at Goodwood on her most recent start narrowly from Fireglow.
