10:30 Nottingham 25 Jun 2026
Happy Retirement Martin Stoneman Fillies' Novice Stakes
GBB/GBBPlus Race | Class 3 | 3YO plus
Winner £6,480 - 3 declared to run
Good to firm-good in places
Draw Advantage: None
Forecast: Sunny
Temperature: 19.7° - 31.7°
Rainfall: none
Wind: 10.5 mph E
Last Update: 24/06/2026 17:00x
Bookies best price percentage = 101.75%
AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur.
Needed run when fourth beaten 9 1/4l in a maiden at Chepstow latest; top course trainer; bred to get at least a mile; well bred, sure to improve.
Placed once in three starts. Finished 9l behind Brocklesby Bill when fourth of 6 at 4-5fav on her latest outing at Chepstow over 7f (good to firm) last month.
Needed run when fourth beaten 9 1/4l in a maiden at Chepstow latest; top course trainer; bred to get at least a mile; well bred, sure to improve.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| G | Similar Going | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | P J Dobbs | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | R M Beckett | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| BF Was beaten favourite last time out | |||||
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Promising effort in good race beaten 8 1/4l in a novice at Newbury on debut; bred to get 10f+, acts on good to soft; should improve a little for initial experience up in trip.
Dam won twice at 7f and 1m including a Group 2 race. Finished 8l behind Manaar when fifth of 11 at 200-1 on her racecourse debut at Newbury over 1m 1f (good to soft) earlier this month.
Promising effort in good race beaten 8 1/4l in a novice at Newbury on debut; bred to get 10f+, acts on good to soft; should improve a little for initial experience up in trip.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Similar Going | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Class 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Tyler Heard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | M D I Usher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Ran to form just flattening out late up in trip 6l third in a maiden at Kempton most recent run; effective 10-11f, acts on good, AW; debut form franked at Group level, should be winning soon.
Placed in both starts. Third of 8 behind Tribal Queen beaten 6l at 4-7fav on her latest outing at Kempton over 1m 3f earlier this month.
Ran to form just flattening out late up in trip 6l third in a maiden at Kempton most recent run; effective 10-11f, acts on good, AW; debut form franked at Group level, should be winning soon.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Benoit D L Sayette | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| T | J & T Gosden | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| BF Was beaten favourite last time out | |||||
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Verdict
VELVET VEGA was second to subsequent Ribblesdale winner Earth Shot on her introduction at Newmarket before finishing third behind a couple of well-bred types at Kempton. Those efforts are strong enough to suggest the John & Thady Gosden-trained filly is the one to be on. Food For Thought was a disappointing favourite at Chepstow, but is bred to appreciate stepping up in trip and can pose the selection a few problems. Hatta Romance outran 200/1 odds on her debut, but needs a big step forward to avoid finishing third.
Expert View Verdict
VELVET VEGA finished runner up to a future Royal Ascot Group winner on debut and she should have too much class for this line up. The drop back in trip will suit and he can defeat the well bred Food For Thought who needed the run last time. Her 2yo form has been franked at Listed level though so she should be able to find a race soon. Hatta Romance wasn't disgraced in a good race on debut and should have a future but may find this contest hot enough.
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Previous Winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good to Firm | 4 | Ela's Gem | 3 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 6 | 232 days | E Walker (120 miles) | George Downing | 6/ 5 | 2:12.67 |
| 2024 | Good to Firm | 4 | Blessed Honour | 5 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 0-2 | 40 days | C Appleby (96 miles) | William Buick | 8/ 15 | 2:10.09 |
| 2023 | Good to Firm | 7 | Long Ago | 8 | 3 | 9 9 | - | 9-1 | 21 days | Sir Michael Stoute (96 miles) | Oisin Murphy | 5/ 4 | 2:12.99 |
| 2022 | Good to Firm | 6 | Qabilah | 1 | 3 | 9 2 | - | 3 | 23 days | R Varian (96 miles) | Jefferson Smith | 11/ 1 | 2:16.45 |
Race Favourite Stats
| Year | Favourite Finish Position | Winner Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 | 3 |
Race Record
| Distance | Record Time |
|---|---|
| 1m 2f 50y | 1:43.82 |