The third day of the Newmarket Guineas Festival at Newmarket Racecourse produced a contest of patience and timing in the Group Two Dahlia Stakes, where Jancis emerged late to claim a well-judged victory under Sean Levey.
Settled quietly towards the rear as the field took shape, the five-year-old mare by Tamayuz was delivered with a measured run over the final quarter mile. Once angled into contention, she began to eat into the leaders’ advantage and struck the front inside the final furlong, staying on strongly to beat Cathedral by a length and three quarters.
There was a distinct international thread to the winner’s story, with Irish training roots and Chilean ownership combining in a success that carried more than just sporting significance. The victory marked another step forward for a mare who has often been best judged on quick ground and a strong pace to aim at.
Winning trainer Willie McCreery admitted conditions played a key role in unlocking her best form, as the mare produced a performance full of resolve when it mattered most.
“They went a good gallop, and I thought at one point she wasn’t going to get there, but she showed a lot of heart,” he said. “She loves that quicker ground. It really suited her.”
He also hinted at loftier targets ahead, with elite-level opportunities now firmly in view after this breakthrough at a higher grade.
“After winning at this level today, the aim would be to get to the top level now. We’ll go to Royal Ascot,” McCreery added, noting the long-standing family connection behind the ownership and the emotional journey of the mare’s lineage.
Further along the card, the Listed Oliver Brown Pretty Polly Stakes saw Spinning Lizzie deliver a commanding performance from the front. Ridden confidently by Silvestre de Sousa, the filly set a steady rhythm before gradually winding up the tempo, eventually drawing clear to score by six lengths.
Trainer Charlie Johnston reflected on a performance that suggested both progress and adaptability, particularly over the longer trip.
“I wasn’t certain that the step up in trip would suit, but she has clearly stayed it well,” he said. “Physically she has grown a huge amount, and she looks like a mile and a quarter filly now.”
He also indicated that future plans remain flexible, with her development opening doors to higher-class engagements in the coming months.
The ÂŁ100,000 Handicap over a mile and six furlongs provided another strong finish to the card, as Goblet Of Fire stayed on best to secure victory for the Nicky Henderson yard under Saffie Osborne, rounding off a competitive afternoon of racing.
Dahlia Stakes Newmarket 2026 once again highlighted the depth and quality on show across the festival, with progressive mares and improving three-year-olds leaving a clear mark on proceedings.
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