Bragging can reign supreme in Sceptre Stakes

The ultra-progressive Bragging can take the step up into Group company in her stride to land the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster today (2.10).

The Sir Michael Stoute trained filly has won three of her five starts, and took her form to a new level when tearing apart the field in a competitive 16-runner handicap at York three weeks ago.

The daughter of Exchange Rate cruised into the contest, and after taking up the running a furlong from home quickened clear to easily beat Little Shambles by three lengths.

It was a performance which suggested Bragging was a pattern performer in the making, and earned her a rating of 107.

That makes Bragging the second highest rated in this contest, and with further improvement assured the three-year-old can land the spoils before going on to even better things.
The main dangers to Bragging in my book are J Wonder and Token Of Love.

The former, who is trained by Brian Meehan, has landed two Group 3 contests this season and is unbeaten over today’s trip of 7f.

The last of those successes came in the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood where J Wonder came from well off the pace and showed a good turn of foot to get up close home and beat Muteela by a neck.

The daughter of Footstepsinthesand was value for more than the winning margin after having to overcome trouble in-running, and a repeat of that effort would put J Wonder bang in the mix.

Token Of Love has a rock solid and upwardly mobile profile and produced a career best performance last time out when landing a Listed contest at Hyadock by 2 1/4 lengths.

That success suggested the William Haggas trained filly was well worth a crack at this level, and the daughter of Cape Cross is a model of consistency having won three of her six starts and finished in the frame on the three other occasions.

Off an official rating of 104, Token of Love doesn’t have much to find with the leading priciples and a big run looks assured.