CRAFTY SHIVOO has a first UK title within her sights after following up an impressive trial stakes victory by posting the fastest time in Sunday’s first round proper of the bet365 Empress Stakes over 500m at Towcester.

The Mark Wallis-trained Irish Oaks champion, a clear favourite with the sponsors for the bitches-only GBGB Category One, was quickly away and raced to a slick 4.05sec on her way to an all-the-way victory in heat two as the October 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose, remarkably still a pup, impressed again.

Always in command, Crafty Shivoo crossed the line three lengths clear of Antigua Bingo (Nathan Hunt) and Beatties Sparkle (Kim Billingham) in 29.26sec (-20), setting the standard in the first round of the £10,000-to-the-winner annual.

The victory completed a heat double for Wallis given Fabulous Sonique kicked off the afternoon in the perfect style for the champion trainer as the July 2021 British-bred daughter of Magical Bale and Fabulous Pearl posted the next quickest time in heat one.

Pacing up well and riding a bump at the first bend before stretching clear down the far side, Fabulous Sonique raced to a four-length victory over Whitings New Era (Nathan Hunt) and Droopys Creative (Kevin Hutton) in 29.35sec (-20).

Charming Girl was fastest in the trial stakes seven days previously and Patrick Janssens’ improving May 2021 daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Affleck Courage followed up with another authoritative success in heat three as a fast start set up a three and a half lengths success over Kilara Coco (Nathan Hunt) and Minnie Bullet (Mark Wallis) in 29.29sec (-20).

The fourth and final first round heat saw Oh Cosmopolitan unleash her customary burst of early pace to set up a first-bend lead before holding the staying-on Fourpenny Bleu (Heather Dimmock) and Ivy Hill Bonnie (Kevin Hutton) by a head in 29.90sec (-10).

Pat Cooney, Racing PRO for sponsors bet365, said: “Three winning favourites plus a winning second favourite ensured punters were happy with the opening round of our bet365 Empress Stakes at Towcester.

“We did think ante-post favourite Crafty Shivoo had a difficult draw in trap four in her heat, but knew our fate early here after a flying 4.05 sectional!

“However, it sets up a superb semi-final clash with the equally impressive Charming Girl – and that’s a race well worth watching.

“Overall, business has been really good on the event with Crafty Shivoo by far our most costly runner having laid plenty at our opening 3-1. She’s now just 13-8 outright, followed by 7-2 Fabulous Sonique, 9-2 Charming Girl and 10-1 bar.

“Fabulous Sonique was also popular outright and her backers will be pleased to be in trap one in the other semi-final.

“We wish all connections the very best on Sunday.”

Trap draw for Sunday’s semi-finals of the bet365 Empress Stakes: https://towcester-racecourse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/draw-1.pdf