Berkshire Shadow put down a marker for the £150,000 All-Weather Mile Championships with a smooth display in the Listed Spreadex Sports Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton this afternoon. In a high-class renewal of the seven-furlong Fast-Track Qualifier, Berkshire Shadow raced in third under Oisin Murphy as Dhabab dictated even fractions, with dual G1 winner Angel Bleu held up at the rear of the eight runners. Dhabab drifted towards the centre of the track off the home bend, allowing Berkshire Shadow up his inside and Andrew Balding’s charge quickened well to lead entering the final furlong. The 5/2 favourite had the race under control thereafter, with a length and a quarter between him and the running-on Angel Bleu at the line. Irish raider Harry’s Bar was a head further back in third. This was Berkshire Shadow’s first visit to the winner’s enclosure since the 2021 G2 Coventry Stakes, although his form last year included a fifth in the G1 2000 Guineas. Murphy said: “That was a very good race – Angel Bleu is a top-class horse. It is brilliant to get Berkshire Shadow back with a Listed win and hopefully he can build on this. “He has trained really well and, being by Dark Angel, he has plenty of size and scope. We always thought he was not just a two-year-old and his run in the Guineas last year was fantastic. “I have not discussed it with Andrew but perhaps the horse could have another run on Good Friday as he is in very good form.” Winning owner Paul Spickett said: “Berkshire Shadow has been a great horse. He had a few niggles last year but Andrew was quite hopeful as he had been doing some good work at home. “It was great to get Oisin back on and he gave him a peach of a ride. When he came off that last bend, I thought he had it in the bag. “The Coventry Stakes would have done me and I said if he won again, it would be a bonus, but he has just shown there that he has still got it. Roll on Good Friday.”
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