Four top class BGBF British Bred Oaks Heats went off at Doncaster on Monday evening where Pond Natalya was the fastest heat winner for trainer Harry Williams.

The opening heat went to the Phil Simmonds trained Bang On Annie in a time of 30.21. The daughter of Leamaneigh Turbo and Bang On Pippa flew from traps and showed good early pace to build up a strong lead. Tiring slightly on the run in she held on by a head from Witton Derecho and Saving Mullpark who both progress. The second Heat wasn’t as plain sailing as the betting market suggested it would be. The Liz McNair trained Queen Cher was made to work hard to justify her heavy odds on favouritism. Fresh from her recent exerts whilst contesting the Produce Stakes Final, the daughter of Eden The Kid and Skate On was challenged throughout by Saving Amelia. Digging deep Cher grabbed victory by half a length, Saving Amelia taking second with Fabulous Amity the third qualifier. The winning time here was 30.39.

It was a McNair double (becoming a regular British Bred theme this!) as Queen Franklin showed good early pace to lead all the way in Heat 3. The daughter of Leamaneigh Turbo and Queen Asia is looking to follow up in her mother’s footsteps who landed this very race in 2016. She led into the opening turns and came home in front of Cozzys Fozzy and Kitty Fisher in a good time of 29.96. The Harry Willams trained Pond Natalya, a daughter of Blue Artisan and Pond Tanzanite justified heavy odds-on favouritism to land the final heat in 29.71. Turning second to the early leader Fabulous Carmel, she showed huge back straight pace to take up the running. She pulled away impressively to land the contest by seven and a half lengths with Fabulous Carmel and Bolshoi Bluebell also qualifying.