See The Fire made history at the Dante Festival on Thursday. Trotbot's NAP won the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies Stakes for the second consecutive year — becoming the first ever dual winner of the race. Here is the full story and what comes next.
The Historic Achievement
No filly or mare had ever won the Middleton Stakes at York twice before Thursday. See The Fire won it in 2025 by twelve lengths. She returned in 2026 and won it again by three-quarters of a length. The Irish Field confirmed: "See The Fire became the first ever dual winner of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes at York when defending her title in taking fashion."
The difference in winning margins — twelve lengths in 2025, three-quarters of a length in 2026 — tells its own story. In 2025 she had a significantly weaker field and ran to her maximum. In 2026 she faced Fallen Angel, a multiple Group 1 winner from Karl Burke's stable. The three-quarters of a length margin against that quality of opposition is arguably a better performance than last year's twelve lengths against weaker rivals.
The Race
Fallen Angel led at a modest pace — the early fractions were reportedly around fourteen seconds for the first two furlongs. Oisin Murphy was at pains to hold See The Fire, who was keen to go. The race developed entering the home straight and Diamond Rain briefly appeared to have got first run on the inside. But See The Fire showed a proficient turn of foot and proved victorious.
Anna Lisa Balding, representing her husband Andrew: "I saw that the first two furlongs were 14 seconds or something, but Oisin just got off her and said she is an absolute machine. He said he felt she was going to win all the way, so I'm delighted."
What the Expert View on the Card Said
The expert view on yesterday's card was prophetic: "again the one to beat in this." The race conditions validated this assessment — a slow pace that should have suited the front-runners, a strong field including Fallen Angel, and See The Fire producing her turn of foot at exactly the right moment.
What Comes Next
Anna Lisa Balding confirmed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot as the primary target. A Group 2 over a mile at Royal Ascot — a shorter trip than yesterday's mile and a quarter — is the next challenge. She also holds a Coronation Cup entry at Epsom. Balding added: "I wouldn't rule out going over a mile and two again at some stage, depending on the ground, if those Group Ones over a mile come up on fast ground then we don't want to go."
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Facts verified via web search May 15 2026.