I'm The One dazzles on Newbury debut, boosts Sea The Stars record

I'm The One did more than land the Dreweatts Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Newbury. She announced herself as a filly with immediate notebook value, and she did it in the sort of style that makes the market move before the rest of the racing world catches up.

The Cayton Park Stud homebred, by Sea The Stars, justified even-money favouritism in the 10-furlong contest on good ground, drawing clear to win by six lengths under William Buick for John and Thady Gosden. The race, run as the 3:07 at Newbury, attracted 14 runners, carried £8,100 to the winner, and was clocked in 2m 8.61s. She had been taken out of an engagement at Great Yarmouth the previous weekend, and that patience paid off in a debut that looked polished from the moment Buick asked her to lengthen.

The visual was as important as the margin. I'm The One travelled strongly, moved to the front over a furlong out and kept on with authority, leaving the impression of a filly with scope, stamina and plenty still to come. That is why this was not just a tidy maiden win. It was the kind of performance that can shift a horse from “interesting newcomer” to a serious spring player in one afternoon. She also earned TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, honours, a label that fits the way she handled the job.

The response was instant. At The Races reported that an Oaks trial now looks the next target, and Thady Gosden said the filly’s first run came on ideal ground. “It was her first time out and the ground was in perfect condition for her. Today she was perfect and I hope she doesn’t wake up too much for a run, but I think a mile will be fine for now.” BetVictor and Paddy Power both shortened her to 10-1 for the Betfred Oaks after the race, a market move that underlines how quickly she has entered the Classic picture.

The result also added another useful line to Sea The Stars’ record. Standing at Gilltown Stud, the sire has long been associated with top-class middle-distance runners, and I'm The One looked every inch another who can progress over trips that matter. Newbury has often been a proving ground for Gosden fillies, and Lah Ti Dar followed a similar route when she won a Newbury maiden in April 2018 before developing into a major middle-distance filly. I'm The One has now put herself on that kind of path, and she did it with a debut that suggested the ceiling is still well above what Newbury saw on Friday.