Improving Maid Up ready to tackle the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday
Andrew Balding's filly has been in red-hot form this summer and was supplemented for the Classic on Monday
IMPROVING filly Maid Up is expected to go close in Saturday's St Leger at Doncaster.
Andrew Balding's three-year-old has been in red-hot form this season and was supplemented for the Group 1 on Monday at a cost of £50,000.
The daughter of Mastercraftsman won three handicaps in a row before going close in a Group 2 at Glorious Goodwood.
She gained compensation for her narrow defeat in that contest when easily winning a Group 3 at the same track.
The filly, who is a 16-1 shot for Doncaster contest, will provide jockey Rob Hornby with his first ride in a Classic.
Hornby said: "She's just an incredible filly, when you see her at home you couldn't pick her out, she just mosies along doing her own thing.
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"I galloped her on Saturday as her usual rider was on holiday and she doesn't give you a feel of what she shows you in a race.
"Even in a race for the first half of it you are thinking 'oh God, she's not going at all', but as soon as you ask her and put the bridle into her mouth she's there for you straight away.
"She's improved so much and you don't even know how good she is.
"As long as she's got something in front of her she'll run her heart out and chase them all the way to the line.
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"She's won at the course before. You don't need to interfere with her for the first part of the race.
"As long as you don't have to make up too much ground just hunt away and then really come home strong."
The market for the St Leger is headed by Aidan O'Brien's Kew Gardens, who is a warm 5-4 shot.