San Antonio holds of Alder in Dee Stakes battle of the O’Briens

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Father beat son in the Boodles Dee Stakes as Aidan O’Brien’s San Antonio repelled the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Alder at Chester.

Alder was the 11-10 favourite for the Listed contest following an impressive start to his season at Cork, with San Antonio sent off at 16-5 following victory on the all-weather at Dundalk.

As is usually the case, Ryan Moore had San Antonio well positioned throughout, allowing his mount to stride to the front while his rivals jostled for position in behind.

Gavin Ryan delivered Alder with a major challenge rounding the home turn, but San Antonio refused to yield in front and passed the post with a length and three-quarters in hand to give O’Brien a 10th victory in the race.

O’Brien said: “Donnacha’s horse ran a stormer having got dropped back in a messy race. But Ryan had his horse in a better position and was able to control the race.

“We were always going to ride him forward. He’s nice and relaxed and was happy to have horses around him, and he found plenty.

“Obviously it looks like he’s adaptable and will get further. Epsom has to be looked at as well as Ascot and France. The lads will decide.”

Betfair and Paddy Power halved the Dubawi colt to 25-1 for the Betfred Derby, for which O’Brien’s 2000 Guineas disappointment Auguste Rodin remains favourite with some firms in company with Arrest and Military Order.

O’Brien added: “We’ve always thought the world of Auguste Rodin as everything came so easily to him. He’s come out of the Guineas well and will go to straight for the Derby.

“With the Lingfield trial now on the all-weather Bertinelli will go there. The horse we would have run at Lingfield (Gooloogong) might go to Epsom and Continuous heads for the Dante at York.”

Alder (left) just failed
Alder (left) just failed (David Davies/PA)

O’Brien junior has not lost faith in the runner-up.

He said: “The race was a bit of a mess and in ground I didn’t think he would like I actually think he ran very well. He quickened up nicely then just flattened out in that ground, but I was very happy with him. 

“We’ll take him home and see how he comes out of it and make a plan then. For sure he could go to one of the Derbys either Epsom or the Curragh or something like that, but we’ll make a plan at a later stage. 

“You have very little chance from out back when they go that slow, but that’s racing and that’s Chester.”

Falcon Eight back on Chester Cup duty, but with weight and age concerns

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Falcon Eight has been a standing dish in the tote Chester Cup in recent years and Dermot Weld’s 2021 champion is back for another crack at the Roodee marathon.

The eight-year-old recorded a famous victory in the hands of Frankie Dettori off a mark of 104 two years ago before finishing a respectable fifth in defence of his crown off a 5lb higher figure here 12 months ago.

He is 1lb lower this time around with Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle, but the Rosewell House handler is concerned that is still a hefty weight to shoulder.

“He’s got a big weight to carry, 9st 12lb and he’s rated 4lb higher than when he won it. He’s also two years older so it’s a difficult task to be honest,” said Weld.

Falcon Eight (left) running in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot
Falcon Eight (left) running in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“He’s very well and I expect him to run well. He usually always runs a good race, but he’s two years older than when he won it previously and he has 4lb more to carry. But the horse himself is in very good form.”

Rajinsky was third last year and claimed the scalp of Trueshan at Nottingham earlier this season. He is one of two in the race for Hugo Palmer, who envisages his charge bouncing back from his Sagaro Stakes disappointment now back on an easier surface.

“Rajinsky seems in good form, the ground got too quick for him at Ascot the other day but any rain will help him,” said Palmer.

“He ran so well in the race last year and his run at Nottingham would put him up there with a pretty good chance.”

Rajinsky and Harry Davies (orange) coming home to win the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham
Rajinsky and Harry Davies (orange) coming home to win the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham (Joe Giddens/PA)

The Manor House Stables handler is also represented by the reappearing Zoffee who was last seen finishing fourth in the Cesarewitch.

“Zoffee wouldn’t want the ground to get too soft,” continued Palmer.

“He had a really good year (last season), in my mind our main target with him would be trying to add the Northumberland Plate to the Northumberland Vase he won last year.

“We’ve got to start off somewhere and he’s ready to go so we’re looking forward to running him.”

Another handler double-handed is Richard Hughes who has called for one of his old weighing-room colleagues Jamie Spencer to partner Calling The Wind, while one of the newest names among the riding fraternity, Billy Loughnane, removes 3lb off Bascule.

The former finished a place ahead of Falcon Eight when third in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot and has dropped to the same rating he finished third off in the 2021 Cesarewitch.

“I think Calling The Wind is well in,” said Hughes. “I beat the favourite over two and a half miles at Ascot off level weights and I think I have him pretty good. He has had his prep race and that went well.

“I’m very hopeful he will have a good run round. He ran a very good race under Jamie Spencer in the November Handicap (in 2021), I think he will suit him.”

Calling The Wind winning the Betfred “Thanks To The NHS” Handicap at Ascot
Calling The Wind winning the Betfred “Thanks To The NHS” Handicap at Ascot (Francesca Altoft/PA)

He went on “I thought taking 3lb off Bascule might help him.

“If you worked the two of them at home you wouldn’t say that Calling The Wind could give him that much weight. It may be a different story on the track but he always runs a good race does Bascule.”

Handed a plum draw in stall two is Dominic Ffrench Davis’ Call My Bluff, who bumped into the progressive Novel Legend on seasonal bow at Newbury, but has some smart course form to his name.

“He’s got a very obvious chance,” said the handler. “He loves Chester, loves soft ground and has a very good draw.

“He needed the run first time out (at Newbury), he looked like he had set sail for home and then just tired a bit which let the Fanshawe horse (Novel Legend) in a little bit.”

Getting the better of Call My Bluff in the Watergate Cup over track and trip last term was Emiyn who has since placed in the November Handicap and run respectably in Musselburgh’s Queen’s Cup before an underwhelming effort at Thirsk most recently.

Trainer Declan Carroll is confident he can bounce back from that and said: “We’ve been pleased with him and he has been training well.

“He has to bounce back from a disappointing effort his last run, but we’ve been happy with him since that. He will like the ground and any more rain that will come will not inconvenience him at all.

“He has a good draw which can only be an advantage because he goes forward in his races. He’s a keen-going sort and he likes to go forward. It’s a very competitive race as it should be at this level but we’re looking forward to it anyway.”

One guaranteed to relish testing conditions on the Roodee is Harry Fry’s mud-loving Metier – who has always had this contest on his radar.

Fry said: “We’ve been working towards this albeit fully aware we would need conditions to suit, so I was delighted to see it raining heavy there and conditions have come in our favour.

“He ran a great race behind Wise Eagle who was runner-up in the Sagaro Stakes at Musselburgh in the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh and the step up in trip here is a positive.

“He is really well in himself and we’re looking forward to him taking his chance.”

King’s Lynn just misses out on royal victory at Chester

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Nymphadora denied the King and Queen a first winner since their coronation as stablemate King’s Lynn had to make do with the runner-up spot in the CAA Stellar Handicap at Chester.

King’s Lynn has mixed at the very highest level in the sprinting division, last season winning the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock before contesting both the King’s Stand and the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Dropping back into a handicap for the first time in over two years, the six-year-old was a 5-2 favourite to carry the royal colours to victory on the Roodee under Ryan Moore, but he was ultimately unable to reel in his fellow Andrew Balding-trained runner Nymphadora.

The latter was a 3-1 shot to bounce back from a disappointing start to her campaign at Bath last month and did just that in the hands of Oisin Murphy, finding enough when challenged by King’s Lynn to prevail by a length.

Nymphadora after winning at Chester
Nymphadora after winning at Chester (Neil Morrice/PA)

Anna Lisa Balding, the trainer’s wife, said: “The lad who rides Nymphadora said she was in the form of her life, and there’s a fresh strip of ground which encouraged us she would handle it.

“John Warren (King and Queen’s racing manager) said Ryan would ride King’s Lynn and it was great to have Oisin, who is riding with such confidence. It’s good to have him back in the team.

“It didn’t happen for this filly at Bath but we put a line through it and started again. All being well she will go direct to Royal Ascot now.”

Balding and Murphy doubled up in the TMT Group Handicap with 9-4 favourite City Streak.

The four-year-old had been placed three times since his latest win at Wolverhampton in July, most recently finishing third on his first start of 2023 at Chelmsford.

In what was a rough race around Chester’s tight turns, City Streak moved up menacingly early in the straight and hung under pressure, but it was not enough to stop him winning by a neck from Dark Pine.

“Oisin is very aware that you can get buffeted around here – he rode a fine race,” said winning owner Lord Blyth.

“His dam is the same as Quickthorn and this horse has exactly the same rating Quickthorn did on this day last year.

“Quickthorn ran a good race in Dubai and goes for the Yorkshire Cup next week.”

Infinite Cosmos headlines top-class possibles list for Musidora

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There could be a stellar cast for the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes which headlines day one of York’s Dante meeting, with Sir Michael Stoute’s Oaks contender Infinite Cosmos among the 16 possibles.

The daughter of Sea The Stars is disputing second-favouritism for the Epsom Classic on June 2 following an impressive display at Newmarket over Guineas weekend and the Freemason Lodge handler knows what it takes to win this contest having landed the recognised Oaks trial on eight occasions previously.

Andrew Balding’s Sea Of Roses interestingly got the better of Infinite Cosmos at Doncaster on debut and forms part of the possible opposition, which could also include Ralph Beckett’s highly-regarded Juddmonte filly Bluestocking and Jack Channon’s wide-margin Newbury maiden winner Gather Ye Rosebuds.

Further spice is added to the mix by Fillies’ Mile second and third Novakai and Bright Diamond, who both represent Karl Burke, while Richard Fahey’s Oh So Sharp Stakes scorer Midnight Mile is another bringing top-class two-year-old form to the table and has the potential to land a blow for local Yorkshire handlers.

Defending champion Highfield Princess features in the confirmations for the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes.

John Quinn’s six-year-old was one of the stars of last season and not only won this contest by nearly three lengths, but returned to the Knavesmire to land the Nunthorpe later in the campaign.

Others that could line up in the six-furlong event include Australian raider The Astrologist, who is being prepared for a Royal Ascot tilt following his narrow defeat in the Al Quoz Sprint, Roger Varian’s Dragon Symbol and Roger Teal’s Oxted who has not been seen since the summer of 2021.

Platinum Jubilee Stakes to be run in honour of the late Queen

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The Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot has been renamed in honour of the late Queen and will now be known as The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

The late Queen’s love of racing and passion for breeding was rewarded with Classic success in all of the major British races except the Derby, but it is the Royal meeting in June which she became synonymous with.

She entered with winner’s enclosure 24 times throughout her reign with her first winner Choir Boy in the 1953 Royal Hunt Cup and Tactical her final triumph in the Windsor Castle three years ago. However, the Berkshire venue was also the place of one of her finest hours as an owner when Estimate lifted the 2013 Gold Cup.

To honour the late Queen’s patronage and with the blessing of the King, Ascot have decided to change the name of Saturday’s six-furlong feature once again.

Sir Francis Brooke Bt., the King’s Representative at Ascot, said: “The late Queen’s close association with Ascot Racecourse was well known throughout the world, but no race at the Royal Meeting previously carried the name of Queen Elizabeth II.

“His Majesty the King has approved the renaming of the Platinum Jubilee Stakes to The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. This will both honour Her Late Majesty in perpetuity and maintain the connection with the three Jubilees celebrated since the inception of the race as the Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2002.”

San Antonio stepping up for Dee Stakes assignment

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Aidan O’Brien has won seven of the last 10 runnings of the Boodles Dee Stakes and attempts to enhance his domination of the Chester contest with San Antonio on Thursday.

The master of Ballydoyle has landed this Listed event with a plethora of Classic contenders in the past and this time around it is the turn of his improving son of Dubawi to put himself in the big-race picture and provide O’Brien with his 10th victory in the contest overall – one short of Barry Hills.

Having shown glimpses of potential at two, he thrived for the step up to 10 furlongs when scoring readily at Dundalk in March and the Betfred Derby entrant will now take the next step up the ladder on what is certain to be testing ground.

“He’s in good form and won his maiden nicely in Dundalk,” said O’Brien.

“I don’t know if he’s run in that ground before, so we’re not sure about that, but he’s in good form.”

Despite O’Brien’s impeccable record, it may prove his son Donnacha has the best chance of upholding the family name when he saddles the highly-regarded Cork scorer Alder.

The Australia colt was third to Auguste Rodin in a Leopardstown Group Two last season and also holding an entry for the Derby this race could prove the biggest test of his Epsom credentials.

“He’s a very nice horse and we’ve always thought a lot of him. He was always going to make a better three-year-old than two-year-old,” said the younger O’Brien.

“It’s nice timing – it’s three weeks from his last run and then about three weeks to the Derby, so it has worked out well. Obviously we will learn a bit more about him as well. Chester is a lot different to Epsom, but it is another tight left-handed track so you will get some kind of idea.”

Local Dynasty hit the target in three of his four starts at two and finished his campaign by winning Pontefract’s Silver Tankard Stakes with 1000 Guineas fourth Caernarfon back in third.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has never won this race, but told www.godolphin.com: “Local Dynasty has done well over the winter and we know that he will handle the ground following his wins at Sandown and Pontefract.

“Stepping up in trip looks as though it should suit and this seems a decent starting point for his campaign.”

Andrew Balding’s Stormbuster was well held at Epsom on his return and although having some smart juvenile form, now has a point to prove, while Lose Your Wad (Charlie Hills) and Afterwards (Ollie Pears) both scored over a mile on the all-weather last time and are upped in both trip and class as they complete the line-up.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Passenger is a notable non-runner due to the ground.

Marquand back in action – and back in the winner’s enclosure

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Tom Marquand was back among the winners as William Haggas’ Amleto caught the eye with a comfortable success in the Deepbridge Syndicate Maiden Stakes at Chester.

The three-year-old is by Sea The Stars and out of the highly successful broodmare Holy Moon, a dam who also produced the late Sea Of Class – a Group One winner who finished second to Enable in the 2018 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Amleto did not win in two starts as a juvenile and was gelded earlier this year ahead of his seasonal debut on the Roodee.

Marquand was back in the saddle for only his second ride since a brief absence over the Guineas weekend, on the opening day of which he was kicked on the way to the start aboard Waipiro in the Newmarket Stakes.

Tom Marquand at Newmarket before an unfortunate incident put him on the sidelines
Tom Marquand at Newmarket before an unfortunate incident put him on the sidelines (David Davies/PA)

He escaped any broken bones, but was wounded enough to require both stitches and a few days to recover.

He and Amleto went off at 7-2 and battled through the testing ground to pull away around the final bend, eventually going on to cross the line three and a half lengths ahead of their nearest rival.

Marquand said: “This is why you rush yourself back, to ride horses that are exciting for the future.

“He’s a horse that’s learning and building on what he’s been doing. He’s certainly going the right way.”

On his arm he added: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t sore, but I’m sound enough to ride and it feels all right once I’m on the back of the horse, so that’s the main thing.”

Haggas upbeat on prospect of Ormonde defence from Hamish

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Hamish has the chance to dazzle at Chester once again when he defends his tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde Stakes crown.

William Haggas’ seven-year-old ran out a comfortable winner of the Group Three contest 12 months ago and will bid to enhance his record on his return to the Roodee.

Following his success last year, Hamish went on to get within a length of Kyprios in the Irish St Leger, before winning the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot and a narrow defeat at Newbury brought the curtain down on his campaign.

Conditions look ideal for the gelded son of Motivator ahead of his return and having been kept on the sidelines for plenty of the season due to the dry summer last term, connections are keen to make the most of the soft ground while they can.

Haggas said: “He’s very well. He carries a penalty but he’s well. He could have done with a better draw, but he’s ready to go and he enjoys a bit of cut in the ground – I believe it is going to be quite soft up there. He should enjoy that.

“He won OK last year and he was good throughout last year. He’s a pretty good horse who doesn’t run very often. Last year it was dry as a bone and his season was curtailed. But he’s ready to go now and we will try to take advantage of the ground while we have it.”

Changingoftheguard was an impressive winner of the Vase at this meeting last year before finishing a respectable fifth to Desert Crown in the Derby.

Changingoftheguard ridden by Ryan Moore on their way to winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot
Changingoftheguard ridden by Ryan Moore on their way to winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot (Adam Davy/PA)

He was last seen scoring at Royal Ascot and reappears after 328 days off the track, bidding to give Aidan O’Brien his sixth victory in the race.

“He was very impressive when beating New London in testing ground in the Chester Vase here last season and followed up with a good fifth in the Derby and then with his King Edward VII win,” the colt’s jockey Ryan Moore told Betfair.

“We never saw him after Royal Ascot as he picked up an injury but we are obviously very happy with him now, or else we wouldn’t be here, and hopefully he can get a Group One on his CV this season. It’s a deep and tough race for a Group Three, but this is a good starting point for him.”

O’Brien said: “It’s a long time since he ran, but he got a mile and a half well last year and we’ve been happy with his work.

“Obviously he’ll come forward from the run, but we’ve been happy with everything he’s been doing.”

Max Vega got the better of Hamish when the pair met in the St Simon Stakes in October and also finished ahead of stablemate Lone Eagle when third and fifth respectively in the John Porter on reappearance. They give Ralph Beckett a solid hand.

Old Harrovian represents Andrew Balding and is upped in class following back-to-back triumphs in novice events, while Enemy enjoyed a fine winter overseas, winning a Meydan handicap and going close in the valuable Red Sea Turf in Saudi Arabia before finishing down the field on Dubai World Cup night most recently.

With John and Thady Gosden’s Israr a significant non-runner, the field is complete by Andrew Slattery’s Irish raider Sunchart.

Arrest and Dettori capture stylish Chester Vase victory

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Frankie Dettori can “dream a little bit” after making his final ride at Chester’s May Festival a winning one as Arrest became the new favourite for the Betfred Derby with a clear-cut success in the Boodles Chester Vase.

Six years ago the Italian guided Enable to Cheshire Oaks victory on this card en route to Epsom, and the Surrey Downs looks the next port of call for John and Thady Gosden’s son of Frankel – although there is likely to be a ground caveat to his participation.

A promising performer at two, Arrest finished his juvenile campaign by finishing second to Dubai Mile in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October and was sent off the 10-11 favourite for his return in this Roodee Group Three.

The Juddmonte-owned colt travelled keenly in the early stages, with Dettori eager not to stride too far forward and eyeball race-leader Hadrianus. But the 52-year-old could not disappoint his mount any longer as the three-furlong pole approached and when letting his mount stride on, the response was immediate.

Arrest soon cut a lone figure rounding the home bend as Ryan Moore aboard second-favourite Adelaide River and Franny Norton gave chase in vain – Dettori even having time to angle his mount towards the near-side rail in search of better ground as horse and jockey sauntered home to a six-and-a-half-length success.

Dettori could now have the ideal mount to go in search of a third victory in the premier Classic on June 3 and following Arrest’s Chester success, both Paddy Power and Betfair made him their 4-1 favourite from 10s, while Coral are 6-1.

Gosden senior said: “He handled conditions well and the trainer had him fitter than he thought he did.

“Frankie was anxious to stay on the fresh ground, so you’ll notice he stayed a bit wide and in the straight he nearly took out the grandstand!

“He’s a delightful colt, he’s gone and won well over the trip. It was the full mile and a half today and we’ll leave all options open for Epsom.

“I think he enjoyed the ground and if Epsom was fast I don’t think he’d enjoy that sort of surface. That’s what the jockey felt, but there’s no reason why he won’t be in the Derby at this stage.

“He’s different to a Golden Horn and others I have had. He’s done nothing but mature and improve.

“I was impressed with the horse that beat him at Saint-Cloud (Dubai Mile), he ran the best Derby trial in the Guineas (finished fifth), so right now they’re two horses that deserve to be right up near the top of the betting (for the Derby).

“We put him in the Arc on Tuesday. He’s got the scope to train on at three, and four and five. Enable raced until she was six.”

He added: “Frankie is in great form, he’s enjoying his racing and enjoying his last year in Europe and I think he’ll dabble in America again as well.

“He’s won a 2000 Guineas and a Chester Vase, he’s won an Italian Guineas and he won the Dubai Turf for us, which probably helped the piggy bank.”

A familiar flying dismount
A familiar flying dismount (David Davies/PA)

Dettori said: “He won very easily, it’s very hard to judge horses on this ground and to know the quality of the field but he can only win by a good margin.

“He’s a good size, he’s going places. We know he stays well and doesn’t mind the ground. What I beat, I don’t know.

“We liked him as a two-year-old, but he was very weak. He’s strengthened up and we knew the ground was no problem and the distance was no problem.

“The race fell apart three out, but he couldn’t have won any easier.

“I spoke to John and the Juddmonte team and he’s not a horse you would want to run on good to firm ground around Epsom, but last year we had a soft ground Derby so you don’t know.

“He’s got alternatives and if I had to be suspicious, because he’s so big he might find it (fast ground at Epsom) a bit of a challenge.

“Who knows what the weather is going to be like? The pluses are he’s a stronger horse who stays really well, this is a good trial and he doesn’t lack pace, so he ticks a lot of the boxes.

“For my last ride at Chester to win is great and at least I can dream a little bit of a Derby ride.”

All smiles for Frankie Dettori
All smiles for Frankie Dettori (David Davies/PA)

Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon said: “We’re over the moon, that was great. It (this race) was sort of Plan C, but at least it’s worked out and he’s won and won in good style, that’s the main thing.

“It’s early days, we’ll wait and see how he comes out of this and see what the ground is like.

“We’ll see what way the Derby develops in the next couple of weeks. There’s a good trial in York next week (Dante Stakes), so we’ll see what happens there.

“We’re in a nice position in that he’s in everywhere, he’s won his trial and he’s fit so we can pick and choose where we want to go.

“It was great to see Frankie win the Guineas for us (with Chaldean) and if we could give him his last ride in the Derby we’d be very, very happy.”

Aidan O’Brien, meanwhile, will come back in trip with Adelaide River.

“We’ll probably drop him back in trip. We weren’t sure about the trip for him, we thought maybe a mile and a quarter was his trip but we wanted to give him a chance and see what would happen,” said the Ballydoyle trainer.

“Obviously we’ll drop him back in trip now.”

Savethelastdance steps out for scintillating Cheshire Oaks success

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Savethelastdance waltzed her way to clear Betfred Oaks favouritism with an emphatic display in the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks.

Ridden patiently at the rear of the cluster by Ryan Moore as Pam Sly’s Wintercrack led the field along, the daughter of Galileo still had plenty of work to do as Charlie Johnston’s Sirona went to tackle the front-running Wintercrack with just over three furlongs to run.

As Sirona moved to the head of the pack, Moore was making significant headway aboard the 8-11 favourite and when the Ballydoyle number one pressed the button on drawing alongside Sirona she soon left the opposition trailing in her wake to register a bloodless 22-length success in rain-softened ground.

It was Aidan O’Brien’s eighth success in the Listed event to become the most successful trainer in the Roodee feature, one ahead of Barry Hills whom he was previously locked on seven with.

Savethelastdance, meanwhile, is out of Daddys Lil Darling who famously bolted to post and was withdrawn from Enable’s Oaks in 2017, but it is hoped her daughter will fare better on the Surrey Downs with Betfair going 2-1 from 5-1 for the Epsom Classic on June 2, while Paddy Power go even shorter and make her the 13-8 favourite.

Riding his sixth winner of the race, Moore said: “I was very impressed, you can only be impressed by what she’s done there. 

“They kind of all gave up with half a mile to go and she was just getting going, but she gave me a very good feel – she’s probably given me as good a feel in this race as the ones I’ve ridden (in it before). 

“She stepped a little slow, but they went very hard early on and she just relaxed and followed them round.

“I thought I’d just make sure she knew what she had to do and she stretched all the way to the line and ran right through the line.”

O’Brien watched on from his Ballydoyle base – and was pleased with what he saw.

“We were delighted with her,” he said. “Obviously we were delighted with her in her maiden and we’ve been delighted with her since.

“Obviously it’s unusual for them to win that far, but she’s a very well-bred filly.

“She handled the ground well. I think it was soft enough the first day she won as well.

“I think she will (handle quicker ground). She’s a good moving filly, a big rangy filly and I think Ryan was very happy with her as well.

“That (Epsom) is the plan.”