Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)

THE first Group 1 on Ascot’s card was the Sprint, which was hugely competitive, which is unsurprising given how open the division looks.

It went to a progressive three-year-old in Jersey Stakes winner Creative Force (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who defeated 2020 winner Glen Shiel (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle) by a length having travelled strongly throughout.

Eye catcher

Minzaal (Owen Burrows/Jim Crowley) was the same distance away in third after missing the break, and was the undoubted eye-catcher on just his second start of an injury-afflicted season. The winner returned a well-backed 11/2 shot.

Glen Shiel was seemingly revived by the fitting of blinkers, making most and keeping on well when headed, but he lacked the finishing power of the winner, who appeared to produce a career best to better a couple of disappointing efforts in the July Cup and the Sprint Cup at Haydock. He copes well with soft ground and stays further, so the emphasis Saturday’s rain placed on stamina was very much in his favour.

Minzaal’s prospects

Minzaal looked a top prospect when winning the Gimcrack last year, and only returned at Newbury last month over an inadequate five furlongs. He ought to progress again with an uninterrupted campaign next year.

Art Power is also worth noting, as he was done no favours by the draw in stall 20.

William Buick praised the winner, who had been showing the right signs at home, saying: “He’s a real superstar and we thought he’d have a chance in the July Cup and Sprint Cup, but he’s shown today that he can do it.”

Eshaada out of the shadows

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)

ON paper, the Fillies & Mares Stakes revolved around dual Oaks winner Snowfall (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore), but she was again below her best having been unplaced in a gruelling Arc just a fortnight before, and that opened the door up for her rivals.

This proved the day when Ribblesdale runner-up Eshaada (Roger Varian/Jim Crowley came of age), with the 16/1 outsider showing much improved form to deny the strong late run of Albaflora (Ralph Beckett/David Egan) by a short head, with Snowfall beaten three and a half lengths.

Eshaada was well behind the pair she beat in the Yorkshire Oaks on her previous start, but that was only her fourth career start, and she proved that she hadn’t done herself justice at York, and she looks the type of filly to blossom with another winter behind her.

This isn’t absolutely top-notch form, but the front two have run their best races over this course and distance and clearly relished the test, unlike Snowfall, who showed signs of a hard season, and deserves to be remembered as the clear pick of this bunch.

It’s not clear whether Eshaada will be kept in training next year. Varian said: “Eshaada’s only poor performance was at York and the Ribblesdale form worked out very well. She loves cut in the ground, she’s got track form and has always looked a class filly. We’d love to have her around next year. She’s a great big, scopey filly, she’s lightly raced, and you’d like to think her best days are ahead of her.”