PENDING events at Royal Ascot there may not be an obvious contender for top sprint honours but David Barron’s Pearl Secret ran out a narrow though decisive winner of the Group 2 betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

The best five-furlong form in Britain before they lined up belonged to Goldream, who won the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. However, he was stepping up a grade here and was quickly swallowed up after taking over from Take Cover with two furlongs to run. As he faded, Danzeno took over with Wind Fire keeping on and Jack Dexter making his move towards the stands’ side.

OUTSIDE

However, Pearl Secret, runner-up last year, and George Baker were also keeping on well towards the outside and, hitting the front 150 yards out, the six-year-old kept on to hold Jack Dexter by a neck with Wind Fire and Danzeno next. The form as it stands would not be good enough to win a King’s Stand at the royal meeting but Baker showed again that he can produce a horse with split-second timing.

He also avoided the trouble on the inside, with 2014 winner Hot Streak and Sprint Cup victor G Force among those to find trouble.

“On his day, when everything drops right, he has a high level of ability,’’ Baker said of the winner. “I won the race three years ago on Bated Breath, who was a spare ride, and it happened again here. There are a heap of meetings on Irish Guineas day and that gives the likes of me a chance. I appreciate it!”

Pearl Secret (10/1) is in the King’s Stand and the Diamond Jubilee but Barron warned that he would not want the ground any faster. Wind Fire gave Qatar Racing first and third and will no doubt renew rivalry with the winner, who was paying Longchamp conqueror Mecca’s Angel a considerable compliment. The latter, trained by Michael Dods, looks the best five-furlong performer seen out so far.

Mutarakez keeps Meehan run going

BRIAN Meehan’s horses are flying this time around and the 2/1 favourite Mutarakez landed some handsome wagers in the valuable Betfred Mobile Silver Bowl Stakes over a mile.

Paul Hanagan had to stay patient as Mutarakez hung left when driven up to challenge the 20/1 outsider Goring, who was enterprisingly ridden by Jimmy Quinn. He got there 75 yards out and scored by three-quarers of a length with Carry On Deryck only a neck away in third.

Meehan had been thinking in terms of the Britannia Handicap at the royal meeting but Mutarakez may be worth trying at Group 3 level.

HEADGEAR

There was a major surprise in the listed race over six furlongs, the former Cecil Frail, when James Tate’s 28/1 chance Blhadawa hit the front over a furlong out for Luke Morris and kept on to beat Interception by three-quarters of a length. Clearly surprised as well as delighted, Morris thought a Group 3 for fillies might be within reach.