Newmarket Saturday

IN normal circumstances, bagging a prestigious Group 3 with a 66/1 outsider would be cause for wild celebrations, but the joy afforded to connections of Sweet Solera Stakes winner Star Of Emaraaty (Kevin Ryan/Kevin Stott) was muted by the realisation that race favourite Fly Miss Helen had suffered an untreatable injury during the race. Her demise understandably puts the race in perspective and condolence go to connections of the filly who looked such a smart prospect when winning on debut at Newbury.

Battled

Dubai Fountain (Mark Johnston/Silvestre de Sousa) and Setarhe, second and third in last month’s Star Stakes at Sandown, battled for the lead until Seattle Rock (Sylvester Kirk/David Probert) moved past the latter at the furlong pole.

However, as that filly again showed a tendency to hang in on her main rival, Kevin Stott was conjuring a strong wide run from Star Of Emaraaty which carried her past her rivals and to a one and a quarter-length victory, with Dubai Fountain holding Seattle Rock by a neck for second.

The winner was only fourth in the Star Stakes behind Fev Rover and appeared to face a stiff task taking on the pair who finished immediately in front of her, but Kevin Ryan felt that she was unbalanced on the track at Sandown, and having lost her place slightly coming into the dip here, she was very strong once hitting the rising ground.

Fluke

Her success over an 80/1 runner-up will be viewed by many as a fluke, and the form is not strong for the grade, but she was well suited by the firmest ground she had ever raced on, and won despite not looking suited by the track. It would be dangerous to underestimate her, and her trainer believes she her laid-back nature will enable her to continue to progress.

Haydock Saturday

LAST year’s Falmouth Stakes winner Veracious (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore) was able to race with no penalty on her reappearance in the Listed BetVictor British EBF Dick Hern Stakes contest.

Although short of her peak, the 11/10 market leader looked a grade above her rivals in holding off Posted (Richard Hannon/Hollie Doyle) and Farzeen (Roger Varian/Frankie Dettori) by three-quarters of a length and one and three-quarter lengths.

The daughter of Frankel travelled well tracking the pace set by Farzeen before being asked to win her race at the furlong pole. The response was immediate if not overwhelming, and she was driven out to withhold the late challenge of Posted while giving the impression there was more in the locker.

This was a first run for Veracious after minor wind surgery, so she should improve markedly, and will be heading back to Group 1 company for her next assignment, as explained by Cheveley Park Stud’s Chris Richardson after the race: “It’s great to see her back. She’d wintered well and is a much stronger filly this year. She travelled through the race well and will come on a ton for the run.

“We haven’t discussed plans with Sir Michael yet. She has an entry in the Matron Stakes and the Sun Chariot is another potential target, so we’ll just see how everything unravels.”

Doyle’s timing

Hollie Doyle was recently handed the job of retained rider for Derby-winning owner Imad Alsagar, and she has made the perfect start, scoring with a beautifully timed effort on newcomer Faisal for John Gosden at Lingfield.

Then she got a taste of blacktype success at Haydock with a well-judged front-running ride on Extra Elusive for Roger Charlton in the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes, where she was reversing Newbury form with Global Giant (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori) to the tune of four lengths, recording a decisive win at an SP of 11/2.

In the Steventon Stakes, Global Giant beat Extra Elusive a length after getting first run, but Doyle was alert to the possibility of a false pace, and while her mount didn’t settle fully under Jason Watson at Newbury, Doyle made a move to take over from early leader Certain Lad (Mick Channon/Ben Curtis) when it was clear the pace was going to be slow, and quickening early in the straight proved a race winning move.

Certain Lad remained her closest challenger to the line, going down by two and a quarter lengths, with Global Giant running on for third but unsuited by the way the race was run.

Roger Charlton was not surprised to see his five-year-old reversing Newbury form: “I didn’t see any reason why Extra Elusive couldn’t turn around a length with the favourite as he pulled for three furlongs at Newbury. Hollie has given him a great ride.

“He needed to win another race as he’s been placed too many times. There isn’t anything obvious next and he wouldn’t necessarily be the best horse to travel abroad with.”