Game Frankuus makes all for Fanning

IT turned into a very sad weekend for Mark Johnston with the loss of stable star Permian in Arlington, though there was some small compensation for the Yorkshire-based trainer as Frankel’s son Frankuus ran out a narrow winner of the Group 3 Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

The grey set out to make all and was given a well-judged ride by Joe Fanning. Riding a finish from at least two furlongs out, he went clear on the 8/1 winner but there was only three-parts of a length to spare as Mount Logan kept on gamely. Frankuus probably needs ground at least as soft as this to shine in better company.

Sea Of Grace much too good

WILLIAM Haggas won the one-mile Listed Betfred Dick Hern Stakes with 8/11 chance Sea Of Grace, who had previously finished second in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) and fourth in the Falmouth Stakes.

Confidently ridden by Andrea Atzeni, she coasted along at the back and was only asked to assert inside the final furlong, yet still went four lengths ahead of Lincoln Rocks at the line.

Tajannus tough at Newmarket

A TOP job for Dane O’Neill was long overdue and he is making the most of his role as number two to Jim Crowley in the Sheikh Hamdan set-up.

His latest prestigious success came on Richard Hannon’s Tajannus, a daughter of Arcano, in the Group 3 german-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. Starting at 10/1 on her step-up from listed company, she raced on the favoured stands’ side and would not let anything come past, finally holding outsider Juliet Capulet by a length.

“She’s won three out of four and is a lovely, tough filly”, Hannon remarked. “We’ll probably look at races like the Rockfel and the Fillies’ Mile now.”

Powell on top in driving finish

BRITISH racing is not short of talented female riders, with Megan Nicholls and Serena Brotherton well to the fore. The market suggested they would dominate the Betfred Pro-Am and they did indeed finish second and third. However, the talented Jenny Powell was seen to great advantage on Tom Dascombe’s 12/1 chance Azari, just holding Nicholls by the minimum margin in a tremendous finish.

Harry shows Speed to win at Ayr

WHEN Irish raiders come to Ayr it would be foolish indeed to ignore market moves. Garvan Donnelly’s Harry Speed had cut little ice at Tipperary in the week but a morning gamble forced him down to 3/1 favourite in the William Hill Handicap on Monday and he made all for young Lewis Edmunds, passing the post nearly two lengths ahead of Jack Blane.

It was the Co Dublin trainer’s first winner at the track and Edmunds was moving on to a career 52nd.

The 3lb-allowance will not last long.