THE Group 3 Aston Park Stakes, run as the Al Rayyan Stakes, was won in sparkling style by the William Haggas-trained Al Aasy under Jim Crowley.

The son of Sea The Stars looked one to follow when easily winning the John Porter Stakes on his return over course and distance, but those behind that day have done little for the form subsequently.

So it was that the 10/11 favourite had to prove that effort to be more than a flash in the pan, and that he did with an even more impressive win, his rider able to produce him hard held to tackle Thunderous (Mark Johnston/Ryan Moore) and Logician (John & Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori).

The pair ambled clear to register a four-length win over the former, with the former St Leger winner a length and a half further behind.

The winner is clearly a much-improved performer, but the style of his victory came as no surprise to his trainer, who considers him head and shoulders above his stablemates on home work.

He’s clearly well suited by softish ground, whereas his rivals seemed to struggle to varying degrees in the conditions. As such, it’s hard to say if this performance is quite as good as it looks, but the proof of the pudding will come in the Coronation Cup at Epsom next month, and he’s understandably a short-priced favourite for that, which would be his first try in Group 1 company.

“He settled well, and I can’t really say anything else because he looks like that at home. He’s done well this year and we’ll find out (how good he is) in the Coronation Cup, which is where he’ll run next.

“He’s in everything and we’ve put him in the Arc, but that’s a long way to go. If he’s going to run in the Arc, he’ll need a break and I wasn’t planning to run him after the John Porter until Epsom, but he was too well.”

Rest of the card

AS well as the group races, Newbury staged a couple of listed events, with Creative Force (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle) winning the Carnarvon Stakes by three lengths on his first attempt on easy ground.

The gelded son of Dubawi is not eligible for the Commonwealth Cup, so connections will have to decide whether to step him up to seven furlongs for the Jersey Stakes, or stick to sprinting. He could clash again with beaten favourite Tactical in the Jersey, that horse seeing unsuited by the return to six furlongs after winning the Free Handicap over a furlong further on his reappearance.

The Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial was won by the reappearing Eshaada (Roger Varian/Jim Crowley), who battled on willingly to win a slightly messy race, with the first seven home separated by just three and a half lengths.

It’s impossible to put a high value on the form, but the winner is a likeable sort who was making her reappearance, so is open to a fair degree of improvement.