THE Group 3 Prestige Stakes has thrown up some smart winners, with five fillies taking the race before going on to classic victory in Ireland or England the following year since Fairy Footsteps was successful in 1980, the most recent being 66/1 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook.

This year’s running saw the first four separated by less than two lengths, and it’s hard to imagine it contained any stars, but credit must go to Boomer (Tom Dascombe/Richard Kingscote) who proved determined in holding off Sweet Solera third Dark Lady (Richard Hannon/Pat Dobbs) by a neck, with Newbury listed winner Shadn (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) third.