IF any filly in the Albany Stakes on Friday seemed likely to be in a different league to her rivals it was the Jessica Harrington-trained Alpha Centauri, who was so impressive in her two wins going into Royal Ascot. But, in the end, she was just denied by the French-trained Different League, with a 108 timefigure which was briefly the best by a two-year-old filly in Britain and Ireland this season.

It was a fair contest judged by sectionals, but Alpha Centauri still looks one for the future, at seven furlongs and eventually at a mile. She certainly went down fighting and would probably have prevailed with a little further to travel.