ALTHOUGH more of a struggle than her short price suggested, Commissioning (117) won the Fillies’ Mile to confirm her position as second favourite for the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

As the field passed the two-furlong marker, Rob Havlin began to shake the reins at his filly as he looked to close on front-runner Novakai. However, with the gap not closing, Havlin was forced to add extra encouragement with the ProCush to ensure success.

The extra persuasion from the saddle saw the daughter of Kingman prevail by a widening length at the line as she posted 35.49secs for her concluding three-furlong sectional.

However, the margin of victory owed as much to Novakai (115) stopping as it did the winner finding more in the final 100 yards as a delve into the final furlong splits reveal.

Novakai covered the final furlong in 12.53secs, slowing from a previous furlong of 11.70 secs while the winner finished her race in 12.32secs after a preceding furlong of 11.61secs.

I have Ralph Beckett’s Lezoo (119) as my top-rated filly, although she looks destined to be a sprinter rather than stretching out to a mile for the 1000 Guineas. Meditate (117) was second to Lezoo in the Cheveley Park Stakes where the rating was achieved so Tahiyra (117+), who comprehensively beat Meditate in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, looks a worthy favourite heading into the winter.

The strongest time figure of the Friday card was hard earned by Al Nafir (110) who led home a Charlie Appleby one-two in the Old Rowley Cup.

Hard work

The son of Dubawi travelled strongly in midfield before being eased into contention by Pat Dobbs, although from the three-furlong marker it looked hard work, a view demonstrated by the closing sectional of 36.05secs which proved to be the slowest of the day.

Wild Crusade (109) deserves credit for sticking to his task after being ridden more prominently, while Haunted Dream (105) closed into third late in the race, although his sectional of 36.42secs portrays he was running down fading rivals in the process.

OF the two-year-old races which opened the Friday Newmarket card, I much prefer the numbers posted by Rumstar (110+) in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes as the overall time figure and closing sectionals were far superior.

After racing on the outside of the field, Johnathan Portman’s colt was at his strongest in the final 100 yards and won going away, completing a closing sectional of 33.31secs in the process. The son of Havana Grey has proved himself versatile trip-wise and is progressive.

It was pleasing from a time figure perspective to see Maylandsea (108) return to form and run close to the rating she achieved when second to Dramatised in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. Michael Bell’s filly is much more at home over the minimum trip.

Pace collapse

Midnight Mile (101) took advantage of a pace collapse in the Oh So Sharp Stakes after Red N Blue Candy stretched the field early, covering the opening four furlongs 1.22secs quicker then Challenge Stakes winner Pogo.

The margin between the two races turned around by 2.14secs by the time the respective winners crossed the line with Pogo (115+) covering the final three furlongs in 34.04secs compared to the 35.69secs taken by Richard Fahey’s No Nay Never filly.

Charlie Hills was keen to make the trip to the Breeders’ Cup if an invitation is forthcoming, citing sharpness at the gates and early speed as assets which would serve his six-year-old well at Keeneland. The fractions the son of Zebedee clocked on Friday support the trainer’s theory.

Of those who raced up with the strong pace in the Oh So Sharp Stakes, Small Oasis (100) fared best in the finish, stopping the clock at 36.21secs for her closing sectional. The daughter of Sioux Nation looks a stayer in the making and a return to soft ground would also help her cause. She has subsequently been sold out of Michael Grassick’s yard.

The card closed with an all-the-way win for Creative Flair (112). The daughter of Dubawi was competing on home soil for the first time since finishing second to proven Group 3 performer Lilac Road. A closing sectional of 35.24secs was enough to hold the late challenge of Via Sistina (112) who looked to be closing fast enough at the furlong pole to prevail, only for the winner to sense her presence and pull out extra as the line loomed.