Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

‘Incredible character’ Geoff Lewis dies aged 89

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Harry Herbert hailed leading jockey-turned-trainer Geoff Lewis as “one of racing’s great characters” following his death at the age of 89.

Lewis was best known for his association with the great Mill Reef during his days in the saddle, a horse he rode to victory in both the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1971.

Following the end of his riding career in 1979, he began training from Thirty Acre Barn in Epsom, the racing town where he had served as an apprentice to Ron Smyth as a teenager.

From a relatively small stable he enjoyed great success with horses such as the top sprinter Lake Coniston, who he trained for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the early days of their enterprise.

Lake Coniston’s triumphs included the July Cup, the Duke of York, the Abernant, the Diadem and the Hackwood Stakes, and Lewis’ contribution to the early prosperity of Highclere was significant.

“It is incredibly sad news, Geoff really got us going at Highclere,” said Harry Herbert, founder and chairman of the syndicate.

“He trained our first champion, Lake Coniston, to win the July Cup in 1995 and he was such an incredible character.

“Anyone who had horses with us and Geoff in those early days will never forget the stable visits, his daughter Mary would cook our members the most delicious lunches and Geoff and his wife Noelene were like a double act.

“They were wonderful; warm, welcoming and great entertainers.

“We were fortunate enough to have some really good horses with Geoff, not just Lake Coniston but Referendum too, who was second in the National Stakes in Ireland.

“He was very generous in his efforts to get Highclere started, he called on friends of his and other owners and we probably ended up having seven or eight horses with him because he was so supportive.

“It was a sad day when he gave up training. We have wonderful memories of a marvellous man, a hugely talented jockey, a hugely talented trainer and one of racing’s great characters. We will miss him.”

Mill Reef also provided Lewis with victories in the Dewhurst and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with the rider claiming plenty of other notable prizes including the Stewards’ Cup aboard Tudor Monarch for Sir Winston Churchill in 1959, the Ascot Stakes and the Doncaster Cup aboard Queen Elizabeth II’s Magna Carta in 1970 and 2000 Guineas on Right Tack in 1969.

Simon Dow now trains at the stable where Lewis served his apprenticeship, and described him as a huge part of the racing community in Epsom.

“He was an Epsom legend, an icon, of course he won the Derby on the great Mill Reef,” he said.

“He was a force to be reckoned with, both as a jockey and as a trainer. For 20 years as a trainer he was extremely successful from Thirty Acre Barn.

“It is very unusual for good Flat jockeys to go on to be top Flat trainers but he was one of the few who made the transition.

“He was part of the fabric of Epsom. People of my age and generation have fantastic memories of him, he was a great character who was also extremely supportive and a friend to everyone in Epsom.”

Daniel and Claire Kubler to make Bahrain training move

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Daniel and Claire Kübler have announced their intention to relocate to Bahrain later this year.

The Lambourn-based husband-and-wife training partnership have saddled over 130 winners from their Lambourn base, but are preparing to “scale back” operations in Britain having been presented with a “remarkable opportunity” to move to the Middle East.

A statement released by Kübler Racing read: “After five successful seasons training under a joint licence from our stables at Sarsen Farm in Lambourn, we have been given a remarkable opportunity to train for His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and other members of the royal family in Bahrain, and assist in developing a new training facility.

“The move follows an approach we received from His Highness Shaikh Isa, on behalf of the Royal Stables, who outlined his vision and ambition for racing in Bahrain. It provides the
chance to work with an exciting and expanding group of horses, together with an ambitious team of people, contributing to the growth of a racing jurisdiction that is rapidly establishing itself on the global stage.

“We expect to begin training in Bahrain from October 2025, coinciding with the start of the 2025/26 season. In the meantime, our UK operation will scale back with the horses currently in training continuing to be campaigned with the same usual care and attention, ensuring every owner and horse is fully supported during this transition.”

The Küblers added the decision was “by no means easy”, adding: “We owe thanks to so many owners. Particular thanks to Gary and Lesley Middlebrook, whose commitment and belief in our approach has provided the platform on which Kübler Racing has been built.

“Their support has been instrumental in developing Sarsen Farm and enabling the yard to reach a level of success that makes this next step possible.

“We would also like to acknowledge the fantastic team of people who have worked together with us, both now and over the years. Their dedication, skill, and care for the horses have been at the heart of everything we have achieved, and none of this would have been possible without their contribution.

“We remain deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us in the UK and look forward to building on those achievements as we embark on this exciting new adventure.”

George Scott believes Victorious Forever venture is an ‘exciting step’

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George Scott has spoken of his excitement following the merger of KHK Racing and Victorious Racing to form Victorious Forever.

Scott has trained horses for both operations, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamed Al Khalifa’s Victorious Racing, for whom he saddled a Royal Ascot winner in Isle Of Jura, and his brother Shaikh Khalid’s KHK Racing.

Now the pair have joined forces in the hope it will take them to the next level in terms of competing for the sport’s major prizes.

“It seems a very logical decision. The two brothers are hugely passionate about British racing and their ambitions have been aligned since day one, it’s a very exciting step they’ve come together as one,” said Scott.

“There’s no doubt that their combined support has allowed my career to elevate.

“Shaikh Khalid has had Group One success with Vandeek and won a Classic with Eldar Eldarov, while Shaikh Nasser has had great success with the likes of Bradsell and Isle Of Jura.

“I think their ambition is to become a sustainable force in British racing where they may one day be comparable to the Shadwells, Coolmores and Juddmontes of this world, but that will take a bit of time.

“Financially it makes sense to come together, but more importantly their views are bonded as brothers and they felt they would get more enjoyment and satisfaction out of doing it together.

“Both KHK and Victorious have their own teams but they’ve always been very close so there won’t be a huge amount of change, it’s a very simple merger.

“Both operations add tremendous value to each each other. Shaikh Khalid has Staya with me and Zanthos with the Crisfords and we’ve got a bunch of unraced two-year-olds for Shaikh Nasser that we love.

“It’s something they’ve had in their minds for some time now and it’s just putting it into practice for them.”

Billy Jackson-Stops was racing manager for Victorious Racing and will continue to be a key part of the new operation. He said: “It’s very exciting, both organisations have had great success already but we are combining two great forces.

“His Highness Shaikh Nasser has had a lot of success buying yearlings while KHK have tended to do it with breeze-up horses, so by combining resources we’ll be on top of both sets of sales.

“Chris Wall (KHK’s racing manager) is the nicest man in racing and has a wealth of experience so I can’t wait to work with him.”

Geoff Lewis, rider of Mill Reef, dies aged 89

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Geoff Lewis, rider of the great Mill Reef and later a key figure on the Epsom training scene, has died at the age of 89.

The Welshman was aboard the Ian Balding-trained colt when he won the both the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1971, an association that was the highlight of a hugely successful career in the saddle.

Mill Reef also provided victories in the Dewhurst and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with Lewis claiming plenty of other notable prizes including the Stewards’ Cup aboard Tudor Monarch for Sir Winston Churchill in 1959, the Ascot Stakes and the Doncaster Cup aboard Queen Elizabeth II’s Magna Carta in 1970 and 2000 Guineas on Right Tack in 1969.

Lewis went on to train in Epsom after retiring from the saddle in 1979, with the stable’s Silver Wisp finishing third in the 1992 Derby and Lake Coniston flying the flag for the yard when winning the Duke of York Stakes and July Cup in 1995.

Lewis setting up his stable in Epsom was a return to where his career had started as an apprentice for Ron Smyth, whose yard is now the base of trainer Simon Dow .

“Ron was Geoff’s mentor from when he was a 15-year-old boy, so there is a strong connection between all of us,” said Dow.

“He had been in a local care home and had been unwell for some time, sadly he died yesterday.

“He was an Epsom legend, an icon, of course he won the Derby on the great Mill Reef.

“He was a force to be reckoned with, both as a jockey and as a trainer. For 20 years as a trainer he was extremely successful from Thirty Acre Barn.

“It is very unusual for good Flat jockeys to go on to be top Flat trainers but he was one of the few who made the transition.

“He was part of the fabric of Epsom. People of my age and generation have fantastic memories of him, he was a great character who was also extremely supportive and a friend to everyone in Epsom.”

Jeremy Scott hails ‘absolute star’ Dashel Drasher

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Jeremy Scott has called time on the career of his popular 12-year-old Dashel Drasher.

A Grade One winner over fences, he finished second in the 2023 Stayers’ Hurdle only to be demoted to third on objection. Connections appealed the decision and he was reinstated as the runner-up.

“He’s been an absolute star for us, we’ve had some wonderful days out with him and his owners. He’s always been a pleasure to deal with and fortunately he’s retiring 100 per cent sound,” said Scott.

“Hopefully he can go on and have a good life doing something else. It was a tough decision for the owners because he just loves the routine and the whole thing about training as much as racing.

“Realistically he was finding life harder and harder so while it’s sad, I think it’s the right time.

“I think he raced better than his genetic ability because he had this willingness to keep racing and keep battling.

“He was bred by my wife, we’d known him since he was a baby and we knew all his quirks and foibles, he’s been a credit to the mare. None of the siblings have quite lived up to him unfortunately but we’ve still some in the pipeline, so hopefully one will turn out as good as him.”

Looking back on his career, Scott nominated a handicap victory at Ascot as his career-best display, rather than his Grade One win at the same track.

“I think it was an amazing run when he was second at Cheltenham in the Stayers’ but when he won a handicap before his Grade One, I thought that was some performance,” said Scott.

“That two-mile-five trip at Ascot was ideal for him, it suited him down to the ground. It always looked like he was going to get caught but he’d pull out a bit more.

“He gave an awful lot of people a lot of enjoyment. It was very nice when you’d be at the races and people came up to us to say they’d come all the way from Cornwall just to see him, he captured the hearts of quite a lot of people.”

Dashel Drasher won 12 of his 37 races and over £450,000 in prize money.

Bow Echo arrowing towards Haydock next

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George Boughey is struggling to contain his excitement for Bow Echo, with Haydock’s Betfair-sponsored Ascendant Stakes on Saturday week pencilled in for the impressive Newbury winner.

The son of Night Of Thunder created a deep impression with a dazzling display in the hands of Billy Loughnane on debut, with the Newmarket handler now seeing the one-mile Listed event as the perfect next step in the career of the budding star.

“The likelihood is he will probably go to the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock, he started over a mile and I think that is probably where he will be staying,” said Boughey.

“He was very impressive on debut and a very natural animal who hadn’t done a huge amount of work beforehand and was mainly there to have a nice experience, but he looked pretty good.

“He’s hard not to get excited about as he’s a very natural horse with a great pedigree and to see him go and do that on debut was great to see.”

The Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned Bow Echo holds an entry for Doncaster’s Betfred Champagne Stakes on September 13, but stablemate Protection Act – who is also one from one after a taking victory at Haydock – appears more likely to head to Town Moor on St Leger day.

“There’s no harm leaving Bow Echo in the Champagne with weather changing and then see how we go, but Protection Act looks like going to Doncaster and he was equally exciting on debut, albeit in a slightly different manner,” added Boughey.

“The race has worked out pretty well and he was a decisive winner at the line having missed the kick.

“He is a horse who was very weak at the time of his debut and is still developing. It’s all a learning curve for him at the minute, as like Bow Echo he is going to be a better three-year-old and is still very raw.

“But if he relaxes like he did on debut then I think Doncaster will suit him well.

“It can often be a small field which is always a bit of a shame and I just hope we get a properly-run race. If we can get Protection Act there in the same form he went into his debut, then he should be competitive.”

Boughey is entitled to have high hopes for the smart team of youngsters assembled at his Craven House base which includes the classy Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken.

However, one who will remain in calmer waters for the immediate future is taking Windsor winner Hilitany who will be kept to novice company for his next start despite holding entries for both the Mill Reef and Middle Park Stakes next month.

“He’s a nice colt who is well-entered up,” continued Boughey.

“He’s probably going to stick to the novice route for now and we’ll see, he’s still weak.

“I was happy with him going into his novice win, but he’s a horse who is going to keep improving into the winter and into next year and we’ll take him step by step. He’ll definitely go to another novice before he steps up in grade.”

Racing Bulletin for 27/08/2025

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Paris or Ascot assignments will come into view for Estrange

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Estrange will set her sights on one of two big autumn Group One prizes after her second-placed run in the Yorkshire Oaks last week.

The four-year-old began her season with a Group Three win at Listed level at Haydock, after which she returned to the same track to take the Group Two Lancashire Oaks.

She continued to progress up the levels on the Knavesmire, facing a stiff task carrying a penalty for her age and facing dual Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk on ground quicker than ideal.

Estrange after finishing second in the Yorkshire Oaks
Estrange after finishing second in the Yorkshire Oaks (Ashley Iveson/PA)

While the latter was ultimately a convincing winner, Estrange was a long way from being disgraced when beaten three and a half lengths for trainer David O’Meara under Danny Tudhope.

“She did very well, we thought she ran a blinder,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.

“We were in two minds as to whether or not to run because of the ground, but it was only a four-runner race and a Group One at a premier track.

“We wanted to run if we could, I think the public wanted to see her and the racecourse wanted her to run.

“The ground wasn’t ideal, I’d have loved that shower of rain that I imagined was going to happen, but she ran very well and it’s no disgrace to be beaten giving 9lb to a dual Classic winner and probably the best three-year-old filly around.”

Both the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are under consideration for the grey’s next outing, as is the prospect of her delaying her broodmare career and returning to training next season.

Estrange after winning on the final day of the season at Doncaster last year
Estrange after winning on the final day of the season at Doncaster last year (Nick Robson/PA)

Richardson said: “We could go straight for the Arc now or we could go to Ascot, I don’t think she’ll have a run in between, it just depends on what happens with the ground. But it has got to rain at some point, so hopefully we can get some soft ground in autumn.

“She’s given us a great deal of pleasure already and we will see how things unravel during the rest of the year, Mrs Thompson hasn’t decided whether she will be retiring at the end of the season or possibly staying in training next year.

“They are a long time in the paddock when they go off to have babies, and she missed out on her two-year-old year so perhaps she could keep going in 2026.”

Zahrann ready to face ultimate test in Irish Champion

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Zahrann will face an acid test of his potential when stepping into elite company for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes next month.

Always held in the highest regard by trainer Johnny Murtagh, the son of Night Of Thunder quickly bounced back from a momentum-halting second to Ralph Beckett’s Amiloc in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot to stylishly claim the Royal Whip Stakes earlier this month

Having seen off the likes of Aidan O’Brien’s proven Group One performer Los Angeles at the Curragh when regaining the winning thread, connections are now eager to see how the lightly-raced colt fares when moving up to the top level for the first time at Leopardstown on September 13.

“At the moment Leopardstown is the plan and our thinking behind running in the Royal Whip was to see if he could earn a spot in the Irish Champion and we think he did,” said Pat Downes, general manager at the Aga Khan’s Irish studs.

“It’s obviously looking like being a strong race, as it always is, but we’re excited to let him take his chance and see what happens.

“We certainly feel there is more improvement to come, as you need with three-year-olds at this time of the year. He possibly still looked a bit raw the last day at the Curragh, but we were really happy with his win and we’re now looking forward to what he can do against top company.

“We’ll learn a lot about him in that race.”

Carmers all set for Doncaster as 15 remain in final Classic

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Paddy Twomey’s Carmers will turn his attention to the Betfred St Leger after his fine run to finish second in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

The Wootton Bassett colt arrived on the Knavesmire unbeaten in three runs, with a maiden and a Listed win followed by victory in the Queen’s Vase at the Royal meeting in June.

Stepping down to a mile and half for the first time in a field that included the dual Derby winner Lambourn with a penalty for his Ascot win, he did connections proud when beaten only a length, setting himself up nicely for a return to a longer trip in the Group One St Leger at Doncaster in mid September.

“We were very happy with him at York last week, finishing second in the Great Voltigeur on his first time dropping in trip to a mile and a half,” said Twomey.

“He travelled through the race well and hit the line strong, I thought it was a very good trial for the St Leger at Doncaster in a few weeks.

“On numbers it looked his best run to date, he’s a progressive horse and I think stepping back to a mile and six at Doncaster will really suit him.”

Carmers is one of 15 remaining in the hunt for Classic honours on Town Moor after the latest entry stage, with Aidan O’Brien responsible for over half of those to stand their ground.

Goodwood Cup hero and red-hot favourite Scandinavia heads Ballydoyle’s eight possibles, with dual Derby hero Lambourn also still in the mix along with Stay True after both finished behind Twomey’s Classic hope on the Knavesmire.

Surprisingly Minnie Hauk also remains in the Leger picture despite O’Brien’s suggestion she had alternative big-race alternatives, but stablemate Whirl is one of the more notable scratchings.

With Twomey and Joseph O’Brien’s Derby third Tennessee Stud making it 10 Irish challengers in total at this stage, it is left to Lazy Griff to lead a five-strong home defence made up from just four trainers.

Joining Middleham Park Racing’s dual Classic-placed contender among the potential runners is William Haggas’ Great Voltigeur third Arabian Force, Andrew Balding’s pair of Furthur and Melrose scorer Tarriance and Roger Varian’s Rahiebb.

American adventure on the cards for Diego Velazquez

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Diego Velazquez will make the final two starts of his career in America after his poignant Prix Jacques le Marois success in the famous Sangster silks.

Transferred into the ownership of Sam Sangster on behalf of a syndicate he heads in the days prior to the Deauville Group One, Aidan O’Brien’s son of Frankel produced a career best to deliver a nostalgic victory that harked back to the glory days of old at Ballydoyle.

Now the Diego Velazquez team have their sights set on further big-race glory, with first a trip to Keeneland for the Coolmore Turf Mile on October 4, a race that serves as a ‘win and you’re in’ for the colt’s main objective, the Breeders’ Cup Mile in early November.

Reflecting on France and looking ahead to the future, Sangster said: “It was an incredible day and I was filled by confidence by Aidan before the Marois and he ran as he said he would. Aidan said he would give everything on the track and he’s so tough and genuine.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes on and wins another one now before the season is out. We’ll absolutely take him to America now and he’s a horse who will really suit the Breeders’ Cup being at Del Mar.

“We wouldn’t be waiting for Del Mar so the obvious step would be Keeneland for the race there. He’s a horse that travels and it’s a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Breeders’ Cup Mile so it ticks a lot of boxes for his programme.”

Diego Velazquez’s Stateside adventure will bring the curtain down on his on-track career. He is set to join the National Stud for stallion duties in November and there is plenty of excitement building around the next stage of his journey.

Sam Sangster enjoyed a day to remember at Deauville
Sam Sangster enjoyed a day to remember at Deauville (Mike Egerton/PA)

“One chapter closes and the next one will start and hopefully this is a story of many chapters,” continued Sangster.

“Already talking to breeders from the UK and Ireland there has been a hugely positive response to the horse and he is going to qualify for some very nice mares.

“The guys who have bought into him are also very keen to support him with some proper mares, as will I myself.

“So the end of the racing career is just the icing on the cake for a project with the wheels already in motion to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the horse makes it as a stallion, and hopefully it all pays off.

“It was a dream day at Deauville and the world is his oyster now. He’s going to be a stallion to suit many people and as one door closes the next chapter will open at the National Stud in November.”

Lake Forest likely to head back to Australia

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Lake Forest is likely to gain another Australian stamp on his passport this autumn after his gallant second in the City of York Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained chestnut enjoyed a lucrative trip to Rosehill in November last year when winning the richly-endowed Golden Eagle ahead of Lazzat, who would later go on to win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Lake Forest’s own Royal Ascot appearance saw him finish fifth in the Queen Anne, after which he was sixth in the Criterion at York and second in the Lennox at Goodwood.

He stepped back up to Group One level on his return to the Knavesmire at the weekend and ran a fine race under Tom Marquand, coming home half a length behind Never So Brave.

Sean Graham, racing manager to co-owner Tony Bloom, said: “The thing about Lake Forest is that he loves being in a battle, he doesn’t want to see too much daylight and in the race at York earlier in the season (eventual winner) Quinault had everything strung out like the washing.

“The same thing happened in the Lennox but he still ran a blinder as he was the only horse to come from off the pace, that form has stacked up because Jonquil (fifth) went on to win the Celebration Mile.

“We know he wants seven and a half furlongs in a strongly-run race with plenty in it on quick ground, so there are a couple of races for him in Australia in October and November and that will be the long-term plan.

“There’s one in Sydney and then there’s one on the final day of the Melbourne Carnival, both are quite valuable.

“He’s proven he can travel, he’s proven he’s tough as teak and when the ground starts to soften there won’t be much for him here anyway.”

Haggas also trains Sky Majesty for the same owners, with Ian McAleavy co-owning both horses alongside Bloom, and she is another horse in rare form having won the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes at Naas on Sunday.

She was a winner at the same track at Listed level prior to that, and with her liking for some cut in the ground it is likely that Champions Day at Ascot will be a key target now.

The filly won the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte on heavy ground at Chantilly last term, and having truly hit her stride this year she could bid for a Group One title to add to that Group Two win.

“Tom Marquand said the ground was beautiful at Naas, with a good bit of cut in it,” said Graham.

“I think her main target for the end of the season will be the Champions Sprint on Champions Day at Ascot, hopefully the ground will come up soft then.

“We’ll wait to see how she is before making any decisions, but that would be what we’re thinking.”

Moulin option for The Lion In Winter revival mission

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The Lion In Winter could be set for a quick return to France for the Prix du Moulin on September 7.

Favourite during the off season for both the 2000 Guineas and Derby, so far his season has not gone to plan.

Beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Dante, he was also well held in the Derby before being narrowly touched off in the Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs.

He then proved disappointing again back up to a mile in the Prix Jacques le Marois when attempting to make all.

Despite that latest reversal, the son of Sea The Stars could now be set for further Group One action on the continent, with O’Brien confident a mile is his forte.

O’Brien said: “He’s good. We went in front on him and he didn’t like it.

“I’d say he’s probably a miler but he probably needs to take his time a little bit in his races.

“He could go back to France for the race over a mile, the Moulin, that could be him but we have others for it like Henri (Matisse) so it’s whether he runs with him or not, depending on what the lads want to do.”

Racing Bulletin for 26/08/2025

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Next stop the Curragh for Venetian Sun

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Venetian Sun is Curragh-bound after enhancing her already big reputation with a superb defeat of Gstaad in the Prix Morny at Deauville.

Trained by Karl Burke and owned by Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, the Starman filly is unbeaten in four starts having followed a Carlisle debut with an Albany Stakes triumph at Royal Ascot.

She then won the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket to further prove herself a top-class prospect, earning a shot at Group One level against the colts at Deauville as a result.

There she took the scalp of Aidan O’Brien’s Coventry winner Gstaad by a short neck, giving rider Clifford Lee a first Group One triumph and rewarding the courage of connections in aiming high.

They believe she will be better still over seven furlongs, and with that in mind the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on September 14 is next up, ahead of a winter break that will lead into her Classic season next year.

“Karl Burke has never disguised how much he thought of this filly, even before she ran and made her debut at Carlisle,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to Bloom.

“I actually travelled from London that day, three and a quarter hours on the train, because he was waxing lyrical about her work at home.

“She went and did it well enough without blowing us away with the performance, and when she went to Ascot you’d probably have struggled to fancy her based on that form.

“But her work between Carlisle and Ascot was just sensational, she was working with Lethal Levi and he couldn’t get away from her.

“Karl was working her with these five- and six-year-olds, proper Listed and Group sprinters, and they couldn’t get her off the bridle.

“The performance at Ascot was very, very good, the plan was then to give her a break and bring her back for the Lowther or an autumn campaign, but she only lost four kilos having travelled up to Ascot and back to Middleham on the box and then run in sweltering heat.

“Karl said the race hadn’t taken a thing out of her so that’s why we decided to go to Newmarket, and though on the day it didn’t look as though she won it that impressively, the second-placed horse of Ed Walker’s (Royal Fixation) has gone and won the Lowther since so the form stacks up.

“Our plan was just to go to the Moyglore because we think she’ll be better over seven furlongs, but Karl said the filly was in fantastic form at home and though it was a Group One over six furlongs against the colts, Ian and Tony are great sports people.

“We thought we’d have a crack and that she’d lose nothing in defeat if she was beaten by a very impressive winner.

“Like her other wins, the race wasn’t really run to suit but she wasn’t giving an inch and she still won.

“All being well we will go to the Moyglare for her next and probably final start of the year, then we’ll put her away and hopefully bring her back for the Guineas next year.”

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