Flashy Wings is likely to head to Newmarket next month after justifying
odds-on favouritism in the Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes at York.
The Group One Skybet Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 29 now
beckons for the Mick Channon-trained filly, who hardened as favourite for the
1000 Guineas following her fourth victory from as many starts.
Despite drifting in the market, the daughter of Zafonic (10-11) put up another
smart display and was not overly stretched to hold gallant runner-up La Chunga
by a length.
In the aftermath of this contest, comparisons inevitably flowed between the
successful filly and Channon's two previous winners of the race - the ill-fated
Bint Allayl and Queen's Logic, who was never able to fulfil her early promise
due to a succession of unfortunate setbacks.
Flashy Wings was following the precise path trod by both those fillies, having
won the Queen Mary Stakes at the Royal meeting en-route to victory here.
The trainer said: "We always thought she was special and we had to make the
decision whether to come here. But I don't like changing from what we've always
done with the fillies.
"I just felt because everyone thought she was the best, we had a gun to our
heads much sooner than you would normally want.
"Because of the penalty system we were giving weight to everything else. I
just think they ought to make this a Group One as well now.
"If we hadn't run here because we didn't want to shoulder a penalty then it
would have been a disaster for the race.
"So if they want to get the best then they should upgrade the race and then
we wouldn't have any of these issues with penalties.
"She'll stay a mile. She's crying out for a mile actually. It's just that I'm
greedy and I'm running her over six furlongs when she really wants further.
"She had a gun to her head from halfway but the fact she kept sticking on
over six furlongs tells you what sort of filly she is. She's a little bit
special.
"We've had some bad luck with the fillies that won this race before but
that's what it was - just bad luck.
"Bint Allayl's accident was a freak and Queen's Logic was never the same
after she got injured the day before the Guineas.
"I would have thought the Cheveley Park would be the plan now."
Tawqeet emerged as a lively outsider for the Ladbrokes St Leger with an
impressive victory in the Melrose Handicap.
John Dunlop's colt earned quotes ranging from 33-1 to 20-1 for the Doncaster
Classic, which could be his next target.
The son of Kingmambo sported a visor for the first time as his trainer
believed he had "been keeping a bit to himself" and the headgear clearly
worked as the 11-2 chance overcame a slow start to trounce his rivals.
He soon made up the leeway going well and after hitting the front two furlongs
out he came readily clear to beat Glistening by four lengths under Richard
Hills.
"We've found he misses the break and Richard really had to roust him along
for the first couple of furlongs to really get him going. He travelled pretty
well after that and coming up the straight he was always going to win," said
Dunlop.
"I've put him in the Leger and we'll see about going there. There might be
more stupid things to do because it might be a very open race. He gets the trip
well so we'll see."
Fresh from booting home Sergeant Cecil in Wednesday's totesport Ebor, Alan
Munro was back in the winner's circle after steering Momtic to a narrow success
in the Persimmon Homes Handicap.
The winner is the apple of trainer William Jarvis' eye and after a series of
good efforts the colt has now earned a step up in grade.
"He's such a tough horse. He's a delight to train and a very genuine horse,"
enthused Jarvis.
"He's improved from three to four and I guess now he's probably going to be
stepped up to Listed or maybe Group company."
Arakan gained handsome compensation for an unlucky run at Goodwood last time
with an emphatic victory in the VC Bet City Of York Stakes.
The heavily-backed 11-4 favourite - from 4-1 in the morning - had finished
fifth in a Group Two contest at the Sussex venue after being denied a clear run
from two furlongs out.
There were no such problems at in this £35,000 Listed event as Kieren Fallon
bided his time on Sir Michael Stoute's charge before delivering the
five-year-old to beat Quito by three-quarters of a length.
Stoute was represented by Coral Pritchard-Gordon, who said: "That's not
before time but the fast ground was perfect for him today and he got a run.
"He was very unlucky at Goodwood but Kieren made sure he got a run today and
he said he even got there a fraction too soon."
Trainer John Oxx, owner the Aga Khan and Mick Kinane teamed up to take the
European Breeders Fund Galtres Stakes for the second year running.
They won it 12 months ago with Tarakala and this time it was Kastoria who
obliged for the trio.
Nihal crowned a good week for Northern stables - seven Yorkshire-trained
winners - when Joe Fanning got Mark Johnston's juvenile up to beat Renderoc and
First Empire by one length and two in the Jacobs Creek Nursery.
The winner was following up a success at Ayr last month and could now bid to
complete her hat-trick at Doncaster's St Leger meeting next month.
A total of 69,641 racegoers turned up over the three days, which represented a
figure about seven per cent down on last year's crowd.
The modern-day record for the Ebor meeting is 83,500, achieved in 2003.
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