Boughey's second Group 1 winner

When speaking to George Boughey in February, the Classic winning trainer nominated Via Sistina as one of his horses to follow for Ahead On The Flat and the five year old mare gained a Group 1 victory at the Curragh on Saturday. The daughter of Fastnet Rock only joined the Newmarket handler last Autumn winning a Group 3 at Toulouse in France in November. She returned to action in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes on the Rowley Mile at the Guineas meeting and beat the subsequent Listed and Group 3 winner Al Husn by six lengths under a confident Jamie Spencer ride. Stepped up to Group 1 level for the first time in the Pretty Polly Stakes, she came from the rear to win going away by a couple of lengths. Even though she caused a fair bit of carnage inside the final furlong by edging to her right, she was much the best filly on the day. Her win was gained on good ground and connections remain adamant Via Sistina is even better on soft ground. It was her trainer's second victory at the highest level.

Andrew Balding made a terrific start to the month with 5 winners from 11 runners on Saturday, including Alsakib (4/1), Nobel (5/2) and Therapist (8/1) who all featured in his interview in Talking Trainers in AOTF. Otherwise, it was a frustrating day for followers of the Top 40 Prospects. New London looked rusty on his first start since being placed in the St Leger in September when a staying on third in the Listed Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket. The four year old has undergone wind surgery since and Charlie Appleby felt he would have preferred more ease in the ground. His next start in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood (4th August) will hopefully see him return to his best. Elnajmm was another making his seasonal reappearance (off 215 days) at Windsor and William Haggas' runner found the winning post coming a stride too soon in the one mile novice stakes. He will be hard to beat next time, especially over further. Then the well regarded Solar Orbitor broke down when going well in the seven furlongs handicap at Doncaster suffering a fatal injury in the process.