Pilaster looks a Pattern horse in the making

Pilaster, who is featured in the Maidens In Waiting section of Ahead On The Flat, made it two wins from two starts in 2018 with a most impressive success in the twelve furlongs fillies' novice stakes at Kempton on Wednesday evening. Roger Varian's well bred daughter of Nathaniel was a two lengths winner at Chelmsford on her reappearance over ten furlongs but improved again over the extra quarter of a mile at the Sunbury track. She raced in the first half dozen throughout before making smooth headway on the hometurn. Once shaken up by David Egan, the Cheveley Park Stud owned filly stretched clear to win by six lengths. It will be interesting to see where she heads next and fast ground is an unknown quantity. Already entered in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood (2nd August) over a mile and six, the longer trip shouldn't be an issue. While it represents a marked step up in class, I would be inclined to give her an entry in the St Leger. Ironically, Simple Verse won the Lillie Langtry en route to Classic glory at Town Moor three years ago. Also, Pilaster's half-brother Windshear was fourth in the Leger in 2014 - behind the Varian trained Kingston Hill. Either way, she is an exciting prospect.