Star of India another for Top 40

Twenty four hours after New London fluffed his lines in the Chester Vase another Top 40 Prospects entry in AOTF, Star of India (6/4), enhanced his prospects of lining up at Epsom early next month by taking the Listed Dee Stakes. Aidan O'Brien's colt could only finish fifth in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on his reappearance leaving the impression he was crying out for a step up in distance. That proved the case as Ryan Moore's partner responded to pressure in the homestraight running out a comfortable two and a quarter lengths winner from Sonny Liston. The further he goes, the better the Galileo colt looks. While he still needs to improve plenty to become a live player in the Derby, he is expected to progress again over an extra two furlongs. His physique suggests Star of India will handle the track, too. 

Hamish has been a terrific horse for the Haggas family and the former Melrose Stakes winner produced a terrific effort to win the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at the Roodeye on his reappearance. The six year old, who missed the majority of last season due to a tendon injury, needs some ease in the ground and he made the most of the conditions as he stayed on strongly to beat the front running Thunderous by three parts of a length. Still lightly raced (only eleven career starts), the underfoot conditions will dictate his programme.

The Andrew Balding trained Koy Koy is one to note this summer following a most encouraging return to action in the seven and a half furlongs handicap. An easy winner at Newbury last Autumn, he was on his toes beforehand and was forced to make his challenge on the outside. Staying on at the death, he was only beaten a length and looks tailormade for the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. He is bred to improve again when tackling at least a mile.