Infinite Cosmos looks useful

Hurricane Lane returned to form with a runaway success in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes on the opening day of the Guineas Festival at Newmarket on Friday. The former Irish Derby and St Leger winner had finished last of seven in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at Newbury on his return to action last month but was a different proposition here. Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, the five year old hit the front with less than half a mile to run before pulling away to register a six lengths win. Charlie Appleby is keen to avoid slow ground and nominated the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot as his likely next target. 

The champion trainer was also on the mark in the opening Listed Newmarket Stakes with Castle Way (7/1) scoring on his reappearance. A colt by Almanzor and a half-brother to the brilliant Palace Pier, he won twice as a juvenile and appreciated the step up to ten furlongs on the Rowley Mile. Staying on strongly to win by a length and three quarters, stamina appears to be his forte and he looks the type to line up in something like the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting. Not entered in the Derby, he reportedly failed to handle the track at Epsom last September.

It has been slim pickings for the Top 40 Prospects in AOTF thus far, to say the least. However, Infinite Cosmos provided the section with a welcome winner in the fillies' maiden over ten furlongs. The well bred daughter of Sea The Stars shaped with an abundance of promise at Doncaster last backend and confirmed it here with a four and a quarter lengths victory under Ryan Moore. The further she went, the better Sir Michael Stoute's filly looked and she is likely to tackle the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York (17th May). The head of Freemason Lodge has won that extended ten furlongs event on eight occasions, but not for ten years. She looks a smashing filly who will improve again once tackling a mile and a half.