Weekend Review

It was a somewhat low key weekend as far as the action was concerned. Richard Fahey continued his excellent run with his juveniles with Midnight Angel securing the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley on Saturday and booking her place for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. The Dark Angel filly shaped encouragingly on her debut at Newmarket's Guineas meeting and went one better here from the luckless Flora of Bermuda, who was denied a clear run when asked for effort. Attraction was the last filly to complete the Hilary Needler and Queen Mary double in 2003. The Musley Bank handler also sent out the improving Bombay Bazaar to win the conditions event on the same card. An easy winner over the same C&D on his previous start, the Kodiac colt showed a sharp turn of foot to lead and win going away by three parts of a length. He looks Windsor Castle Stakes material at the Royal meeting.

The best result of the day came at Haydock Park during the same afternoon with Sea Silk Road (9/2) winning the inaugural running of the Group 3 Lester Piggott Stakes, which was formerly known as the Pinnacle Stakes. Trained by William Haggas, it was fitting that his wife Maureen, daughter of the legendary 11 times champion jockey, was on hand to greet the winner. The Sea The Stars filly appreciated the return to a mile and a half and quicker ground and is likely to return to the same C&D for the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks next month. William pinpointed the race on page 110 of Ahead On The Flat.

The star turn on Sunday came from Al Asifah in the Listed event over ten furlongs. A well bred daughter of Frankel, she had created a favourable impression on her debut at Haydock last month and was immediately elevated in grade here. However, it did halt John and Thady Gosden's filly's progress as she outclassed her opponents by upwards of six and a half lengths breezing to the front and readily pulling clear. While she doesn't hold any fancy entries at this stage, that will change soon with the Nassau Stakes (3rd August) over the same C&D a distinct possibility. She looks a high-class filly in the making.

Tim Easterby has been an excellent source of winners for Ahead On The Flat over the years and the Great Habton handler steered readers in the right direction on Sunday regarding the previously unraced Ribble Radiant (14/1). One of four juveniles picked out by Tim on page 104, the son of Ribchester stayed on strongly to win the seven and a half furlongs maiden fillies stakes at Beverley.

Just a reminder that the AOTF Royal Ascot Update will be emailed to clients on Sunday 18th June - if you haven't already ordered your copy, please head to the Publications section of the site. The Update is £10.00.