My Astra looks smart

My Astra seemingly relished the step up to a mile and a quarter in the fillies' Listed event at Ayr on Wednesday. The four year old had run creditably on her reappearance in the Snowdrop Stakes at Kempton over a mile but made a major step forward here. Tom Marquand looked happy throughout before sending his mount to the front with less than a quarter of a mile to travel. Bounding clear, William Haggas' filly scored by a dozen lengths and a rise in class is very much on the cards. A half-sister to stablemate My Oberon, she has only raced a handful of times and open to further improvement. She holds an entry in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh (26th June), she ideally wants some ease in the ground. One can envisage her lining up in the Group 1 Prix de L'Opera at Longchamp's Arc meeting in early October. 

I still find it hard to believe Top 40 entry Fiorina (3/1) didn't win on her return to action at Kempton on Wednesday evening. Heavily supported (was as short as 6/5 at one stage from an opening 6/1), George Boughey's filly looked set for victory when leading inside the final furlong on her handicap debut. However, she couldn't put the race to bed and was joined on the line by the more experienced Two Tempting who saved ground on the inside. It was a case of which horse's head was down at the right time (or wrong whichever way you look at it). Hopefully compensation awaits but it was frustrating nevertheless.

Another Top 40 entry - page 33 - runs in the German 2000 Guineas at Cologne on Sunday (12.23) and it is hoped he will prove hard to beat in the Group 2 contest. Stevie Donohoe takes the ride.