One for Royal Ascot

Not surprisingly, Aidan O'Brien grabbed the headlines on the final day of Newmarket's three day fixture with last year's top-class juvenile True Love capturing the 1000 Guineas with another fine display. The daughter of No Nay Never, who raced seven times last term, was providing the Ballydoyle team with their eighth victory in the first fillies' Classic of 2026 and O'Brien's 49th British Classic. Partnered by Wayne Lordan, she sat in behind the leaders in the near side group before making her move inside the final quarter of a mile. Leading inside the final furlong, the O'Brien filly stayed on strongly to win by nearly two lengths. While she possesses the speed to drop back in trip, she is likely to be kept to a mile for the time being with the Irish version followed by the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot next month. 

Stablemate Precise, who was a dual Group 1 winner at two, could only finish seventh but she shouldn't be written off. It was well documented that the Starspangledbanner filly endured an interrupted preparation and her connections faced a race against time to have her ready for this. Only beaten five lengths, she ought to be a different proposition next time. Touleen (6th) and Venetian Sun (11th) will benefit from dropping back in trip having failed to convince that the pair saw out the trip, while the fifth Abashiri shaped well considering it was only her second start. The Godolphin filly will benefit from tackling further and is one to bear in mind over ten furlongs plus next time.

I must confess the remaider of the card on the Rowley Mile on Sunday was underwhelming and failed to set the pulse racing. However, one other performance of note from Sunday came from Best Secret who was an impressive winner of a Group 3 at Longchamp. Featured in the Appendix in AOTF (page 143), the four year old made it two out of two over a mile and a half showing a good turn of foot to pull clear in the latter stages under Christophe Soumillon. A three lengths scorer, he is a Listed and Group 3 winner and was a close third in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot last summer. Owned by Wathnan Racing, his patrons will be keen to have as many runners as possible at the Royal meeting and this son of Persian King looks tailormade for the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (20th June). 

Another international runner who is highlighted in the Appendix is the unbeaten Gostam who won a Group 2 at Munich on Friday. Trained in Germany by Andreas Wohler, the Saxon Warrior won three out of three as a juvenile, including twice at Group 3 level. Reappearing after an absence of 201 days, he won by a neck over ten furlongs last week and could be bound for the German Derby next. He has the potential to make a big splash in the highest company this summer.