Frustrating but no excuses with 25/1 ante-post selection

The Joseph O'Brien trained Thundering On ran out an impressive winner of the Epsom Oaks on Friday. The Frankel filly took four races to shed her maiden tag but had won the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan in convincing fashion last time. Tackling a mile and a half for the first time here, she was well supported before and was given an ice cool ride by Dylan Browne McMonagle. Last rounding Tattenham Corner, she made smooth headway earlier in the homestraight before giving chase to Legacy Link. Asked for her effort inside the final furlong, the response was immediate and she swept clear. A three and three quarters of a length winner, she looked a top-class filly who is very effective on slow ground - a quicker surface remains an unknown quantity. 

Having nominated the runner-up ante-post at 25/1 on page 147 of Ahead on The Flat, it was frustrating to see the John & Thady Gosden trained filly miss out but there were no excuses on the day. Produced at the right time by Colin Keane, the Musidora Stakes winner held every chance but couldn't match the winner's turn of foot in the closing stages. Perhaps better ground may have made a difference. However, at least we got a good run for our money and thank you to those clients who have emailed since.

Sallaal featured in the Top 40 Prospects last year and, despite winning twice at Hamilton, his trainer Roger Varian felt the well bred youngster hadn't shown what he is capable of. Gelded during the winter, the son of Frankel was unlucky not to win the City & Suburban Handicap at Epsom on his reappearance. Returning to the Surrey track in another valuable ten furlongs handicap, Ray Dawson did an excellent job to overcome a wide draw and slot in behind the leaders from an early stage. Pulled to the stands side early in the homestraight, the half-brother to Elmaka quickened through a gap before bounding clear to win by six lengths. Out of the trainer's first Group 1 winner, Nahrain, the four year old looked a Group horse in a handicap here and Pattern races beckon. Yours truly was kicking himself for not retaining him in the Top 40.

The Unraced Three Year Olds section have had a decent week and the promising Seet (11/8) made it two wins from three starts when defying her penalty at Doncaster on Friday evening. Bought for 425,000gns as a yearling, the Too Darn Hot filly is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Kalpana and is improving with each start. Produced inside the final furlong, the John & Thady Gosden trained pulled away to win cosily. Despite being bred to stay further a mile, it will be intteresting to see if she is considered for the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot (19th June). 

Shortly afterwards, Maidens In Waiting entry King's Cavalry (10/11) landed some hefty bets in the seven furlongs handicap. An easy winner at Leicester on his previous start, the Kingman colt was making his handicap bow off a mark of 82 and, having travelled strongly, James Tate's charge was forced to dig deep late on. Prevailing by the narrowest of margin, his jockey Callum Rodriguez suggested afterwards that the half-brother to Royal Dress will be suited by dropping back to six furlongs. He is a bright prospect.