Group 1 win for Top 40 entry

Aidan O'Brien dominated the first day of Epsom's Classic meeting with Ballydoyle winning both Group 1 events. Minnie Hauk provided her trainer with his eleventh victory in the Oaks with the daughter of Frankel edging out stablemate Whirl in a driving finish. A neck scorer, the pair pulled four lengths clear of the 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower, who came off the bridle early in the homestraight. The Ballydoyle team dominated the race from the outset positioning Whirl in front, while Minnie Hauk sat in second throughout. That meant the favourite Desert Flower would have to be switched to challenge, if good enough. Their pre race planning was meticulous as ever and their results are there for all to see. 

Earlier on the card, Top 40 entry Jan Brueghel (100/30) returned to winning ways and gained his second Group 1 victory in the Coronation Cup. Runner-up in a Group 3 over ten furlongs at the Curragh on his reappearance last month, the son of Galileo was a different proposition here. Despite getting warm beforehand, the four year old produced a career best effort to beat the high-class Calandagan by half a length with the pair seven lengths clear of the third. Prominently positioned early on, Ryan Moore's partner led before the two marker and showed a willing attitude to fend off the French raider. It is fair to say the Ballydoyle runner outstayed and outbattled the second. The King George at Ascot is likely to be next with the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp also very much on his radar. With only six races on his CV, he should have even more to offer. 

The featured horses have been in good form over the last few days with Sea The Wonder making an impressive start to her career at Chelmsford on Thursday evening. Featured in the Unraced Three Year Olds section, Ralph Beckett's filly was strong in the market before the ten furlongs fillies' novice stakes. A daughter of Sea The Stars who cost 310,000gns, she travelled well in behind the leaders before being produced in the homestraight. Leading inside  the final furlong, she stretched clear and looks a potential black type filly in the making.

Formal (9/4) is included in the Stable Switchers section in AOTF and the former Sir Michael Stoute trained filly returned to her best with a cosy success in the Listed Surrey Stakes. The daughter of Dubawi had failed to fire on her first start for Andrew Balding in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury in April. Given a break of 55 days and headgear discarded, she was given a fine ride by Oisin Murphy sitting close to the pace before striking for home at the two marker. From that point onwards, the race was over as a contest. A length and a half winner, she looks ideal for something like the Group 2 Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood (30th July). 

Bromley's Best Buys has also been amongst the winners with Green Soul (11/2) producing a good performance to win on his second start at Fairyhouse on Friday. A colt by Bated Breath, the Joseph O'Brien trained runner had been narrowly beaten on his debut at Roscommon and gained ample compensation here. Contesting a seven furlongs maiden, he was pushed wide in the homestraight but showed a good attitude to prevail close home.