2 winners for Top 40

Following a lean spell over the last week / ten days, the Top 40 Prospects returned to winning ways on Saturday with English Oak (8/11) and Meydaan (7/2) scoring at Haydock and Goodwood respectively on Saturday. 

The former booked his place at Royal Ascot following an impressive victory in the seven furlongs handicap at the Merseyside track. Admittedly, the son of Wootton Bassett beat exposed rivals but there was a lot to like about the manner of his win quickening away inside the final furlong to secure a four and a half lengths victory under Oisin Murphy. Despite being strongly supported beforehand, there were doubts about his effective on soft ground but it proved no obstacle pulling away in the closing stages off a mark of 90. Entered in the Wokingham Stakes over six furlongs, the Buckingham Palace Handicap is also likely to come under consideration. Regardless of his chosen target, Ed Walker's four year old ought to be a major player before hopefully developing into a Pattern performer later in the year. Significantly, English Oak has been given an entry in the July Cup (13th July).

I must confess to having mixed feelings watching the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood with the Top 40 represented by both Meydaan and Space Legend. Victory went to the Simon and Ed Crisford trained runner but one can't help feeling the runner-up would have prevailed comfortably with a clear run. William Haggas' charge was hemmed in at a crucial stage and only got out once Meydaan had set sail for home and beyond recall. Denied by a neck, the son of Sea The Stars remains a cracking prospect for the summer and beyond. The winner is considered most likely to run in the Group 2 Queens Vase at Royal Ascot, while the second has the options of the same contest of the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes. I suspect he will line up in the latter event.

Raqiya (5/1), who is highlighted as a sprinter to follow in the Appendix in AOTF (page 139), made a bright start to her three year old by winning the Listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury on Saturday evening. Withdrawn from the Listed Cecil Frail Stakes at Haydock twenty four hours earlier owing to the testing conditions, Owen Burrows produced a smart effort to edge out Funny Story by a neck. The runner-up had a fitness advantage having run well in the Listed Kilvington Stakes at HQ last time but couldn't get passed the Shadwell owned winner. Suited by good or faster ground, the daughter of Blue Point is ready for a return to Group company.

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