Saturday Review

Estrange gained her first Group 1 victory when winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. A Group 2 winner last term, the five year old had won the Group 3 Lester Piggott Fiilies' Stakes at Carlisle on her reappearance last month. Dropping back to ten furlongs here, she travelled well on the outside under Danny Tudhope. Leading over a furlong out, she ran on strongly to beat One Look by a length and a half with the Epsom Oaks winner Thundering On only fourth. Her jockey has been adamant throughout that the five year old will prove even better over ten furlongs despite showing a high level of form over further. Withdrawn from the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe last Autumn, that is reportedly her main target in October. The fact she is proving equally effective on a fast surface is a major plus. It is possible Joseph O'Brien's Classic winner may have found conditions lively enough having looked very much at home on a slow surface at Epsom earlier this month. 

There were mixed fortunes for the Top 40 Prospects with Saber Strike only finishing third in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at York. The Night of Thunder colt had impressed when winning on his reappearance in a Listed event at Newmarket's Guineas meeting. However, he disappointed in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last weekend having been sent off a warm favourite. Ridden patiently on this occasion, Tom Marquand's mount could only stay on at the one pace behind Qirat and Never So Brave. Beaten two and a half lengths, it was an improvement on his previous effort and it will be interesting to see if he is tried over a mile in future - he lacked a change of gear when the leaders quickened.

On a more positive note, Erdenali made it three out of three in a Listed contest at Deauville on Saturday morning. Tackling Pattern company for the first time, the Caravaggio gelding came from the rear to win decisively by two and a half lengths in the seven furlong events. Group races will be next and then we will find out how good the Francis Graffard trained three year old really is.