Weekend Review / Timeform / 13 July 2009 / Leave a comment

Timeform cover all the weekend's highlights from York to The Curragh.

The David Barron-trained Sirvino continued his meteoric rise up the ranks, completing a five-timer in the 50th running of the John Smith's Cup on Saturday. Having started the season off a BHA mark of 65, the four-year-old raced off 92 at York and defied a wide draw to win comfortably under apprentice Neil Brown.

The Queens's front-runner Kingdom of Fife looked a likely winner for most of the straight before being collared late, while Richard Fahey had to settle for third with Albaqaa, having won the last two runnings of the race.

The Silver Cup (Listed handicap) produced a thrilling three-way finish, with front-runner Warringah having victory snatched away in the last stride by Ebor-bound Hit's Only Vic.

Over at Ascot, the Michael Bell-trained Secret Society showed an impressive turn of foot from the rear to land a competitive Class 2 handicap, atoning for a narrow miss at the Berkshire track in the Britannia on his previous outing. The feature event was the Group 2 Summer Mile, which went the way of Aqlaam, who fought hard to deny the brave front-running effort of Confront, with Mike de Kock's Imbongi staying on strongly into third.

The Curragh hosted a strong card on the first day of their Irish Oaks meeting, with two Group Threes heading the card. The tough and versatile Three Rocks landed his first pattern success in the Minstrel Stakes, ploughing through the soft ground, while last year's French Derby second Famous Name landed his second successive victory in the International Stakes and is set to step back up into Group 1 company.

Further quality action was present at Chester, with the two Listed races on the card, highlighted by the success of the extremely tough and versatile Borderlescott, who overcame trouble in running to win as the well-backed favourite.

There was high-quality action over at the Curragh on Sunday, with the fourth classic of the Irish season being run, in the shape of the Irish Oaks. It featured a fascinating match-up between Epsom Oaks first and second, Sariska and Midday.

However, there was no repeat of the thrilling finish at Epsom, as Jamie Spencer breezed home on the Michael Bell-trained filly. He barely let out an inch of rein for an ultra-impressive success on heavy ground, with time even for Spencer to give a cursory wave to Fran Berry on runner-up Roses For The Lady.

Sariska continues to improve and looks likely to go to the Yorkshire Oaks next, with the Arc a long-term objective, for which she was inevitably slashed in price.

The Group 3 Anglesey Stakes produced an impressive winner in the shape of Walk on Bye, who was a well-backed favourite. The daughter of Danehill Dancer showed a good turn of foot to put a seal on the race, and may step up to Group 1 level in the Prix Morny next time.