The Group 2 Lowther Stakes looked a high-class race on paper, featuring a clash between Royal Ascot winners Anthem Alexander and Cursory Glance, along with wide-margin Super Sprint scorer Tiggy Wiggy, and viewers were not disappointed as the big three pulled clear of some promising juveniles. Anthem Alexander, with a pre-race rating of 108p, would have been the top-rated filly in 12 of the last 20 renewals of the Lowther, however she was only third best on the figures this time, rated 12 lb behind Tiggy Wiggy. Anthem Alexander lowered the previous two-year-old course record in the Lowther - unfortunately for connections so too did Cursory Glance and Tiggy Wiggy! Tiggy Wiggy had posted the best performance from a juvenile filly in the past 25 years when destroying her rivals in the Super Sprint, and she probably improved a fraction to register a first Group-race success in the Lowther, the step up to six furlongs proving no impediment as she beat Albany Stakes winner Cursory Glance by one and a half lengths, with Queen Mary winner Anthem Alexander - carrying a 3 lb penalty - a further half-length back in third. The trio were five lengths clear of the remainder and the fact they clocked the three fastest juvenile Timefigures all season is further evidence of this being a really strong piece of form.
In terms of ratings fall-out, Tiggy Wiggy has been rated 121 - pushing her 1 lb clear of Ivawood (120p) at the head of the two-year-old standings - while Cursory Glance is on 115p with the penalty-carrying Anthem Alexander on 116p. Tiggy Wiggy now looks set to tackle the Cheveley Park or the Prix de l'Abbaye - possibly both - and she would hold leading claims in either contest, the generous weight-for-age allowance that she would receive at Longchamp making that an appealing target. Anthem Alexander would also be a big player at Longchamp if permitted to take her chance, particularly as she shaped as if a drop back to the minimum distance would be in her favour, looking all about speed at this stage. In truth, neither of the speedily-bred duo of Tiggy Wiggy or Anthem Alexander appeal as Guineas types - sprinting is surely their game - but the same accusation should not be levelled at Cursory Glance. Cursory Glance is the daughter of a 10-furlong winner, and she was very strong in the closing stages when powering home to win the Albany Stakes over Ascot's stiff six furlongs in June. It bodes extremely well for Cursory Glance's future prospects that she was able to split a pair of smart juveniles blessed with searing speed, and she is likely to come into her own granted a stiffer test, a step up to seven furlongs next on the agenda according to connections. She deservedly heads the market for the 1000 Guineas and is the filly to take from the race.
Dealing with the colts, the Acomb Stakes caused a shake-up in the 2000 Guineas market. The progressive Dutch Connection is going from strength to strength, starting to fill his frame and maturing mentally, too, and he put up a useful, likeable effort to get up close home, beating Toocoolforschool by a head with strongly-supported favourite Basateen back in third. Dutch Connection is a nice, improving horse (now rated 106+) but it is worth remembering that he was hammered by John Gosden's Faydhan at Haydock on that colt's debut. Faydhan is evidently well regarded at home - he was backed into odds-on favouritism at Haydock - and he put up a thoroughly impressive display to make a winning debut, conceding experience to his rivals but nothing in the way of ability. Faydhan's six-length demolition of Dutch Connection in a good time reads very well now, while Speedy Move, the third-placed horse, has also won twice since, so he has deservedly been clipped a few points in the Guineas market. Faydhan's debut effort has been reassessed in light of how well the form has worked out since, and the once-raced colt now boasts a lofty rating of 107P.
It is not often a horse posts a Timeform rating of 100+ on debut, and Faydhan is an exciting prospect and one whose progress must be monitored. White Lake (102P) also replicated the rare feat as he went a way to repaying his 240,000gns purchase price by winning the Convivial Maiden Stakes, the most valuable race of its type. The rangy, attractive White Lake caught the eye in the parade ring, and he impressed with how he moved through the race at York, travelling powerfully and sticking on well close home to win by two lengths. Many top yards were represented in the Convivial Maiden Stakes, while the pace picked up from far enough out to give them a chance from all positions, and it is expected to prove strong form. The fact White Lake's trainer, Luca Cumani, has few juvenile winners on debut speaks strongly in favour of the impressive winner, and he very much appeals as the type to progress with racing. He could be worth a small ante-post 2000 Guineas interest at big odds.
It wasn't all about York last week as The Wow Signal maintained his unbeaten record by taking care of promising juveniles Hootenanny and Ervedya in the Group 1 Prix Morny. The Wow Signal didn't appear to be going especially well in the early stages - he was pushed along from halfway, in fact - but he responded well to his rider's urgings and got on top inside the final furlong, beating Hootenanny by half a length. His new rating of 118 places him behind only Tiggy Wiggy and Ivawood in this season's juvenile standings. Hootenanny had created a fantastic impression at Royal Ascot, showing blistering speed to run out a comfortable winner of the five-furlong Windsor Castle Stakes, but there was always a concern that his stamina would be stretched by going six furlongs on testing ground, and that seemed to be the case at Deauville. A final 400-metre sectional of 24.76s (96.8% finishing speed compared to average race speed) suggests that the early pace was strong, and Hootenanny was possibly disadvantaged by racing so handily. He may well be capable of better still, especially back at five furlongs, and is now rated 116+ having been 112p going into Sunday's race.
With so much high-quality action last week, you could have been forgiven for missing a one-mile fillies maiden at the Curragh on Saturday, but it threw up a pattern-class filly in Found, a daughter of Matron Stakes winner Red Evie. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Found was stable second-strong on the day - sent off at 14/1 - but she created a taking visual impression, quickening from last to first off a steady gallop, winning virtually on the bridle. The bare form is nothing to get carried away with, but Found (89P) could hardly have been more impressive and quotes for the Guineas and the Oaks look justified.
Recommended Bets:
Back Cursory Glance for the 1000 Guineas
Back White Lake for the 2000 Guineas