GROUND conditions improved on Thursday for Lady Bowthorpe (115) to make her bid for Group 1 glory in the Qatar Nassau Stakes and the William Jarvis-trained mare took full advantage to give the Falmouth Stakes form it’s second winner of the meeting at the highest level.

Rider Kieran Shoemark was quick to restrain his mount leaving the stalls as she had jumped smartly from her wide draw, eventually settling second last with just joint-favourite Audarya and slight disappointment of the race behind.

At the top of the straight, the daughter of Nathaniel was poised to deliver the sectional performance of the week reeling off four sub-12 second furlongs (11.85, 11.95, 11.21, 11.54) from the sixth furlong to the ninth furlong as she assumed command. Quite expectedly she slowed through the final 220 yards, but her 12.22 seconds was still the fastest on the day.

The finishing effort was not dissimilar to that of Newmarket confirming that she was as unlucky as the visual impression. That are plenty of options open to the five-year-old between now and the end of the season either back in distance at a mile or over the same trip as today. If connections opt against taking on the boys either the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown over Irish Champions Weekend or the Sun Chariot at Newmarket look ideal.

On track

It may have been the case that Zeyaadah (112) did not stay in the Oaks at Epsom but she is firmly back on track now and beat Technique (106) further than at Newcastle previously. The data reads in her favour as the second-best filly in this race and, although a win at this level may prove to be beyond the daughter of Tamayuz, further group race success at a lower level is well within her compass.

Asymmetric (109) gave Alan King a second group success of the week when landing the Group 2 Richmond Stakes.

As with Armor the previous day, Asymmetric was drawn in the highest stall but conversely to Armor it was not such an advantage as in attempting to get a lead Martin Harley inadvertently found himself positioned second last in a race that was slowly run in the early stages.

Determination

As the pace lifted at halfway, Harley had to be patient before his mount burst through what was only half a gap passing the furlong pole, displaying determination to match his undoubted quality. In closing off in 34.11 seconds, the son of Showcasing was half a second faster than Whenthedealinsdone who landed the closing sprint and has a revised BHA rating of 99.

This performance, along with his fast-finishing second in the July Stakes, see him head towards the Gimcrack at York with a serious chance of adding further Group 2 success to his CV. Judged on this finishing effort he could well turn the tables on Lusail (108) who is likely to renew rivalry.

Gubbass (107) should be afforded another chance either at this trip or back over five furlongs as he was disadvantaged by racing furthest away from the rail as can Perfect Power (107) who was denied a clear passage.