THE Group 2 Minstrel Stakes was a truly intergenerational test with everything from three-year-olds to an 11-year-old present. The market ultimately called it correctly with Romanised (122) and Hey Gaman (118) dominating proceedings. This looked quite a deep race beforehand and the feature was a strong gallop which resulted in a below par finishing speed of 100.9% for the winner.

The Dettori-ridden Hey Gaman travelled best into proceedings but almost certainly got there sooner than Frankie would have liked, Ballydoyle’s pacemaker only able to take him to the two-furlong pole. Romanised, under a perfectly timed ride from Billy Lee, snatched the race from him at the death and ultimately won a shade cosily. Safe Voyage (116), a fast-finishing third, took a while to pick up but the sectionals suggest he was a clear third best nonetheless.

This was a career best for both Romanised and Hey Gaman but they look likely to go in opposite directions trip-wise. Romanised has largely been plying his trade over a mile and the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois is his likely next stop. No target was nominated for Hey Gaman but, given how smoothly he traveled, my instinct is he’d be worth a try back down at sprint trips; perhaps even a supplementary entry for the Sprint Cup.

Talking of sprinters, we had one of the most impressive sprint performances – visually, at least – of the entire season in the shape of Soffia (122). Plying her trade at a mixture of five and six furlongs this year, she’d looked a slightly tricky horse to place: not quite pacey enough for five but vulnerable late on over six.

With a strong pace to aim at here, however, she was able to pick up well and absolutely blasted clear late in the day, extending at the line. This was a personal best by the thick end of a stone for the four-year-old filly and suggests that she may well be worth a try at mixing it with the big boys in the Nunthorpe (supplement would be required). She’d have to improve again, certainly, but the style of her victory here suggests that’s entirely possible and she’d have conditions to suit.

A nice problem to ponder for Edward Lynam and owner Lady O’Reilly.