Newbury Sunday

THE Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise (John Porter) Stakes looked fairly competitive on paper, but in the end proved merely a platform for Al Aasy (William Haggas/Jim Crowley) to prove his superiority.

The 6/4 favourite powered clear to record a four-and-a-half-length success from Without A Fight (Simon and Ed Crisford/Andrea Atzeni) with Outbox (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle) third, beaten a total of seven lengths.

The winner was held up in the early stages, but loomed up in the straight, and put the race to bed very quickly when asked to quicken.

He ended his three-year-old campaign with a lacklustre last of six in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, but had previously landed the Bahrain Trophy at this level, and proved that his Goodwood effort was all wrong here.

Class ladder

He is clearly capable of making his mark a rung higher up the class ladder, and holds an entry in the Yorkshire Cup; he would be an interesting runner there, assuming the race doesn’t come too soon, with something like the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot likely to come under consideration too.

More punch needed for Alcohol Free in classic bid

OF the 17 runners in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (registered as the Fred Darling Stakes), only four did not hold a 1000 Guineas entry, and only Miss Amulet was missing from the sextet who dominated the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes in the autumn.

That race was won in sparkling style by Alcohol Free (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy), and the 9/4 favourite did not need to be at her best to follow up, ending up hanging on by only a short head from Martyn Meade’s Statement (William Buick), with the 50/1 shot Vadream (Charlie Fellowes/Jamie Spencer) third.

This is clearly not Guineas-winning form, and the winner is speedily bred, so her chances of improving for a longer trip at Newmarket are not obvious. However, she wasn’t seen to best effect from a low draw which saw her isolated in the latter stages and she saw things out much better than old rivals Umm Kulthum and Isabella Giles, who held every chance a furlong out before fading.

As such it’s unwise to write off this smart filly, for all she has a bit to prove in the first fillies’ classic.

Chindit needs to progress

THE margins were small in the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes with Champagne Stakes hero Chindit (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) winning a finish of necks from Mehmento (Archie Watson/Hollie Doye) and The Lir Jet (Michael Bell/Oisin Murphy), but it as good to see the winner put a poor run in the Dewhurst behind him.

Chindit was well supported and returned favourite at 7/4 for this rather workmanlike success.

With Coventry winner Nando Parrado fourth, it could be said that the right horses were coming to the fore, but the runner-up is rated just 93 and while the race was around half a second quicker than the Fred Darling, it still doesn’t appeal as a strong trial for the Guineas at this stage.

Chindit will need to progress again to have a chance at Newmarket.