Aidan O’Brien has a habit of bringing his best fillies along slowly and Ballydoyle is developing into a really promising horse.
She failed by a short head to collar Suits You on just her second start in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, but followed that with a smooth success in a Newmarket maiden and added to her tally with a dominant display in group two company at the Curragh on Saturday.
Ballydoyle, named after the stable where she is trained, made all the running and, having briefly looked in trouble when challenged, she had plenty left at the finish as she drew clear.
That success earned her quotes of 10-1 for both the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks next year. By Galileo, Ballydoyle will stay beyond a mile and, while she is not lacking in speed, she looks more of an Oaks filly at this stage.
Haggas completes terrific week at York
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William Haggas is based in Newmarket but he is a proud Yorkshireman and loves nothing more than to saddle winners on the Knavesmire.
The affable handler capped a terrific week’s work when training both the first and third in the group two Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes at York on Saturday.
It was Ajaya who provided Haggas with a fifth winner of the Ebor meeting, the colt showing a high cruising speed and good turn of foot to seal the race over a furlong out.
Ajaya was given quotes of around 16-1 for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next year and that six-furlong test looks the right long-term target for this speedy son of Invincible Spirit.
Tuite shows talent with Ebor success
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Joseph Tuite struck a notable blow for the smaller yards when landing the Betfred Ebor with 33-1 chance Litigant.
It was a terrific piece of training from the Berkshire-based Irishman, as it was Litigant’s first start for 491 days, but there was no fluke about it as he stayed on in determined fashion to deny Wicklow Brave.
Litigant was having his first start on turf in Britain, having shown a good level of form on the all-weather, and was having his first outing since moving to Tuite from Seamus Durack.
Tuite only has 20 horses in training but on this evidence he deserves to be given more chances.
Scott looks great on Fleckerl
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Rowan Scott has been catching the eye in the saddle the young Irish apprentice was again seen to good effect when driving Fleckerl to a nose success at Sandown Park.
Scott looks tidy, rides with great confidence and Fleckerl was his fifth winner from only nine rides this month.
Still able to claim the full 7lb allowance, he looks as though he could be the apprentice find of the season.