Quiff roars into Leger picture
The Group One contest lost much of its sparkle with the defection of dual Oaks winner Ouija Board and Summitville due to the ground, which was officially described as soft.
But it was nevertheless a breathtaking performance from Quiff, who was always in touch under Kieren Fallon as Punctilious and Danelissima disputed the early lead.
Fallon was in no mood to take prisoners and he sent Michael Stoute’s filly into the lead with over three furlongs left and the daughter of Sadler’s Wells soon had her seven rivals in trouble.
Hazarista flattered briefly but she could not peg back Quiff, who stretched clear in the style of a high-class performer to beat the staying-on Pongee by 11 lengths.
Hazarista finished very tired, a length and a half back in third.
Bookmakers failed to agree on the merit of the performance. Ladbrokes were clearly impressed and now make Quiff their 5-2 favourite for the betfair.com-sponsored Classic at Doncaster next month, while Paddy Power are longest at 9-2.
There was plenty of stable confidence behind Quiff (7-2) following the withdrawal of Ouija Board and the overnight rain, which made the going very testing.
“We thought she’d win but we didn’t think she’d win that far,” was Stoute’s post-race comment.
He added: “She’s a very progressive filly. She ran well in the Ribblesdale (third) on firm ground that wasn’t really ideal for her. This ground suited her.
“She’s in the St Leger and I’d certainly be tempted to go that route.”
Fallon, who won the 1000 Guineas on Quiff’s dam Wince, said: “She needed the rain and got it. She worked last week and she was very impressive.”
When asked if he thought Quiff was a St Leger filly, the champion jockey said: “This filly lengthens rather than quickens.
“I’m not always keen on taking on the colts, but on what she has done today it will take a good colt to beat her.”
Clive Brittain’s horses should never be discounted in the big races and so it proved when the veteran handler saddled 16-1 shot Tony James to take the Group Two Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes.
Abraxas Antelope went on at halfway in the six-furlong dash but Sanders had the move covered and he sent Tony James up to challenge. Brittain’s juvenile soon got on top and ran on well to score by one and a quarter lengths from the staying-on Andronikos. Abraxas Antelope was half a length back in third.
Brittain, has ambitious plans for the winner. He said: “He’ll have different ground in the Kentucky Derby. I trained some of the family and they went on soft ground, so we knew there was a good chance he’d go on it. Six furlongs would be on the short side for him on fast ground but on this ground we had no fears.
Tony James is 66-1 with Cashmans and 50-1 with Paddy Power for the Kentucky Derby.
