Calming Influence in Ascot picture after Newmarket win
Calming Influence stepped into the Royal Ascot picture with a very promising victory in the coral.co.uk King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket.
The seven-furlong Listed race has proved a stepping stone to Jersey Stakes glory in the past two years for both Jeremy and Tariq respectively.
Godolphin will not mind if Calming Influence goes on to scale such heights and he certainly shaped like a colt on the upgrade in maintaining his 100% record under Kerrin McEvoy.
It appeared as if Free Handicap winner Stimulation was going to record another course and distance victory but Calming Influence defied greenness to get up late for a head victory.
The 9-2 win was a big step up on an admittedly encouraging debut success at York last backend and connections hinted the seven-furlong Group Three at the Royal meeting could be next.
Brian Powell, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor, said: "We've always liked the horse and thought he would improve for the run so that was quite a good performance. That was near enough like a Group Three and the obvious race - if he is good enough - would be the Jersey. You would have to consider it, anyway."
Michael Jarvis was in double form on his local track with both Ancien Regime and Yaddree scoring under Philip Robinson.
Ancien Regime handled the very fast conditions in the coral.co.uk Sprint to restore his reputation after suffering a defeat when favourite in a seven-furlong handicap on the Rowley Mile earlier this month.
Eased back in distance to six furlongs, the King's Best colt showed speed is his strength when triumphing by three-quarters of a length from Carleton.
Jarvis said of his 9-2 winner: "We started him off this season thinking he wanted seven, then Philip said he wanted six. Now he has got off him and said he wants five. It won't be long before he says four!"
Yaddree provided the second half of an approximate 25-1 double by taking the National Express Let's Go Handicap.
Unnefer maintained the glowing form of the Henry Cecil team when striking in the National Express Fairway Stakes.
The odds-on shot, narrowly beaten in the Dee Stakes, won a touch cosily from Pampas Cat to suggest that he is still progressing up the ranks.
Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos Family, said: "We will have to talk to Henry but he could go to Ascot for the Hampton Court, all being well. He is a very nice horse, who goes very easily and has a lovely temperament."
Jeremy Noseda, who took the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock with flying filly Fleeting Spirit, rounded off a day to savour with Resurge obliging in the National Express Making Travel Simpler Maiden Stakes.
Ed Dunlop's two-year-olds have made a bright start this season and Alkhafif got his career off on the right foot by clinching the Stansted Express EBF Maiden Stakes.
In the concluding mile-and-six-furlong National Express Whittlesford Parkway Handicap, Trachonitis (6-1) came from last to first under Darryll Holland to prevail by two and a quarter lengths from Brief Goodbye.
