Mountain Breeze made her winning debut on Qipco 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket, and it looks like she earned a spot on Charlie Appleby's Royal Ascot team.
The 7-4 favourite sent off by punters in the Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes held high expectations for the daughter of Lope De Vega.
Mountain Breeze, a half-sister to Appleby's former star colt Pinatubo, ran strongly in the five-furlong race under William Buick's lead and wisely recovered from the dip to win by two and three-quarter lengths from fellow rookie River Seine.
Appleby said: “I’m very pleased, we came here with plenty of confidence, she’s obviously a half to Pinatubo and her homework has been good. Will said it was her class that got her through as she hated every bit of the track. He just held on to her and he said once he levelled off she was always going to pick up and she did that well. She’s probably just booked her ticket to Ascot, we’re looking towards Albany and I might give her another spin beforehand, just for a bit of experience more than anything.”
In the Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Novice Stakes, The Actor (11-4) confirmed his debut promise, and Richard Hannon was happy to be on the winner's board.
The Harry Angel colt went on his impressive second-place finish from his debut at the Craven meeting three weeks ago when he defeated Tropical Storm by a neck.
Hannon, who saddled Rosallion and Haatem to place second and third in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday, said of The Actor: “He’s a tough little horse and he’s improved for that first start and I think he’ll be a bit better over six (furlongs). It’s nice to get a winner as it was getting frustrating. Obviously, at this time of year, you’re trying to get a team together for Royal Ascot and he’s definitely a two-year-old you’ve just got to keep on top of mentally. He was a little bit naughty at the start today Sean (Levey) was saying, but he’s done the job well so I’m pleased with that.”