Ascot or Longchamp? Top staying contests under consideration for Quickthorn

Quickthorn’s resounding Lonsdale Cup success only confirmed Hughie Morrison’s view that the five-year-old can mix it at the top level, with staying contests at Longchamp and on Champions Day at Ascot under consideration for his final start of the season.

The withdrawal of Stradivarius and Trueshan changed the complexion of last week’s Group 2, but it was hard not to be impressed by the 14-length front-running success of Quickthorn – a view backed up by Racing Post Ratings.

Quickthorn recorded an RPR of 120 at York – a higher rating than Stradivarius achieved in his three Lonsdale Cup victories – and last bettered by Millenary’s 121 effort in 2005. The only other Lonsdale Cup winners to earn a higher RPR than Quickthorn this century were Persian Punch (122) in 2001 and Bollin Eric (123) in 2003.