Don't be surprised if Juddmonte's 1,000 Guineas disappointment is back in Group 1 company this autumn

Lady Of Spain could make her mark in the autumn

Following the departure of King Of Steel and the retirement of top miler Charyn last year, Roger Varian has been left searching for his next yard flagbearer at Group 1 level.

Lady Of Spain might just go on to fill that void. The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain cost 40,000gns at Tattersalls Book 2 in 2022 and has proved a bargain.

The four-year-old racked up four all-weather wins in just under a year after making her debut in December 2023, culminating in a Listed success at Deauville at the end of last year.

Lady of Spain: denied Juddmonte's Blue Bolt in the Atalanta Stakes

Lady of Spain (left) beats Blue Bolt in the Atalanta Stakes at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Lady Of Spain was unproven on soft ground and in Group company and had a 255-day break and the widest draw in stall 14 to overcome in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown on Saturday. She had all the answers.

Ray Dawson's mount stayed on best to deny a leading fancy in the progressive Blue Bolt and she promises to take a big step forward from this first start in eight months.

She is a general 10-1 to strike on a potential first crack at Group 1 company in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket on October 4, a race that last year's Atalanta winner Tamfana went on to land.
Jack Haynes

Dignam a juvenile hurdler to follow

The jumps season is still six weeks or so from starting in anger, but on Monday we may have seen a smart performer capable of making his presence felt in some nice races throughout the season.

Juvenile hurdler Dignam, trained by Joseph O’Brien and owned by Paul Byrne, was long odds-on and did not have the strongest opposition at Cartmel, but his seven-length win delivered with the absolute minimum of fuss was eyecatching.

Dignam (left) is in the hands of a top trainer of juvenile hurdles in Joseph O'Brien

Dignam (left): in the hands of a top trainer of juvenile hurdlers in Joseph O'BrienCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

That took his record to 3-3 over hurdles, and this one-time winner on the Flat, who had a peak rating in that sphere of 92, the same high last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros had before switching codes.

Dignam seems to thrive on good ground and was pulled out of a run at Gowran Park in June due to the soft conditions, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he had a break over the winter before being geared up for some nicer prizes in the spring.
Sam Hendry

Red Letter begins to fulfil big potential

This time last year, Juddmonte's Red Letter was one of Ireland's most promising two-year-old fillies.

However, her bubble looked like it may have been burst when she underwhelmed as the 7-2 second favourite in the Moyglare Stud Stakes before finishing down the field when returning in the 1,000 Guineas.

Red Letter wom the Group 3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes at the Curragh on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Trainer Ger Lyons stayed patient, though, and the daughter of Frankel is now starting to realise her early potential. There was a confidence-boosting win in Listed company at Killarney in July before she stepped up to win a Group 3 at the Curragh on Saturday with some authority.

Gary Carroll had to switch a couple of times, but she pulled away nicely inside the final furlong and her trainer is sure she will improve again for a step up to to a mile and a quarter or further, with the Group 2 Blandford Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival her next target.

Don't be surprised if she is back in Group 1 company this autumn and beyond, with her preference for soft ground likely to make her a big threat wherever she turns up.
Sam Hendry

'He's still one of the best' - Frankie Dettori lands $3.5m Nashville Derby on Wimbledon Hawkeye in landmark moment for James Owen

Godolphin juvenile had a major form boost in the Solario - so 66-1 quote for next year's Derby might not be too fanciful