Derby hope Mohaafeth records lofty RPR of 117 in Newmarket Stakes romp

The Guineas returned to their traditional spring slot at the weekend, but neither race quite matched its usual standard with Poetic Flare and Mother Earth returning figures at the bottom end of expectations for winners of the first Classics.

Poetic Flare came closest to hitting the mark on Saturday and his improved Racing Post Rating of 120 falls only 1lb shy of the recent race median, but that still rates the lowest awarded to the 2,000 Guineas winner since Footstepsinthesand (118) in 2005.

In an open contest with no standout performer the race always looked likely to struggle to produce a top figure, with the depressed levels of last year's juveniles in a Covid-19-affected season also a factor at this early stage.