New blood, old boys and great names - eight things we learned

Racing here, racing there, racing absolutely everywhere! There were horses strutting their stuff wherever you looked during the latest edition of racing's busiest day on Saturday, making it easy to miss a thing or two. Here we put together all of the key lessons learned during a compelling afternoon.

Clive Cox is a sprinting genius

Okay, maybe we did not learn this outright on Saturday but after Heartache won the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, Adam Kirby said Clive Cox does not get the recognition he deserves. After yet another outstanding display of sprint training, surely few doubt the abilities of the Lambourn trainer now.

Harry Angel now joins Lethal Force, Profitable, Reckless Abandon and Gilt Edge Girl as Group 1-winning sprinters trained by Cox, with the likes of Priceless threatening to join them in due course. It is a remarkable track record in the making.

The individual achievement of Harry Angel's victory on Saturday ought not to be overlooked either. Let us not forget, this was billed as one of the great Darley July Cups and odds-on favourite Caravaggio threatened to dominate the landscape all year. But Cox has taught Harry Angel to settle, allowing the blisteringly-fast three-year-old to show his startling talent.

Enable streaks clear of her rivals to win the Irish OaksCredit: Caroline Norris

Enable stands alone in Britain and Ireland at least

Enable was sensational in completing an Oaks double at the Curragh and with the Investec Derby form not working out as well as it might, she confirmed herself the best middle-distance three-year-old in Britain and Ireland at the very least.

Some of our friends in France might have something to say about who is Europe's best, with connections of Brametot in particular having a strong case, but certainly there would be few fillies to challenge her.

The next big challenge for Enable will be when she takes on the very best older males. But she is in the right hands as last time John Gosden had a top-class filly he won the King George with Taghrooda. Further down the line, Enable could be a leading player in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Aidan O'Brien has another serious colt on his hands

In the last three years Aidan O'Brien has headed to the Qipco 2,000 Guineas with at least one hugely exciting colt in the shape of Gleneagles, Air Force Blue and Churchill, with two landing the year's first Classic. It looks like he will be in the same position again next year courtesy of Gustav Klimt.

The latest Galileo hot-shot had no right to win the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket given the trouble he encountered in running but having quickened while moving across the track, he stuck to his task admirably to justify odds-on favouritism.

The likes of the Futurity Stakes, National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes now beckon and heaven knows what he might be able to do with a clear run.

The Pentagon: streaked clear of his Curragh rivalsCredit: Alain Barr

Oh, and another one

It is always nice to have some insurance and should things not work out as planned with Gustav Klimt, then perhaps The Pentagon (what a great name) could be the star.

With so much attention focused elsewhere, The Pentagon's stunning maiden victory at the Curragh was perhaps a little lost in it all but make no mistake, this was the definition of eyecatching.

The Pentagon put his rivals – in what looked a strong race on paper – to the sword ruthlessly from two furlongs out and was in a different league entirely for jockey Ana O'Brien. Into the Investec Derby betting he went and he will be an interesting colt to go to war with in the 2018 Classics.

Ribchester a winner while standing in his box

Mutakayyef was much the best in an up-to-scratch renewal of the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot, which served to boost the profile of the excellent Ribchester in the process.

Richard Fahey's superstar miler never looked seriously threatened by Mutakayyef when landing the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot by a length and a quarter, despite not appearing to have his mind entirely on the job.

It is likely the pair are going to cross paths again before the season is out but if Ribchester brings his A-game to Goodwood – or wherever they meet – it is hard to imagine William Haggas's charge turning the tables.

Veteran sprinters have still got it

Harry Angel and company may be ushering in a new era of sprinters but a couple of old boys showed they are not done just yet.

Over at the Curragh the eight-year-old Caspian Prince, whose breakneck speed is matched only by his heart and desire, toughed out a win in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes, holding the talented Marsha at bay.

Meanwhile, at York, the ten-year-old Take Cover was busy beating a horse half his age as he won the Listed City Walls Stakes. It just goes to show that Flat racing, just like jumps, is capable of producing evergreen stars who come back and win year after year.

That's my girl: Charlie Appleby and the beautifully bred Poetic CharmCredit: Edward Whitaker

Newmarket fillies' contest worth following again

The opening race of the final day of Newmarket's July Festival, a seven-furlong fillies' maiden, has often been a strong race during its short history, with Ballydoyle beating Nemoralia two years ago, for example.

This year's renewal looks promising too, with the winner Poetic Charm making a good impression. A Dubawi half-sister to Darley stallion Teofilo, she has the breeding to be very good and bigger targets than this await.

Aidan O'Brien's Sizzling built on her debut third, finishing second this time, and is a fine prospect in her own right. With good vibes on course about the likes of Quargent in behind too, the form has a solid look and this could prove an above-average maiden.

Appleby's Aussie team being assembled

Charlie Appleby's joy was not confined to Newmarket as Rare Rhythm followed up his Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes victory with a win in the Listed Silver Cup Stakes at York.

The Godolphin trainer had a wonderful time of things with a relatively limited raiding party during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival and is keen to take an even stronger team this year.

Having returned from a lengthy absence in style, the still lightly-raced Rare Rhythm may have booked himself a ticket down under for a shot at the Melbourne Cup.

Saturday's results and analysis