Dance In The Grass waltzes into 1,000 Guineas picture with Star Stakes success

Thursday: Sandown

Dance In The Grass earned a quote of 25-1 with Betfair Sportsbook for next year's Qipco 1,000 Guineas as she maintained her unbeaten record in the Listed European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes.

Returning to the scene of her debut win over the same seven-furlong course and distance last month, Dance In The Grass stayed on strongly from the rear to justify 11-4 favouritism under Silvestre de Sousa.

High-class filly Inspiral landed the Star Stakes last year on her way to top-level success at both two and three, and joint-winning trainer Mark Johnston confirmed a step up to Group level would be next for the Jaber Abdullah-owned juvenile.

"You never know with these two-year-olds if they want a little bit more experience before they step up in grade, but that was great," said Johnston. "I was a bit worried early on because I thought they'd gone crazy fast, but thankfully Silvestre kept his head.

"Silvestre said she acted better on the faster ground last time and she was struggling to get her feet out of this a wee bit, but she got there."

Dance In The Grass: 25-1 for the 1,000 Guineas after landing the Listed Star Stakes at SandownCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The winner holds entries in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes and Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh, but Johnston sees no issue with her stepping up in trip.

"She'll step up to Group races next," he added. "Silvestre said the big mile races next season but I would imagine, just looking at her physically, she'd stay further than that next year."

No stopping Nostrum

Anyone wondering why Ryan Moore had decided to drop into Sandown on his way to riding at Leopardstown's evening fixture soon had their answer as Nostrum made an emphatic winning debut in the 7f maiden.

A Juddmonte homebred son of Kingman, Nostrum earned a quote of 20-1 with Coral for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas having put three lengths between himself and runner-up Golden Speech at the line.

"He was left in front a long way out, which I didn't want," said Moore, "but every time I asked him he kept lengthening and we're delighted with what he's done.

Nostrum puts on an impressive display on his debut under Ryan MooreCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I think he has plenty of improvement in him, but he is more of a three-year-old than a two-year-old. He'll have no problem going a mile and may get a little further."

Going concern

There was some discontent with the going description at Sandown which, having started the day as good to firm, firm in places, was changed to good to firm, good in places after 3.5mm of rain overnight and then to good, good to firm in places after race three.

The consensus from riders was that the ground was no quicker than good, and clerk of the course Andrew Cooper felt the track was perhaps riding slower than it had walked.

"The consensus for racing on Wednesday was that the ground was on the better side of good to firm, which is what we were aiming to do," he said. "I don't regret anything in terms of watering to that point and last night's rain could have been nothing, but equally Lambourn had about 15mm.

"It's proved not to be my finest hour in terms of the description, but it's ridden slower than it walked and we've corrected it."

Results, replays and analysis

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