A race that has hardly lived up to its Listed status in recent years but connections of the principals were all eyeing a Royal Ascot date. The race often features nippy sorts despite being a tough six furlongs for two-year-olds, a test they are unlikely to face again in the season back on conventional tracks. Last year's winner BA Foxtrot did better than many in being placed in the Group 2 Mill Reef, although he was 13th of 14 in the Coventry at York after winning here. Winning a Listed race at this stage of the season is something of a poisoned chalice with opportunities limited.

SADEEK has been pencilled in for the Coventry and while he is a tough character with good all-round pace, he will need to find improvement if that race is up to its usual standard, and there have been more impressive two-year-old winners this year. However, he has now shown he handles both soft and sounder surfaces, although this drying ground looked to be as fast as he would want. He nodded coming out of the stalls butmade light of it to chase the front-running Going Straight. He looked like winning cosily going to the final furlong but had to be shaken up against a game rival and he did not help his cause by hanging into his rival. He was still well on top to win a shade cosily and connections reported that he is very laid back and as such he can keep progressing.

Going Straight, the only filly in the race, is a strong, taking sort. Stamina concerns for this sixth furlong after a flying five-furlong win did not get in the way of tactics as she was quickly away and set a good tempo. Although she battled back when headed, the strong finish of Always Fruitful suggested the leading pair were not finding that much in the last 75 yards. The Albany, a Listed race forfillies over six furlongs at Royal Ascot, could be next for the runner-up.

Mubaashir looked uneasy on the course, running around under pressure, and was beaten before stamina for the sixth furlong became an issue. This was disappointing, even though he again beat Loves Bidding and Lord Charles, but nowhere near as far in the case of the former. As Loves Bidding also ran too keenly to give himself a chance, Mubaashir has something to prove.

*Always Fruitful was reported to have missed the break and Lord Charles was reported to have failed to stay . [BJ]

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