Three Performances From The Weekend - 17/05/21

Palace Pier was the highlight of the week in racing with the exceptional miler cementing himself as one of the best at that distance in the sport.

Having had a prep run at Sandown, he came on a fair bit for the run and demolished a decent field with only the filly Lady Bowthorpe being able to throw it down to him.

The pair pulled clear of the third placed Top Rank, who himself was a further five lengths clear of the others, making it a dominant display in a classy Group One.

His trainer John Gosden has now explained that he will head back to Royal Ascot in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes and having already won at the track it makes for a exciting spectacle, taking on similar horses.

Palace Pier is now the 4/6 favourite to make it back to back Group Ones at Royal Ascot.

John Gosden had another big eye-catcher on Sunday with First Light, ridden by P J Mcdonald at Ripon went on to land a Maiden Stakes by 12 lengths.

The standard of the race might not have been all that great but the way the son of Dubawi went on to win the race was extremely taking and he is a horse to follow off the back of it.

Having been seen twice before that run, finishing second in November on debut over a mile behind the Listed Blue Riband Trial winner Wirko and then finishing third on his seasonal debut this term over 10f at Newcastle behind the impressive John Leeper.

He had already shown a decent level of form, but seemed to put everything together at the weekend and he will now be heading for the big 1m2f events throughout the season.

Finally, Al Aasy for William Haggas looks to be an absolute superstar, really coming alive this season on both his runs and at the weekend he gave a career best effort to win a decent event on the bridle.

The four year old last year showed serious ability when winning back to back races at Newmarket over 12 and 13 furlongs, but went to Glorious Goodwood after that and flopped.

Many might have given up on the Sea The Stars colt after that, but on seasonal debut he stepped up for the Group Three Surprise Stakes over course and distance and ran out a very easy 4 1/2 lengths winner.

On Saturday at Newbury he took 2019 St Leger winner Logician and 2020 Dante winner Thunderous in the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes and made a mockery of the field to win by an eased down four lengths.

Haggas explained it is now all systems go for the Group One Coronation Stakes at Epsom in June and if running to a similar standard he looks extremely tough to beat.

He is the 6/5 favourite for that event.