3 minute read

With Royal Ascot and Newmarket’s July meeting behind us, we reveal which European-trained juveniles have achieved the highest Timeform ratings so far this season.

Shalaa - 116p

Shalaa may have failed to meet expectations on debut when pitched in at the deep end against winners, but he has improved rapidly with the benefit of that experience under his belt, winning a Newmarket (Rowley Mile) maiden in taking style before following up with a decisive success in the Group 2 July Stakes. In what looked to be a strong renewal of the July Stakes, with several Royal Ascot form lines represented through principal players from the Coventry, Chesham and Windsor Castle, it was the unexposed Shalaa who dominated from start to finish. Sent straight into the lead, Shalaa travelled powerfully throughout and was still firmly on the bridle whilst all his rivals were in trouble approaching the final furlong. Signs of inexperience were evident when Shalaa veered to his left inside the final 100 yards, but the race was already in the bag by that point, and he looks sure to be a leading player in any juvenile race he contests this season.

Buratino - 114

With six starts under his belt, Buratino has had plenty of racing for a juvenile but he has absolutely thrived on it, following up a clear-cut win in the listed Woodcote Stakes with an authoritative victory in the prestigious Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. It’s possible that there was less strength in depth to this year’s Coventry than is often the case, but Buratino still ran out an impressive winner, travelling powerfully on the bridle before quickening sharply to register a two-length success. Buratino evidently possesses plenty of speed but he should prove as effective over seven furlongs and will have Group 1 targets in his sight now.

Easton Angel - 111

Easton Angel may not have produced her very best in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting, but she held a valid excuse having been denied a clear run after travelling as well as any, and her effort in finishing runner-up to Acapulco in the Queen Mary is a better reflection of her ability. Easton Angel may have lost her unbeaten record at Royal Ascot but she produced a performance good enough to have won an average renewal of the race, and she was simply unlucky to bump into a juvenile of Acapulco’s calibre. Easton Angel’s unlucky effort in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes showed that she should prove as effective over six furlongs, and she’s likely to bounce back granted better luck in running.

Painted Cliffs - 110p

You’d have been forgiven for assuming that Painted Cliffs wasn’t one of Aidan O’Brien’s leading lights when he was fitted with blinkers for his second start having finished down the field on debut. However, Painted Cliffs was a comfortable winner at Leopardstown, and he showed a big chunk of improvement to win the Group 2 Railway Stakes on his next outing, putting up the best performance from an Irish-trained juvenile this season. It was a good renewal of the Railway with wide-margin maiden winner Rockaway Valley heading the market from Norfolk Stakes runner-up Log Out Island, but Painted Cliffs won in convincing style, always travelling well and quickly having matters under control when bursting clear. The Group 1 Phoenix Stakes – a race Aidan O’Brien has won 13 times in the past 17 years – is the obvious target for Painted Cliffs and he is well worth his place in such a contest.