Ratings Update: Mount could be Melbourne-bound

Last week’s racing was very much the calm before the storm, with Royal Ascot – the highlight of the Flat calendar in Britain – now less than 24 hours away. By way of comparison, the Royal meeting is set to play host to no fewer than eight Group 1s over the course of the next five days, whereas these shores saw nothing better than listed action during the week just gone.

The best performance in that period came courtesy of Gold Mount (119 from 112+), who looked at least as good as ever when winning the Grand Cup on his first start for Ian Williams at York on Saturday, for all that he was seen to much better effect than most on the day (received ideal ride in a strongly-run race).

A Royal Ascot winner himself in a former life – when named Primitivo and trained by Alan King – he had done all his racing in Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai over the previous three seasons and could have another international target on his agenda at the end of the current campaign, this the perfect platform for him to build on with the Melbourne Cup in mind.

16-1 Gold Mount is the surprise winner of the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes 🙌

The favourite Mekhong well beaten 😯 pic.twitter.com/ZoFFFtpi7x

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 15, 2019

The front pair pulled nine lengths clear of the third and the runner-up, Raheen House (remains on 116), will also be of plenty of interest for an excellent new handler of his own next-time-out, having shaped as if retaining all his ability after eight months off.

Also at York on Saturday, Recon Mission (up 7 lb to 111) produced a smart effort to win the valuable Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap. That success put the icing on what has been an excellent start to life for his new yard, progressing with every run so far barring a blip in the Dash at Epsom.

Runner-up in a listed event for his previous connections, he should easily prove good enough to go one better now, with his point-and-shoot style of racing likely to stand him in very good stead in smaller fields.

A member of our Horses To Follow in 2019, Happy Power (up 4 lb to 116p) made it three wins for the year in the Ganton Stakes on York’s Friday card, seeing out the extra furlong thoroughly and showing improved form in the process. This may not have been the strongest race of its kind, but he’s a likeable type who appeared to have a bit in hand here and should go on improving.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Kurious (remains on 99) made the most of a good opportunity to land the Scurry Stakes at Sandown, not needing to improve to win what looks a sub-standard renewal. She’s clearly useful, though whether she can be competitive above listed level remains to be seen.

Another performance to note on Sandown’s card came from New King (up 18 lb to 113p), who took apart a three-year-old handicap that had looked to contain several interesting horses beforehand, ultimately winning by eight lengths to establish himself as a pattern-performer in the making.

New King (15-8f) wins this Class 3 handicap at @Sandownpark with a real degree of comfort under @oismurphy for the John Gosden stable pic.twitter.com/a8WHLXuXkx

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 15, 2019

Indeed, even a conservative estimate of the form has him running to smart level, and it would be no surprise if he had even more to offer, especially when stepping up to a mile and a half (bred to stay that far).

There was a thrilling finish to the Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury on Sunday, with Snazzy Jazzy (remains on 116) and Archer’s Dream (remains on 107p) sharing the spoils. The former was unlucky not to win the race outright given the trouble passage he endured (hampered over two furlongs out and forced to switch), and his performance under a penalty is in line with the recent winning standards for this race – he’s not one to write off when going back up in grade.

Meanwhile, Archer’s Dream deserves credit for how far she's come in such a short space of time, looking well at home at this level on just her third start, and she may yet prove capable of better.

Away from the weekend’s action, Antonia de Vega (up 7 lb to 109p) resumed her progress on her belated return to win the listed fillies’ heat at Newbury on Thursday, a little rusty but well on top at the finish and looking set to make up for lost time. Subsequent Irish Oaks winners Great Heavens and Sea of Class feature on the roll of honour for this race, and Antonia de Vega looks likely to head to the Curragh next-time-out, too, where the longer trip is unlikely to be an issue on this evidence.

Antonia De Vega is an impressive winner of the Johnnie Lewis Memorial British EBF Stakes for Harry Bentley and Ralph Beckett 👌 pic.twitter.com/NSCviadYLg

— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) June 13, 2019

Later that day in Ireland, Flight Risk (remains on 116) justified favouritism in the Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown with the minimum of fuss, not needing to improve to win it for the second time, while it was a similar story for Who’s Steph (remains on 112) in Friday’s Munster Oaks at Cork.

Ger Lyons’ charge didn’t have to be at her best here, but her record this season is hard to fault and she will continue to take plenty of beating at this sort of level.

The Midsummer Stakes on the same card went the way of the sole overseas runner in the field, with the John Quinn-trained El Astronaute (114 from 109+) travelling well at the head of affairs before seeing off all the challengers. This represented a return to his best after a slightly disappointing start to the campaign, and he will remain a force in listed/minor pattern company now back in the groove, with speed-favouring tracks such as this always likely to see him to best effect.

Finally, the most prestigious event to take place in recent days came in France, with the Prix de Diane taking centre stage at Chantilly on Sunday. However, with dual Guineas winner Hermosa waiting for Royal Ascot and favourite Siyarafina (112 from 113P) losing her unbeaten record, it was not the race it promised to be at one stage.

The first half-dozen were ultimately covered by just a length or so, and while the winner Channel (up 18 lb to 112p) is an unexposed filly who took a big jump in class in her stride, connections of the next three home at least are entitled to be looking forward to a rematch, all three finishing off strongly from further back in a race where the early pace was steady.