Ratings Update: Wissahickon destined for the top

The three-day Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket kicked off on Thursday and Arctic Sound (109 from 99p) produced a near-smart performance to win the Somerville Tattersall Stakes. The overly-strong pace saw him to maximum effect and there is little doubt he will be suited by further than a mile, especially in his three-year-old campaign when he'll be physically more developed (tall colt with scope).

The Princess Royal Stakes was one of three pattern races on Friday, just the second running of the race as a Group 3, but Highgarden (up 11 lb to 109) only had to run to a useful level to prevail. She proved game to come between Mrs Sippy (remains on 111) and Crimson Rosette (remains 107) in a tight finish, but it was a breakthrough that hardly heralds another, given the grinding style and fine margins.

The Rockfel tends to be overshadowed in the defining events for two-year-old fillies, and it was no different this time, Just Wonderful (up 3 lb to 109) running out a decisive winner, but it was a sub-standard field on the whole, more so with Main Edition (down 2 lb to 105) again falling below her summer form. The winner has been inconsistent this season, but she looks the part on her better days, and there looks like there is more talent to be unlocked, too; she is sure to be part of Aidan O’Brien’s Guineas squad next season.

#RUKMomentOfTheDay: Just Wonderful upheld family honour when winning the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, seven years after her dam Wading achieved the same feat.

Watch all the finishes from today for free in our results and replay section. https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/5qjaolKd1c

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) September 28, 2018

It was a disappointing turnout for the Joel Stakes and only two of the five runners were on their game, the most consistent Mustashry (up 3 lb to 122) wearing down Zabeel Prince (remains on 118) inside the final furlong to record his third win of the campaign. Mustashry proved at least as good as ever back at a mile, no mean feat to concede 3 lb to one who was given a sound tactical ride, and it is perhaps surprising he doesn’t hold an entry in the QE II Stakes on Champions Day given the lack of depth in the one-mile division.

That the race was the springboard for Roaring Lion is the exception rather than the rule for the Royal Lodge, the race tending to fit more in the second division of two-year-olds, and that theory rang true in this year’s renewal. Aidan O’Brien saddled the first three home, Mohawk (110 from 101p) proving well suited by the step up to a mile, responding whenever asked and ultimately running out a comfortable winner. It makes sense to have another crack at Group 1 level with him this back-end, but he will likely be more a member of the support team amongst the yard’s classic contingent next year.

A representative field went to post for this year's Cheveley Park, with most of the winners of the other juvenile fillies pattern sprints taking their chance, and it was the Lowther form that came to the fore, Fairyland (up 10 lb to 112) showing much improved form to beat The Mackem Bullet (up 10 lb to 111) by a neck. Fairyland has progressed nicely through the ranks this season, producing a smart effort to give Aidan O’Brien a third successive winner in the race, and she should continue to give a good account.

A number of two-year-old pattern races have been above standard this season – notably the Coventry, Champagne and National Stakes – pointing to a strong crop at the top end, and there are two more to add after the Middle Park in the shape of Ten Sovereigns (120p from 114P) and Jash (118 from 105p). Jash produced a performance that would have won him many a Middle Park, which puts the success of Ten Sovereigns into perspective, who emulated his freshman sire by completing an unbeaten first season with a Group 1 over six furlongs. The Guineas will be tempting next season, but the exuberance and speed which Ten Sovereigns displays makes a mile a reach; he is a top-class prospect for sprints next season.

FULL REPLAY & REACTION: Ten Sovereigns gets up his hat-trick at Newmarket + updates on Jash and Rumble Inthejungle 👇https://t.co/7QpCnhTeLu pic.twitter.com/1jnGSMnFhS

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) September 29, 2018

Wissahickon (125 from 115p) turned one of the most competitive handicaps of the year into a procession, evoking memories of Pipedreamer and Halling, both of whom were three-year-old winners of the Cambridgeshire for John Gosden – the former subsequently placed in Group 1s and the latter winning five of them, and neither did it by so wide a margin as Wissahickon. He put up one of the handicap performances of modern times in a field where he was the least experienced after just six starts – only two of them on turf – the way he powered away from his rivals after making a big move over a furlong out the hallmark of a horse who belongs at a much higher level. His sire Tapit has produced several high-class dirt performers (including Frosted), food for thought for next year when connections are entitled to think big and possibly global, Dubai or America alternative avenues to explore.

Naas

Aidan O’Brien recorded his 18^th win in the Beresford Stakes at Naas on Sunday with Japan (109p from 91P), who is improving in leaps and bounds, following up his recent maiden success in determined style. Connections suggested he may now head to the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster next month and he will merit plenty of respect if taking his chance there, the fact he's come so far in such a short amount of time saying plenty about his innate ability and also his constitution.

Winner number 18 for Aidan O’Brien in the Beresford Stakes and his eighth in a row - 1.3m gns colt Japan just edges out stablemate Mount Everest at @NaasRacecourse... pic.twitter.com/OUOTVo7Zbl

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 30, 2018

The Renaissance Stakes wasn’t as competitive as it might have been, a couple of the more likely types failing to fire, but the winner Unfortunately (112 from 103+) posted a smart effort, returning to something like the level of form he showed as a two-year-old. The Champions Sprint at Ascot next month was mooted by connections as his next possible port of call, though that would represent a much sterner test.

Cypress Creek (up 1 lb to 113) won a well-run renewal of the Loughbrown Stakes, capitalising on the drop in grade to resume winning ways, reversing recent form with the runner-up Twilight Payment (remains on 116) in the process. The emphasis on stamina very much played to his strengths, and he will stay further than two miles on this evidence; he shouldn't be underestimated should he take his chance in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot next month.

It was an up-to-scratch renewal of the C. L. & M. F. Weld Park Stakes, Hermosa (up 4 lb to 106p) justifying strong support to win with a bit in hand. She will prove as effective at a mile before the current campaign draws to a conclusion – reportedly could head to Newmarket for the Fillies Mile – and is open to further improvement when stepping up to middle distances next season.