Illustrating is Lowther-bound

Impressive Goodwood win sets up Knavesmire run.

Illustrating will reach for the stars in the Lowther Stakes at York after a commanding performance to take out the British Stallion Studs Alice Keppel EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes for Karl Burke and owners Clipper Logistics at Goodwood.

The Showcasing filly is targeting that Group Two on the Knavesmire after outclassing her foes under Danny Tudhope.

The well-supported 2-1 favourite seized the initiative approaching the distance and readily pulled two and three-quarter lengths clear of Anadora and Canonized.

Burke was quick to compare her with Quiet Reflection, who after finishing fourth in the Lowther landed the Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot.

He said: “She’s the only filly I’ve had with the same turn of foot as Quiet Reflection and showed it today. She needs cover, and there was a worrying moment when she got a bit of a bump early on, but she settled sufficiently well for Daniel to get the job done.”

Stressing that cover is essential for his filly, Burke added: “She relaxes straight away when she gets cover, and if she does that she’ll have a better chance of getting six furlongs at York.

“Her first race at Catterick was just down the road and she bolted up, but in the Royal Ascot race (Queen Mary) she was a bit gassy and did too much too soon chasing the American fillies.”

Achelois gave Andrew Balding another Goodwood winner
Achelois gave Andrew Balding another Goodwood winner (John Walton/PA)

Andrew Balding followed up his win in the Sussex Stakes with Alcohol Free when Achelois landed the British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap.

Rob Hornby send the Zoffany filly about her business well over a furlong out, and the combination had too much for Timeless Soul as the pair drew clear.

The 3-1 winner is owned by the Thurloe For Royal Marsden Cancer Charity syndicate, run by James and Nicky Stafford, who said: “Andrew said it would be a good move to step her up in trip to a mile and a quarter, and he was right.”

Nagano was vindicated after a luckless run at Ascot last time out as he claimed victory in the Unibet “15 To Go” Handicap.

The three-year-old travelled from the rear of the field to take on 100-30 favourite Siskany, who was reeled in at the half-furlong marker and eventually beaten by three-quarters of a length.

Trained by Roger Varian, the gelding was last seen in the King George V Stakes at the Royal meeting where he finished two and a quarter lengths behind the winner despite being badly hampered, with Siskany a couple of places in front of him.

This time there was no such hinderance as the bay took a wide line around the 13-runner field and powered home under David Egan.

“The last furlong was tough, but he was in front on soft ground,” Varian said.

“He got there quite comfortably and we always felt he had enough in the tank to hold on and it was nice to see him do so.

“If you look at all of his races, he’s looked in trouble at the start and then come home like a train.

“At Royal Ascot, from that good draw, we were keen not to give away the draw and maybe got him rushed early and took his finish away.

“Today we rode him more patiently and he showed what he can do.”

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