Monday 7 September 2015 17:50, UK
A review of the pick of Monday's action at Windsor, where Sunflower impressed in making a winning debut.
Sunflower looks a filly bound for bigger and better things following a most impressive debut at Windsor.
The daughter of Dutch Art was a 7/2 chance for her introduction in the second division of the Awesome Biscuits Maiden Fillies' Stakes and David Probert cut a confident figure in the saddle throughout.
Once popped the question heading inside the last of six furlongs, Andrew Balding's youngster displayed a smart change of gear to seal the deal and was good value for the winning margin of a neck over the similarly promising Gravity Flow.
Balding admitted in the aftermath his Cheveley Park Stakes entrant has looked above average from an early stage.
"She looked very smart in the spring and we had her all ready to run and unfortunately she had a knee chip which had to be removed," said Kingsclere handler.
"She's done well to come back as it's been a little bit like treading on egg shells, trying to keep her in one piece, so she'll improve enormously for the run.
"There's plenty to go on from a fitness point of view and obviously the experience. Not many of mine win first time out unless they're pretty useful, so hopefully she is.
"She's got a lot of talent."
Asked about a potential step up to Group One level at Newmarket on September 26, Balding said: "I think it's very much the owner's decision and we'll look at the evidence of the times and see how she is.
"We don't have to make a decision until much closer to the day."
Sunflower's victory completed a quick-fire double for Probert having earlier steered the well-related Quick March (9/4) to a runaway success in division one.
A half-sister to former high-class sprinter Mince, Roger Charlton's charge made it third time lucky with a five-length triumph over hot favourite Heroic Heart.
"I'm really pleased. It's been a great family," Charlton told At The Races.
"Mince started off finishing nearly last first time out, then she won and just got better and better. Hopefully this filly can do the same.
"David said six furlongs is right for her.
"It would be foolish of me to get the owner too excited."
Frankie Dettori also enjoyed an excellent afternoon, initiating a hat-trick aboard the Luca Cumani-trained Four On Eight (13/8 favourite) in the Chandler And Co Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
The popular Italian doubled up in the Taylor Osborne Nursery as John Gosden's 15/8 favourite Cartago gave weight and a comfortable beating to his rivals, before completing his treble on 13/8 favourite Lemoncetta in the Silver Peak Accelerator Handicap for the Clarehaven maestro.
William Muir and Martin Dwyer combined to land the John Wood Memorial Handicap with Equally Fast.
The 14/1 shot hung badly across the track in the closing stages, but passed the post a head to the good over Emjayem.
"He's a bit of a boy in the stalls, but today he jumped well and from that draw I thought it was a good performance," said Muir.
"He did drift across the track, but I don't know if that's because he couldn't see anyone else.
"Last year I thought he was a high-class horse and sometimes horses can lose their way as three-year-olds.
"There's a big horse under there if we can get it right."
James Tate's Light Wave struck gold at 8/1 in the Imperial Consultants Handicap, while Secret Bird (3/1) took the concluding Unibet Offer Daily Jockey/Trainer Specials Handicap.
