Sprint division needs a star, Amo youngster stands out and career-best for Menuisier - three things we learned this week

Three key takeaways from this week . . .

Cathedral live Guineas hope for Amo

There was plenty of expectation around Cathedral's debut at Lingfield on Wednesday and she could not have been more impressive in her dismissal of a Godolphin newcomer.

Bought for €800,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale by Amo Racing, the Ralph Beckett-trained filly was sent off 1-2 favourite and showed a blistering turn of foot to surge clear and score by four and a half lengths under David Egan.

Cathedral is certainly bred for the job, being by Sussex Stakes winner Too Darn Hot out of a Frankel mare who is a half-sister to Bluestocking, who Beckett knows well having saddled her to Group 1 success in the Pretty Polly in June.

Egan spoke of his excitement with a view to next season on ITV Racing, adding she had always shown plenty at home and "looked as if she'd get seven furlongs no problem".

She was cut to as short as 25-1 for next year's 1,000 Guineas and could have the option of enhancing her Classic credentials in the Cheveley Park, which was won last year by subsequent 1,000 Guineas runner-up and Coronation and Falmouth winner Porta Fortuna, or the Oh So Sharp Stakes, with Sunday's Moyglare Stud Stakes coming too soon.
Harry Wilson

Unpredictable division needs a star

The Group 1 sprinting scene remains unpredictable and open, with Montassib becoming the sixth different winner of a top-level five- or six-furlong contest from as many races this season in Britain.

The six-year-old gelding has always been a smart performer, but this was his first attempt in Group 1 company and he defied market expectations – he was sent off at 25-1 – to beat Kind Of Blue, Unequal Love, Vadream and Flora Of Bermuda, who were priced at 14-1, 12-1, 50-1 and 33-1. Well done if you found the tricast, which paid £2,521.16.

He is 6-1 joint-favourite to go back-to-back in next month's Champions Sprint at Ascot, but few sprinters have managed to win consecutive Group 1 races in recent seasons – last year's Commonwealth and July Cup winner Shaquille was a notable exception. Art Power's 40-1 win in the Champions Sprint last season, defeating favourite Kinross, is another example of how unpredictable this division is.

Sprints by their very nature lend themselves to more surprises, with small moments making a big difference to the outcome, but it is also clear evidence of how Britain is lacking a dominant force for the division.

The star power of Blue Point and Battaash feels like a lifetime ago.
Matt Butler

Montassib became the latest Group 1-winning sprinter on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick

Menuisier on the rise

David Menuisier has quietly produced a career-best campaign in Britain with 23 winners, and there are signs the yard could be set for a really decent autumn.

With respect to Thundering Blue and Danceteria, Wonderful Tonight was the horse who really catapulted Menuisier up the ladder, but following her retirement the trainer has had to rebuild from his West Sussex base, with a couple of quieter seasons following.

The stable has still had some notable highs, including Sunway's Criterium International win last October, but it feels like there is more depth to the string this time round.

Saturday's Haydock winner Master Builder looks like he could go on to be a Pattern-quality performer, whether this season or next, while the likes of Sunway, Caius Chorister, War Chimes, Devil's Point and Tamfana could all be in and around major contests this autumn.

It has the makings of a potentially strong ending to a progressive campaign.
Matt Butler

Read these next:

'Lazy horse' Holloway Boy finally wins two years after his shock Royal Ascot victory 

Mill Reef and Middle Park in the mix after Adrian Keatley trains first Group winner since switch to Britain 

Cieren Fallon hails 'special' first Group 1 for boss William Haggas as 25-1 Montassib stuns Sprint Cup rivals 

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