Insight on the €2 million buy 'who looked the business' prior to Classic debut

Sandown specialist

The classy Mostahdaf kicked off his season with victory at Sandown and heads back there with a 3-3 course record for a tilt at the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes next Thursday after shining in his latest workout on the Limekilns round gallop. Jim Crowley was in early to put the son of Frankel through his paces over a mile on the peat moss facility, which was favoured once again by John and Thady Gosden, who also sent some juveniles up the trial ground.

Irish Guineas clue

The William Haggas team after working on the watered gallop with Frankel colt Al Mubhir (Cieren Fallon) centre

Lael Stable certainly splashed out for the three-year-old filly Purplepay when they paid €2 million for her at the French sales in December and the former Cedric Rossi trainee is in for a high profile first start for William Haggas in Sunday’s Irish 1,000 Guineas. The daughter of Zarak, who may be flying under the radar in the Classic, finished third in a Group 1 last autumn and looked the business in her final spin under Ted Durcan on the watered gallop on Tuesday.

Busy Boughey

Charles St (far) heads Land Of Eagles and Tollard Royal

The in-form George Boughey yard is one of the closest to the watered strip which actually starts in Cambridgeshire and ends in Suffolk – just like the famous handicap staged on the Rowley Mile in September. The Classic-winning trainer was focused on Evocative Spark as he powered out of the Dip in the hands of Callum Shepherd and the three-year-old holds an entry at Goodwood on Saturday. Another of note from Saffron House Stables was Charles St.