Abbaye the 'logical' target for The Platinum Queen after superb Nunthorpe run

Middleham Park Racing's £40,000 gamble in supplementing runner-up The Platinum Queen for the Nunthorpe Stakes paid off and the owners are already plotting a crack at the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.

Their blisteringly fast two-year-old filly, who was returned at 9-2, led her elders for the first four furlongs of Britain's only all-aged 5f Group 1 and earned just short of £115,000 for finishing second to Highfield Princess.

"It's a relief that we don't look stupid!" said racing manager Tim Palin. "For four-fifths of the race we probably looked quite clever. We've had a very good bet.

"It was a great run and we've been beaten by a high-class animal. We're thrilled for John Quinn's team but equally we're thrilled for our members that we've come so far in such a short time.

"The weight for age may be a little generous and whether we can come back and replicate that in future time will tell but she's going to give us plenty of fun."

Tim Palin: 'The stuff dreams are made of'Credit: David Carr

No supplement will be needed for the Abbaye as The Platinum Queen is already entered and Palin added: "You wouldn't know whether the ground would suit her or not but you'd have thought that would be the logical place to go.

"You could go for the Flying Childers – this is the stuff dreams are made of, sitting down Aidan O'Brien-style and deciding, because we've got two or three for the Childers. It's a privilege to have those kind of decisions to make."

A bid to repeat last year's win in the Betfair Sprint Cup is the target for Emaraaty Ana after he bounced back to form to finish third.

"We're over the moon with him," said trainer Kevin Ryan's son and assistant Adam. "He's taken his time to get over Dubai but he was more himself there.

"I hope he can go on to Haydock and defend his crown. Ideally, that's his trip. It's fantastic to see him bouncing back to form - long may it continue."

'He's run a really good race'

Charlie Hills is eyeing the Curragh for fourth-placed Khaadem and he said: "We were pleased with that. It was a little bit loose over on the side he was but he's run a really good race. We'll definitely look at the Flying Five."

James Tate was disappointed 5-2 favourite Royal Aclaim could finish only sixth.

"It was probably not the best part of the track to be on but we're still a little bit disappointed," the trainer said. "But it's only the fourth run of her career so I'm sure we'll keep moving forward."

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