'Dream come true' - Running Lion vying for Oaks favouritism after stunning win in Pretty Polly

An Oaks of some description awaits Running Lion after the daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Roaring Lion put up arguably the most impressive performance of the Guineas festival in the Howden Pretty Polly Stakes.

Joint-trainer John Gosden won the same Listed contest with Taghrooda before she triumphed in the Oaks at Epsom in 2014 and Paddy Power cut Running Lion to 6-1 (from 16-1) to repeat the feat in the Betfred-sponsored Classic on June 2.

However, winning rider Oisin Murphy seemed to indicate a mile and a quarter might be the winner's optimum trip and, while not discounting the Oaks, Gosden said the Prix de Diane at Chantilly would also be considered.

Gosden said: "Roaring Lion won the Dante in tremendous style and went for the Derby. He was the last one off the bridle at Epsom but didn't see out the mile and a half, so it will be very interesting with this filly whether she's more Prix de Diane or if she'd be an Oaks mile-and-a-half filly. We'll have to give that some thought.

"The jockey's first reaction was to possibly stay at a mile and a quarter and I'm always interested in what they say straight away, but anything is possible. The idea would be to go to one of the Oaks, but which one it is I wouldn't know.

"She's just gone and won for someone who has bravely sponsored a lot of the races over this meeting and he deserves it."

Running Lion runs in the colours of owner-breeder David Howden, who backed the Pretty Polly among 13 races over the Guineas meeting through his insurance group, and to say he was delighted with the result would be underplaying his reaction.

"It's a dream come true," said Howden. "To see her do that in such an important race is, for me, as good as it gets. She left them standing and I'm on a pretty big high and feeling pretty good about life."

Howden estimated he has around 20 horses in training and appears keen to expand his bloodstock and sponsorship portfolio further.

Sistina sizzles 

George Boughey was just about the only person in Newmarket not concerned by the 14mm of rain that hit the Rowley Mile during and after racing on the Saturday and with good reason as his mare Via Sistina handled the soft ground best of all to romp home in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes.

The well-backed 5-2 favourite came from last to first in customary Jamie Spencer fashion to give Boughey a third successive win on the 1,000 Guineas card, including his breakthrough first Classic success with Cachet a year ago.

Via Sistina (Jamie Spencer) is a very impressive winner of the Dahlia StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Well back off a pace set by Cachet's old adversary Prosperous Voyage, Via Sistina looked as if she had just joined the nine-runner contest passing the Bushes from where she went on to give Al Husn a six-length beating.

Boughey said: "We won the Pretty Polly on this card two years ago and then the 1,000 Guineas so we just keep trying to find a good one for this day."

Of his five-year-old, he added: "We've targeted this race ever since she won in France last November. She looked very good there and we were waiting for the rain.

"I didn't expect her to do it like that, but I did think she would go very close. We could look at the Pretty Polly in Ireland, but the ground is important to her."

A Blue 1-2

Charlie Appleby struck with his first two-year-old runner of the season when On Point battled home in a depleted three-runner turnout for the 5f maiden.

New Darley stallion Blue Point was very short odds to be sire of the winner as he was represented not just by On Point but also runner-up Mashadi.

It's a 1-2 for sire Blue Point in the juvenile maiden with On Point (left) getting the better of MashadiCredit: Alan Crowhurst

On Point was familiar with these surroundings even before he had gone to post as he had enjoyed a paddock school at the track on Friday, and Appleby said: "It's nice to get the first two-year-old winner on the board, especially by Blue Point. We'll probably give him another run before thinking about Royal Ascot."

HMS sinks frontrunner

The late Henry Ponsonby often enjoyed a winner at Newmarket on big racedays and HMS President carried his colours to similar prominence when getting up to land an exciting finish to the 1m6f handicap.

The feature of the race was the front-running tactics of Joe Fanning on Torcello, who had a Frankel-like lead for most of the Rowley Mile and still looked likely to collect in the Dip only to get nailed right on the line.

Rossa Ryan produced a well-judged ride on the former Eve Johnson Houghton six-year-old, who was having just his second start for the Alan King yard.

King's assistant Robin Smith said: "Henry loved a winner anywhere and it's nice that they've kept the syndicate going in his name.

"He got a bump early that lit him up and Rossa did well to get him settled again. He likes a big field and a strong pace so it worked out well. I imagine we'll look at a race at Royal Ascot after that."

The gallant Torcello had to share second spot with Adjuvant of whom trainer Michael Bell said: "If Billy Loughnane was still claiming 5lb like he was last week he would have won."

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