'I couldn't believe my eyes' - stunning Royal Aclaim the new Nunthorpe favourite

Saturday: York

A stunned James Tate hailed Royal Aclaim as the fastest horse he has trained after she surged to Nunthorpe Stakes favouritism with an impressive success in the City Walls Stakes.

The daughter of Aclaim ran only once as a juvenile, defeating a field including three-time Group 1 winner Perfect Power at Newcastle in May last year, before returning with an easy win at Bath last month.

Markedly stepped up in class for this Listed contest, she took the big jump with supreme ease for a two-length win under a motionless Andrea Atzeni.

Her breathtaking victory saw her cut to 5-1 favourite for the Nunthorpe with Paddy Power and Betfair and Tate is relishing the chance to test his unbeaten stable star in Group 1 company next month.

"I feel a lot better after that. We spend a lot of our lives looking for something out of the ordinary and I knew she had that after winning at Newcastle last year," he said.

"We gave her a piece of work before the Queen Mary and I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought 'this is it'. She was worth waiting for.

"It's going to be all for the Nunthorpe now. We have no idea how good she'll be, but she's definitely the fastest I've trained. She learned so many new things today and took everything in her stride."

Atzeni landed a double when Good Earth took the concluding 6f handicap.

Anmaat boosts Burrows

Owen Burrows' season threatened to derail following Hukum's Coronation Cup success but is back on track after Anmaat battled to victory in the John Smith's Cup.

The Lambourn trainer had not been in the winner's enclosure since his stable star provided him with a Group 1 breakthrough on June 3, after which it emerged the five-year-old had suffered a career-threatening injury.

But Anmaat, who was backed into 5-1 joint-favouritism, gave Burrows a welcome change of luck when defying a 287-day absence and a cavalry charge of fast-finishing rivals to prevail by half a length under Kevin Stott.

Anmaat lands the John Smith's Cup under Kevin StottCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"Since Hukum won the Coronation Cup we hadn't had much luck, but that was a great way to get back winning," said Burrows, speaking from Ascot.

"We had him in the Lincoln but we took a bit of time to come to hand this year. He was woolly in his coat and had a few niggly problems, which set him back.

"It was a great effort from all the team to get him back to his best after those days off. It was a hell of a performance."

Anmaat's victory was also a tonic for Stott, who had been without a big-race winner of note this season.

Having survived a stewards' inquiry, he said: "It's brilliant. It's just what I needed at this stage of my season. Fair play to Owen too, it was a brilliant training performance."

Burrows had an across-the-card double with Tarrabb landing the concluding 7f handicap at Ascot.

Flight for Fight?

Without A Fight emerged as one of Britain's leading contenders for the Melbourne Cup with his easy success in the Group 3 John Smith's Silver Cup.

A course-and-distance winner in the Grand Cup last month, he blossomed once again to score by three and a half lengths and will now be geared towards the Melbourne Cup, for which he is a 25-1 shot with Paddy Power and Betfair.

Joint-trainer Ed Crisford said: "We've always wanted to try him over this trip and he proved he got it when he won the Listed race here a few weeks back. It opens a lot of doors.

"The end goal is the Melbourne Cup. We'll give him a summer break and it's very exciting to have a horse like him on our hands."

Eilean coming on

Karl Burke is eyeing summer riches with Eilean Dubh following his success in the mile handicap, which saw him cut to 16-1 (from 33) with Paddy Power for the Golden Mile at the Qatar Goodwood festival.

He said: "He's such a tough horse and turns up every time. He seems so versatile. I'd imagine he'd go for one of the big handicaps at Goodwood."

Burke and jockey Clifford Lee doubled up when Miss Jungle Cat won the 6f nursery.

Results, replays and analysis

Read more from Super Saturday:

July Cup: 'It won't be an alcohol-free weekend' - Rob Hornby revels in another Group 1

Superlative Stakes: 'He's really special' - Isaac Shelby emerges as a Guineas hope after Group 2 win

Ascot: 'We can't duck Baaeed' - Chindit camp up for rematch after Summer Mile victory

Newmarket: It's a Jamie Spencer special in the Bunbury Cup - but not as we know it

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