Breege can pass test at Pontefract

JOHN Quinn’s Breege can book her ticket for Royal Ascot by maintaining her unbeaten record in the EBF Stallions Youngsters Conditions Stakes at Pontefract.

Officials at the West Yorkshire track will likely be disappointed that only four go to post for the £25,000 contest from a big initial entry, but three of them are previous winners and the other is a 50,000 guineas purchase by Free Eagle. The race will therefore take plenty of winning, but Breege looked a good deal above average when making a winning debut at Wetherby.

Her pedigree is all about speed. She is a daughter of Australian sprinter Starspangledbanner and her dam is a half-sister to Quinn’s Ascot winner The Wow Signal.

Taking on David Loughnane’s Commander Straker, second at Newbury on debut, Breege looked in a different league, winning by more than five lengths. To add credence to the form, Commander Straker went and easily won next time out.

It is certainly no walkover as Karl Burke’s Miss Jungle Cat won well at Musselburgh first time out and Richard Fahey’s Rousing Encore progressed markedly from his debut to win at Beverley but Breege just could have a bit of star quality about her.

The Sockshop EBF Novice Stakes at Haydock looks to have attracted some nice youngsters, but the experience of Andrew Balding’s Thunder Cat can stand him in good stead. Meanwhile, Mark and Charlie Johnston’s Queen Of Deauville caught the eye when winning on her debut at Carlisle and she returns to the Cumbrian venue for the Whinnow EBF Novice Stakes.