Juvenile Watch: Burrows has star on hands plus Phoenix thoughts

Both Zavateri, in the Vintage Stakes, and Lady Iman, in the Molecomb, are worthy of a mention. 

Zavateri clearly possesses plenty of ability, but it was his visible straining of his neck in the closing stages that most captured my attention. He has a tremendous desire to win and that will stand him in great stead as he moves further through his career. 

Lady Iman had to exert herself far less when winning the Molecomb. She breezed through the race effortlessly under Ryan Moore and could be called the winner at every stage. 

I’m sure she idled in front as they simply could not go fast enough for her. It appears that Ger Lyons has been persuaded to aim her at the Nunthorpe at York this month and while his mild reluctance to target her there is a slight concern, I think she’ll hold every chance under a featherweight of just 8st 2lb. After all, the sprinters are not a vintage bunch. 

However, we already knew plenty about each of that pair so this week’s star is Touleen, who won a newcomers’ maiden at Newbury on Tuesday night. 

Racing over seven furlongs, she belied her inexperience, breaking swiftly and travelling nicely for Jim Crowley despite having no cover. She effortlessly glided to the front with over a furlong to go and needed only the mildest of rides to extend away in the closing furlong. 

Her dam, Talaayeb, finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas on just her second start and went on to land the Group Three City Of York Stakes, in a short career that comprised of just five starts. 

Of course, in a newcomers’ maiden the value of the form is hard to judge, and Touleen was well positioned in a race that was run at only a moderate early tempo. However, sometimes you need to trust your eye and visually she looks a class act. 

Juveniles from the Owen Burrows yard almost certainly improve with time and given she’s by Lope De Vega autumn ground conditions should suit, I’m confident she’ll land Group honours by the end of this season. 

Racing TV and RaceShare's syndicate horse The Lost Sock is progressing well. 

At Nottingham, on his debut on softish ground, he raced a little too exuberantly over 6f and as a result weakened in the closing stages. 

He duly showed the benefit of that first experience when looking far more settled over 5f at Thirsk on Saturday, going down narrowly by a head to the more experienced Riki Tiki Tavi, now rated 85. The pair drew a long way clear of the third placed Boston Dan. 

I’d expect The Lost Sock to make it third time lucky on his next start and from there he should be competitive in nurseries, where I’m sure with the benefit of race experience he will stay 6f.

Those in the The Lost Sock syndicate will have the chance to learn how he has come out of his Thirsk race, plus possible future plans, via a live-stream conversation with trainer Roger Varian on Monday evening.

I fear the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday may well shape like the Railway Stakes, with another small field on the cards. 

In truth, this contest cannot be viewed as a betting medium at this stage, unless you have an inside line to Aidan O’Brien and ‘the lads, as it’s difficult to predict with any certainty which of their six they plan on running. 

The market suggests that Gstaad, a best-priced 8-11 favourite, is the more likely of their two big guns to run, but I’m mindful the race was also mentioned for True Love after her Railway Stakes demolition. 

Whichever of those two they run will be a short-priced favourite and is likely to win comfortably. I’ll be watching intently but won’t be having a financial investment. 

Finished second behind Touleen at Newbury. She was not as professional as the winner and pulled hard early on. This meant jockey Kieran Shoemark was obliged to take her back in behind the field in a bid to settle her. 

This essential move did, though, cost him track position and in a slowly run race it was a disadvantage to come from so far back. 

A maiden should be a formality, although connections have shown with Do Or Do Not that winning a maiden is not an essential requirement. 

Finished fourth at Newbury, having endured a less than clear passage after being slow into stride. 

She required switching to her right before making her challenge and in doing so she became unbalanced, which delayed her ability to find top gear. Her dam was placed at Listed level over 12 furlongs and given how well this filly stayed on to the line a mile should prove no problem this season.