Juvenile Watch: Ross Millar's verdict on six pivotal races

The winner: Carla’s Way was impressive. She raced on the pace, tracking the leader Spiritual and travelling with zest and enthusiasm. She was a little unbalanced between the three and two furlong poles but quickened up well using her huge stride. She ran powerfully through the line which, given how exuberantly she travelled, marks this as a serious performance. Her dam, Sulaalaat, did not race beyond 7f and Carla’s Way is her first produce of any noteworthy ability, but given how well she saw this trip out I’m sure connections will entertain trying her over a mile at some point. That could come in the Fillies’ Mile back at Newmarket later this month. Soft ground would be a concern given how much she relished this better surface but the weather forecast for the next fortnight is favourable. Unibet make her a best price of 8/1.

The vanquished: Shuwari, the favourite, appeared to be in pretty much top gear the whole way. She had won on good to firm ground on debut but that was in a significantly lesser grade. It’s to her credit that she got as close as she did to the winner, and with an extra furlong and more give underfoot she can yet show herself to be a top-class filly. If you hold an ante-post slip for next years 1000 Guineas - like me! - you will be hoping that the frequent changing of her legs in the dip was down to ground conditions and not a dislike of the track. Bet365 pushed her out to 25/1 from 14/1. Ylang Ylang is not quite up to this class but will no doubt be well placed to earn further black type in the future.

The winner: Ghostwriter has made rapid progress since he made a winning debut barely six weeks ago. He was given an excellent ride by Richard Kingscote, who settled the strapping son of Invincible Spirit just in behind the leaders. He travels with professionalism and, while he doesn’t possess and explosive turn of foot, he was able to wind up his effort with sustained progress up the near side. He’s now no bigger than 16/1 for the 2000 Guineas but, out of a dam who stayed 1m 6f, I struggle to see him being quick enough for the first Classic of next year. However, he looks sure to develop into a smart ten or even twelve-furlong performer.

The vanquished: Capulet, the favourite, was made to look one paced against faster rivals. His dam is a sister to Derby winner Serpentine, so stamina is sure to be his forte. He shapes like he’ll make a better three year-old. Al Musmak ran to a high-level once again and gives the form validity.

The winner: The absence of pre-race favourite, Relief Rally, who returned an unsatisfactory scope, gave this an open look. Porta Fortuna has been ambitiously campaigned this season, winning the Albany at Royal Ascot before taking on the colts in the Phoenix Stakes and then running with credit in the Moyglare on her first try at 7f. It was her stamina over this trip that saw her prevail here. Having travelled sweetly up the centre of the course she was able to quicken nicely and then saw the trip out better than her rivals. Oisin Murphy suggested afterwards that around a bend she’d likely stay a mile so it was no surprise to hear her trainer, Donnacha O’Brien, nominate the Breeders Cup Fillies’ Turf as her next target. She shows good early speed, travels well and looks to have stamina. I can see her suitability for such an assignment.

The vanquished: Pearls And Rubies appeared to appreciate this better surface and consequently ran her best race since Royal Ascot. She lacked the speed of the winner but might yet do better over another furlong. Sacred Angel doesn’t look up to this class but compromised her chance by racing too freely in the early stages. Soprano looked to have plenty in her favour but found herself racing away from the pace up the near side. She still strikes me as a raw, leggy filly and it wouldn’t surprise me if she were significantly better next season.

The winner: Vandeek produced the juvenile performance of the weekend as he blew away the opposition thanks to a vastly superior turn of foot. Settled towards the rear by his new partner, James Doyle, he was always travelling easily. A small gap appeared as they exited the dip and he quickly shot to the front. He appeared to stay on powerfully although his jockey observed afterwards: “He is just a big ball of speed and when the gap came, he went through it pretty good. He is quick, very fast.” Simon Crisford said similar and it seems he’s seen as a sprinter for next season rather than a Guineas horse. That said, they may take the view that the Dewhurst over 7f will give them a greater insight as to where they aim next season. He’s 6/1 for that, and 10/1 for the Guineas. I couldn’t find a Commonwealth Cup quote. Having looked so at home on soft ground on his previous starts, this career-best was achieved on faster ground. I underestimated him before this but it’s not a mistake I’ll repeat. He is the real deal.

The vanquished: Task Force continued his upwards progression. He was comfortably brushed aside by the winner but on pedigree will stay further than this and looks another who will progress next season. River Tiber had no excuses and was beaten by further than when behind Vandeek in the Prix Morny. I’m certain he’d prefer an extra furlong but such is the strength at Ballydoyle that he may not be afforded that opportunity. Givemethebeatboys looks to be getting faster with racing and will be interesting next season. Jasour pulled all chance away and delivered another disappointing effort.

The winner: Rosallion got back to winning ways after a disappointing performance in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. Connections had blamed the soft ground for the underwhelming effort and this scintillating display on unusually quick French ground suggests that excuse is more than valid. Sean Levey dropped him in from his wide draw and he relaxed beautifully. This was in contrast to Doncaster, where he raced exuberantly after being starved of cover. Upon straightening up, Levey found a lovely split before delivering him with a sweeping challenge to win by a cosy length. Visually, it was impressive but I’m not entirely sold on the value of the form. The runner-up, Unquestionable, has been put in his place a number of times this season and is undoubtedly some way down the pecking order among the Ballydoyle colts. Connections are entitled to dream of Guineas glory - and he’s no bigger than 14/1 - but I think he’ll come up short.

The vanquished: Third placed Beauvatier lacked a gear in this better ground but ran well. On more traditional French ground he can win more races. The Wathnan Racing pair of Native American and Ballymount Boy were too keen and paid the price.

The winner: Wow. The Ballydoyle juvenile fillies have definitely spent this season in the shadows of the superior crop of colts. However, the performance of Opera Singer, who slammed this field, is up there with any juvenile performance this season. Her trainer suggested that the step up to a mile on better ground was the key to this much improved performance, saying: “We've been excited with her. Ryan said she was very straightforward and she really appreciated the step up to a mile like we thought she would. I thought she was very strong all the way to the line and it was an impressive performance. Being on nicer ground helped her put in that performance.” A trip to the Breeders’ Cup may now be on the cards. Regardless how she performs there, she surely holds standout claims in next year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas. She now heads the market at 6/1.

The vanquished: Darnation showed that she requires soft ground to show her best. She was out of her comfort zone on this better surface and was unable to quicken in the latter stages. She is one to keep onside early next season when likely to get her favoured conditions.