Juvenile Watch: Walker runner can find her stride

I enjoy seeing the pattern races being spread around some of the smaller tracks and the Group Three Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes at Salisbury on Thursday (3.20) has been well supported.

Maria Branwell is top rated but is on something of a retrieval mission as she hasn’t run up to the level of the form she showed when finishing third in the Queen Mary Stakes, with a particularly poor effort coming in the Super Sprint where she was favoured by the conditions of the race. She can only be watched for now.

Ed Walker is having a good year with his juveniles and, crucially, they seem to be progressing well with each race – as advertised by Amichi, who took another step forward when winning a valuable sales race on Saturday.

Poetic Union improved immeasurably on her second start when staying on powerfully at Newmarket, having travelled like much the best filly throughout. She will see the trip out and if taking a similar step forward to that of her stable mates she can take this contest for her in-form yard.

Sirona created a visually striking impression as she bolted clear in the closing stages of Beverley’s 7f maiden on Sunday.

This certainly wasn’t the strongest of maidens but I’d argue there is some merit to the form. Serious Look, who finished second, had posted a good debut effort and was well supported 4-6 favourite, while the third placed Slingsbytoo had run with credit on his debut and almost certainly took a step forward here.

Sirona broke smartly from the gate to take an early lead, but looked green in front as she noticeably took a good look around. I’m sure it was a relieved Daniel Muscatt who relinquished the lead to Serious Look, who was given a forceful ride after a slow start.

From some way out it this pair had pulled clear of the remainder and while the eventual runner-up travelled stylishly it was apparent approaching the final two furlongs that there would only be one winner. When asked for a finishing effort Sirona, trained by Charlie and Mark Johnston, lengthened her stride all the way to the line to win comfortably.

A daughter of multiple Group One winner, Soldier Hollow, she hails from a typically stoutly bred German dam line. Her dam, Si Luna, is a multiple winner over ten furlongs. As such, she can only improve for stepping up in distance and is a filly to follow over a stiff 7f or a mile. She had a round gallop action, so I expect her to be kept to surfaces with some give underfoot.

Looked desperately in need of the experience when making his debut at Ffos Las last week. He dwelt in the stalls and then ran awkwardly through the first couple of furlongs.

Once settled, he travelled in the manner of a classy sort but his tardy start meant he had to sit and suffer behind a wall of horses. Once finding some space, he took a moment to find his stride but finished to good effect behind the winner who had the advantage of experience and a more straightforward passage.

He is strikingly bred, being by Showcasing out of a half-sister to Equiano, the dual Kings Stand winner. With the benefit of this experience he looks a nailed on winner next time out.

This son of Churchill also made his debut in the same maiden at Ffos Las.

He broke well but after a furlong lost his position, appearing to struggle with the pace of the race. His effort looked fairly laboured until he found another gear approaching the furlong pole. From there, he made strong and steady progress to get far closer to the principals than looked likely for large parts of the race.

He will have learnt plenty from this and could well be a different proposition on his next start. A stiff 6f or even an easy 7f would bolster confidence.