Rosy Affair blooms in Cecil Frail Stakes

George Boughey’s Rosy Affair stamped her class on the British Stallion Studs EBF Cecil Frail Stakes at Haydock.

A Group Three winner in France last summer, she was back down in Listed company on Merseyside but escaped a penalty by just one day.

Whether it would have made a difference is up for debate as she was always travelling best of all for Billy Loughnane and with chief market rival Sky Majesty running a bitterly disappointing race, Rosy Affair (5-2) was left to come home a length clear of Magic Basma with the previously unbeaten Lady Youmzain in third.

Loughnane told Racing TV: “She’s done really well for her winter break.

“I thought she ran really well at Newmarket but I had to do the donkey work on the front end which probably wasn’t ideal but she’s got a superb attitude. I got her settled today and it was pretty straightforward from thereon.

“She ran on similar ground in France so I wasn’t too worried, albeit I think she’s better on a quicker surface.

“I imagine she’ll have some loftier targets than this today but she’s done everything right and I love the way she’s grown up.”