Alutiq

Alutiq ran a big race from a high draw in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, winning the race on the near side by a fair way. However, the race developed on the far side, where the American filly Sweet Emma Rose set a blistering pace, with the ultimate winner, Clive Brittain's exciting filly Rizeena, who had initially raced in the near-side group, moving across to the far side and wearing down the leader deep inside the final furlong.

There is evidence to suggest that, while the near side was the place to be on four of the five days on the straight track at Royal Ascot this year, the far side were at least on equal terms, possibly even a little favoured, on Wednesday, when the Queen Mary was run. The near-side group in the race were at least two lengths behind the far-side leader at half way. Alutiq just wasn’t quite able to pick up instantly two furlongs out, so that deficit had grown a furlong and a half out. She picked up really nicely from there, however, doing all her own running on the near side, and she was unlucky not to reach the frame. She can be marked up a fair bit on this.

Eve Johnson Houghton's filly is talented and well-regarded – she was purchased by Qatar Racing after her debut success and there was some money for her here at biggish prices – and she is obviously still progressive. She isn’t all speed, her family consists more of seven-furlong horses and milers than sprinters, and she should benefit from stepping up to six furlongs now on this evidence. She will be interesting wherever she goes next. She could even progress to be a Lowther Stakes filly.

19th June 2013

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