Rumh delivered an swift boost to the form of last week’s Investec Oaks by taking the Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes at Newbury by an assured six lengths.
Godolphin’s filly made her first appearance of the season at the same course a month ago, finishing third behind behind Izzi Top and Dancing Rain, the respective third and first at Epsom last Friday.
Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor suggested Rumh may now replace Khawlah as the Godolphin runner in next week’s Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot with her stablemate, who has not been seen since she won the UAE Derby in the spring, currently under a cloud.
A robust daughter of Monsun, Rumh (5-2 favourite) was given one of Frankie Dettori’s typically thoughtful rides from the front with the Italian keeping enough up his sleeve to leave Imperial Pippin, Moment of Time and Palm Pilot to fight only for the place money.
“The form was good and she had improved a lot from the run – she was happy in front,” Bin Suroor said.
“We will enter her tomorrow in the Ribblesdale.
“We have Khawlah in the race. She worked this morning but I wasn’t really happy with her. She might need more time.”
Dettori added: “The form was there, so she was entitled to win. I was pleased with her.”
Stella Point finished just behind Rumh on her previous start in the Swettenham Stud Fillies’ Trial and was accordingly made the even-money favourite for division two of the Download The Blue Square App Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
But she could only manage second, with John Gosden’s Polygon (17-2) showing a smart range of gears along the far rail for Martin Dwyer.
“I think she’s a nice filly – she ran very well on her start last year but like a lot of the fillies she didn’t come to hand in the spring and needed more time,” Gosden explained.
“She’s progressive and Martin gave her a peach of a ride.”
Gosden also saddled a first-time-out two-year-old winner in the NewVoiceMedia Maiden Stakes, often a sign of better things to come.
Gosden’s wife Rachel Hood owns Eastern Sun (6-1) in partnership with Prince Faisal and William Buick’s partner surmounted Richard Hughes’ confident challenge aboard 5-4 favourite Moustache to hit the post two and a quarter lengths up.
“A grand performance,” declared Gosden. “He’s a nice colt who had worked well. You try to look towards the July meeting now.”
Bloodstock agent Tom Goff, representing the owners, suggested the Superlative Stakes would be the target.
Henry Candy’s Gosbeck turned over the 4-11 favourite Floral Beauty in division one of Polygon’s 10-furlong maiden.
Floral Beauty, a promising third to Creme Anglaise at Ascot, was given every chance but as soon as Gosbeck (12-1) escaped some traffic problems, she went past in style.
“The only surprise was how badly she ran first-time, but mine generally had tailed off after a good start,” said Candy.
“We’ve always liked her and she’s crying out for a mile and a half.”
Gosden’s Robemaker just missed in the Pertemps Handicap with Clive Brittain’s El Wasmi (16-1) finding more for first-time blinkers on his handicap debut.
Jockey Philip Robinson said: “He was gormless at Chester and I thought blinkers would help after he started running on at the end last time at Newmarket. The penny is starting to drop.”
A late surge from 7-2 favourite Muzdahi saw him salvage a dead-heat with Bajan Bear (16-1) in the Be Wiser Insurance Handicap while the market-leader’s trainer John Dunlop struck again in the Insure Wiser Handicap.
His horse Anton Dolin (3-1) appears a useful stayer in the making as he made it three wins in a row.
Mustajed (8-1) got up close home in the Be Wiser Insurance Gentleman Amateur Riders’ Handicap.