Touleen takes top spot in informative clash with Zanthos

Touleen confirmed the promise of her Newbury debut to leave Owen Burrows dreaming of the future after the exciting filly readily brushed aside the well-regarded Zanthos in an all-star showdown at Leicester.

The Gascare Services EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes has been won by some useful operators in recent years, but this year’s graduates could prove to be the best yet, as all eyes descended on the east midlands prior to the seven-furlong contest.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos was the 4-11 favourite on the back of a dazzling debut at Newmarket last month, but the €1million breeze-up buy ultimately proved no match for her Shadwell-owned rival, who also arrived having won stylishly first time out.

Prominent from the off, there was barely a moment’s worry for Touleen’s pilot William Buick as the daughter of Lope De Vega travelled well and always looked to have Zanthos and Oisin Murphy covered.

But it was when the Godolphin number one – deputising for the injured Jim Crowley – asked Touleen to quicken that she demonstrated her talent, surging to a three-and-a-quarter-length success at odds of 9-4 to set up a shot at the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on September 26.

“I was a bit worried about the Crisford filly, especially considering how well backed she was, but I thought she would have to be pretty good to beat ours,” said Burrows.

“She may well be and it might be she ends up the Group One filly and we’re a Group Two or Group Three filly, but off levels today, with both having a penalty, she’s won quite convincingly.

“William said she quickened up twice and was easing down at the end and he was impressed and has ridden plenty of good ones – she looks one to look forward to.

“I left her in the Rockfel this morning which would be an obvious target and she’s in the Fillies’ Mile as well and she should get a mile.

“She’s not the biggest filly in the world, but she has a great mind on her and being by Lope De Vega, I’m not too fussed if it turns out there is a bit of cut in the ground.”

Zanthos may have been unable to recreate her July course performance at the Oadby venue but her team were far despondent as they gave due credit to the winner.

The daughter of Sioux Nation could be given an immediate chance to level the score with her conqueror, as her team look forward to a Rockfel rematch on the Rowley Mile.

“She’s run a good race and looks to have been beaten by a very good filly,” said Simon Crisford.

“We’ll keep her at seven furlongs and she will go up in class now. The Rockfel is still the plan.

“She will have learned a lot and has run with credit, but the winner was just too strong for us on the day and had a better turn of foot than us. She’s still a very good filly.”