Two well-regarded two-year-olds made the long journey to Redcar on Sunday worthwhile by both getting off the mark.
Rumaythah needed to make up for refusing to go in the stalls on her intended debut at Newmarket a fortnight ago and thankfully Craig Witheford was on hand to ensure she took her chance this time round.
David Egan got a lovely toe into the race aboard this filly by Kodiac and she conducted herself very professionally; kicking clear with a furlong to run and comfortably seeing off the late challenge of Night Of Romance. We have always liked this filly at home so hopefully she can progress from this win and leave her problems with the stalls behind her.
Thirty minutes later Saint Lawrence was well supported to provide the double and he duly obliged, looking a class act when kicking clear of the field to record a wide margin victory. He had made a pleasing debut when finishing 4th two weeks earlier in a 6f maiden at Newmarket, but the subsequent performance of Nando Parrado in the G2 Coventry Stakes did somewhat upgrade that satisfactory debut to something more exciting.
Many congratulations to his owner and breeder Mr John Deer who also produced this colt's half-sister Daahyeh, a classy filly who provided the stable with huge success last season. The form of his debut and the manner of today's victory would provide reason to hope that he has the capability to follow in his sister's footsteps.