Alan rates Sandown winner Deedaydiva “the best two-year-old filly we’ve ever had”.

August 30

We all new that there was no fluke about the 33-1 third of Deedaydiva in a newcomers race for fillies at Newmarket three weeks ago, and she duly confirmed that promise when justifying favouritism in the £40,000 Maiden Fillies Stakes at Sandown today.

Hector Crouch always looked happy on Deedavdiva, who coped with the testing ground after 19m of rain on Friday and shrugged off the challenge of newcomer Esna at the furlong-pole to win by two lengths.

Deedaydiva certainly looked potential Group class and Alan freely admitted that he rated her highly and expected a big run here. He said:”I don’t think we have ever had a two-year-old filly as good as Deedaydiva. She has a great mind and has always worked well at home.

“Having pleased us so much on her first run at Newmarket, Deedaydiva then delighted us by coming out of that race so relaxed, so we came here feeling that it would take a good one to beat us. We will enjoy this victory and then think about where to go next.”

Crouch said:”I would have preferred to have ridden Deedaydiva with more confidence and not got there so early, but in this tacky ground I was anxious not to take any chances.

“She moved up nicely when I gave her a tap and she was just flicking her ears in front. She is a well-balanced straight-forward filly, who will hopefully go on from here.”

Earlier, Brioni flattered briefly two furlongs out in the mile and a quarter handicap, but he then faded up the hill, finishing only seventh. He is a horse who has good form on soft ground, but the jockeys were claiming that the going was “bordering on heavy” down the back straight, so Brioni can be forgiven this disappointment.