Racing: Trio show Classic style

IT WAS a weekend for budding Classic contenders as unbeaten colts Native Khan, Pathfork and Dream Ahead rocketed into the 2000 Guineas picture.

The former emerged from Sandown on Saturday with his sizeable reputation intact after passing his first serious test in the Alexis Catchpole Celebration Solario Stakes.

Ed Dunlop's grey created quite a buzz when pulling well clear on his debut at Newmarket, but found things more demanding on his step up to Group Three company and was trapped behind horses with two of the seven furlongs remaining.

Once Eddie Ahern located a gap, Native Khan picked up the bridle quite stylishly and while he did not stride right away, he appeared to be in control of dual winner Measuring Time, who finished half a length behind.

There have been plenty of subsequent underachievers among the former winners of the Solario, but horses like Raven's Pass and Oh So Sharp went on to great success.

"He did it well considering it was a little bit of a messy race," said Dunlop. "He won't have a heavy campaign, maybe one or two more races, but it will be a big one.

"He's in the Dewhurst, the Racing Post and the Grand Criterium, which as he is French-bred, we will consider."

Native Khan was trimmed to 25-1 from 33s by William Hill for next year's Guineas at Newmarket.

With Kieren Fallon in America, Luca Cumani was rewarded after entrusting Jean-Pierre Guillambert with a ride in the Danepak Atalanta Stakes aboard Seta at the Esher venue.The filly (11-4) has been kept out of the limelight in minor events at Leicester and Warwick since finishing down the field in the 1000 Guineas, but may now be ready for a return to a bigger stage.

Guillambert then helped the stable's 6-1 favourite Forte Dei Marmi return to form with a strong driving effort in the Sunderlands Handicap.

Jessica Harrington will not rush into a decision regarding future targets for Curragh winner Pathfork. The Distorted Humor colt made quite an impression as he supplemented his maiden win with a comfortable length-and-a-half victory in the Futurity Stakes.

Stan James make Pathfork as low as 8-1 for the Guineas and while a trip to Headquarters for the Dewhurst on 16 October is an option, Harrington will take her time before outlining a definite target.

She said: "We will just let the dust settle now before we make any decisions about where we think we should go.

"He's entered in the Dewhurst and the Beresford Stakes so they are options and we could also supplement him for the National Stakes."

David Simcock is eyeing further Group One prizes for Dream Ahead after he blew away the opposition in the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville yesterday.

The youngster created a fav-ourable impression when making a winning racecourse debut at Nottingham last month, but even Simcock admitted it was a huge leap of faith to step the colt up to Group One company.

The 8-1 chance travelled strongly throughout the six-furlong contest and moved up stylishly to challenge at the furlong marker. Once given the hurry-up by William Buick, who guided Debussy to win the Arlington Million in Chicago less than 24 hours earlier, Dream Ahead quickly put the race to bed and passed the post comfortably ahead of Tin Horse.

"We'll see how he is, but I would say we'll look at the Middle Park Stakes and the Dewhurst,'' Simcock said. Paddy Power introduced Dream Ahead into the Guineas betting at 16-1.