Agnes impressive in May Hill

Agnes Stewart was much too good for her rivals in the John Smith's Extra Smooth May Hill Stakes for trainer Eddie Lynam and jockey Billy Lee at Doncaster.

A winner on her debut at Fairyhouse before finding Jack Naylor too strong in Leopardstown's Silver Flash Stakes, Agnes Stewart was an 11-4 shot for this Group Two test, trying a mile for the first time, and Lee cut a confident figure throughout.

Positioned widest of all from the off, while most of her opponents were rowing along passing the two-furlong marker, Agnes Stewart was still full of running and she quickened clear under hand driving to put the race to bed.

She was given a couple of reminders in the closing stages to keep her up to her work, but was well on top at the end as she came home a length and a quarter clear of 13-8 favourite Muraaqaba, with Shagah a neck away in third.

Lee said: "She travelled well the whole way and I was just getting there (the front) a bit sooner than I'd have liked. I was just trying to hold on to her, but I knew she'd stay when I went for her and she kept galloping all the way to the line.

"I was just thinking all along she was either going to do it easy or not at all as she's a pretty good filly.

"She'll improve over the winter, hopefully. She'll get a little bit further, but I think she has plenty of pace for a mile."

Lynam said: "Last week we got a huge offer for her and I got a bit nervous, but we decided to keep her, thankfully.

"She will have one more run this season, we could supplement her for the Group One at Newmarket (Fillies' Mile) because the dopey trainer put Anthem Alexander down on the entry form instead of her by mistake.

"There's also the option of running in France (Prix Marcel Boussac), but I think we might go to Newmarket."

Deirdre Johnston, wife and assistant to Muraaqaba's trainer Mark Johnston, said: "She was still second in a Group Two, one of the top fillies' races of the season and we'll have plenty more days with her. Paul (Hanagan) isn't sure about the mile and we'll sit down and have a look where to go."

Trainer Richard Hannon said of Shagah: "She's run a super race and picked up black type so it's job done. She's in the Fillies' Mile so we'll have a look at that. She'll make a nice filly for next year."