Wild Blossom takes another step forward at Goodwood Bigger and better things may await Wild Blossom after her taking victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes at Goodwood. Karl Burke’s Wathnan Racing-owned filly came into the race having finished 10th in the Queen Mary, although that run was better than the placing suggested as she was only beaten four and a half lengths. Under James Doyle she was the 5-4 favourite to make good on the promise shown at Royal Ascot, and did so with little fuss, prevailing by a length and a half from Andrew Balding’s Fast Track. “She worked with a very good older filly last week and worked very nicely,” said Burke. “It is just a slight concern when they do it so well first time on slow ground, then she ran very well at Ascot where the draw completely scuppered her really. “This was the plan since Ascot. I don’t know, we’ll look at all those Group five-furlong races, she’s a very quick filly. “I wouldn’t dismiss six furlongs, we’ll see what James says, but that was the plan. “There’s no real future targets at the moment, the Flying Childers at Doncaster, races like that.” Connections of Infraad were made to wait for confirmation of their victory in the opening Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap, but were eventually thrilled to see William Haggas’ improving colt keep the race after a stewards’ inquiry. Tom Marquand’s mount was sent off the 2-1 favourite and edged out Andrew Balding’s well-regarded 9-4 market rival Hatteen for a head success after a late duel between the two lightly-raced three-year-olds. Maureen Haggas, assistant to her husband, said: “You never know these days what they will do, but I could imagine it took so long because Tom and Oisin (Murphy) were in the same room and they are quite good talkers and they couldn’t stop them. “He needed every inch of the mile and a half and it would not surprise me if he goes a bit further in time. He’s a work in progress and he’s going the right way. He’s got his act together today and hopefully he keeps progressing.” The 26-runner Coral Charlton Handicap went the way of Jennie Candlish’s French Affair, who struck at odds of 14-1 under Billy Loughnane to cap an already brilliant afternoon for the jockey after Bow Echo’s Sussex Stakes strike. Over six furlongs the three-year-old cut through from a position at the rear of the field to score by a neck on stable debut from Michael Blake’s Under The Twilight. Assistant trainer Alan O’Keeffe said: “The lads were keen to come here and it’s great it worked out, it was touch and go whether he would get in or not. He’d been running over seven, but it looked like a real fast run six would suit him. “Billy gave him a fantastic ride, just held him up – couldn’t force him early, couldn’t go – and then he knew he’d come home strong so it was an unbelievable ride.”
