Mamba third as Threading wins the Lowther Mamba Noire was a good third in York's Sky Bet Lowther Stakes as Threading took a step up in class in her stride with a stylish success. Ken Condon's Mamba Noire made the frame in the Newmarket Group Two won by Clemmie but was bouncing back after a no-show in the Sweet Solera Stakes back on the July Course. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Actress was backed down to 100-30 favouritism but after racing prominently, faded disappointingly out of contention. Having seen Dee Ex Bee turned over at a short price in the Acomb Stakes 24 hours earlier, trainer Mark Johnston had the smile put back on his face as Threading justified her 15,000 pound supplementary fee in landing the six-furlong Group Two contest. Eased into the race by James Doyle, the 9-2 winner sailed past American hope Happy Like A Fool approaching the final furlong, before crossing the line a length and three-quarters clear from Madeline, to make it two from two following her debut success at Goodwood. Mamba Noire was a further three-quarters of a length back under Shane Foley for 25-1. Threading was introduced at 12-1 for next year's Qipco 1000 Guineas by Paddy Power, with Betfair going 14-1. Doyle said: "It's a bit early to tell if she is a Guineas filly. She is showing all the right signs and she was very impressive in deep ground at Goodwood. I rode one yesterday that was an impressive winner there and he flopped so it is hard to tell how much it quite takes out of them. "She seems to have come on nicely from that run. I was always comfortable there. I didn't want to give Frankie (Dettori, on Happy Like A Fool) too much rope, I got there a touch early but she is a typical one of Mark Johnston's and she toughed it out well. "She rides like an older horse, to be honest, she is very push-button. She jumped well, sat a couple of lengths off the pace, eased into it well and knuckled down well late on. She is very professional." Johnston said: "We came here not knowing a lot about her but, at the same time, we wouldn't have supplemented her if we thought she wasn't good enough. It was only six days ago we decided to take the plunge, and thank goodness we did. "I could see all the way she was travelling well and I could see she was the only one who really had the leader in her sights. She's a lovely, straightforward horse and has done nothing but please us from day one. She pulled away at the finish and that bodes well for the future. "You'd start thinking about the Cheveley Park after that, but nothing has been discussed, there's no plan. "She won on soft at Goodwood and she's won on soft again, but it would be wrong to pigeon-hole her and it would be very interesting to see her run on better ground. I'd love to see what difference it makes to her." He added: "She stayed the trip very well and the Guineas would be in our minds. That's the dream for the moment."
