What Say You expected to produce true class at Newmarket

Buoyed by Toocoolforschool’s runaway win in last Saturday’s Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, Burke believes What Say You has strengthened up since winning her maiden last month. Her opponents include the Richard Fahey-trained Home Cummins. “She has strengthened up as you would expect and we are very, very happy with her,” said the in-form Leyburn trainer.

“We have always thought of her as a high-class filly and I think that conditions should be perfect for her on Friday.

“She is very useful and deserves the chance to have a go at a prestigious race like the Rockfel. She should stay at least a mile-and-a-quarter next year but she is certainly not slow and, depending on how things pan out in the next 48 hours, we could be aiming her at a Guineas.

“I have got a fantastic bunch of two-year-olds this year and she is right up there with the best of them.”

However, Toocoolforschool’s imposing win has been overshadowed by a 21-day ban handed to jockey Silvestre de Sousa under the British Horseracing Authority’s totting up procedures.

The former Thirsk rider will miss Qipco British Champions Day after being found guilty of using his whip above the permitted level for the fifth time since May.

Barnsley-born jockey Cam Hardie’s breakthrough year continued when the talented teenager partnered Jeremy Noseda’s Black Granite to victory on day one of the Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket.

Veteran sprinter Kingsgate Native could race on after returning to winning ways at Beverley this week.

“We’re going to give him a long break,” said Chris Richardson of Cheveley Park Stud.

“And if he retains all his old enthusiasm on the gallops 
when he’s brought back in, 
which he so far seems to have, then I would say there’s a better than 50-50 chance he will run again.”