Enthused jumped to the head of the market for next spring`s Sagitta 1000 Guineas following an impressive victory in the Peugeot Lowther Stakes at York today.
The Tote installed Michael Stoute`s filly as the 6-1 favourite after she stayed on an impressive victory in the Group Two contest.
William Hill and Victor Chandler are more generous at 8-1 for the Classic at Newmarket next spring but there was no argument about the brilliance of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly.
Held up at the rear of the field after missing the break, Enthused was switched to the stands` side by Johnny Murtagh inside the final furlong after finding the gap close between Romantic Myth and the 5-6 favourite Khulan.
Enthused (9-4) quickened in fine style to beat Khulan by a length and a half with Autumnal a head away third and Romantic Myth fourth.
'She`s best filly I`ve ever ridden,' said Murtagh, riding his fourth winner of the meeting.
'I was a bit worried when the gap closed but she quickened up well and the race was over in a matter of strides.'
Stoute said: 'She`s a rare natural and she did well to win today, giving the others 3lb. She banged her head on leaving the stall and was slowly away.'
'She showed a good turn of speed and won with her ears pricked,' added Stoute who is to aim the filly at the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket next.
Firecrest continued her progress with a runaway victory in the opening race.
John Dunlop`s charge secured her fifth success of the campaign as she took care of 12 rivals in the Galtres Stakes.
The 7-1 chance, ridden by Richard Quinn, moved smoothly to the front with two furlongs to travel and stayed on strongly to defeat the favourite Fantasia Girl by three and a half lengths in the Listed race.
Dunlop admitted that the filly`s improvement this term had surprised him.
'You can never really tell what`s going to happen when a horse races over seven furlongs and a mile as a two-year-old then goes up to one and a half miles and further at three,' he said.
'But this filly has done us proud and will probably be retired at the end of the year as she`ll have done her stuff.'
Firecrest is now set to move up to Group company with the Rothmans Royals Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster on the agenda.
A change in riding tactics helped Peartree House return to winning ways in the Bradford & Bingley Rated Stakes.
Leading apprentice Jamie Mackay made maximum use of his draw in stall three, sending his mount to the front from the outset.
David Nicholls` charge managed to stay there throughout, coming home one length ahead of Tony Tie.
Mackay, registering his 37th winner of the campaign, said: 'Everything went well and he was quite happy bowling along in front. He kept going really well in the closing stages.'
