Whitefoot gave a further boost to the reputation of Gerard Butler's Blewbury yard and advertised her chances for the Vodafone Oaks when staying on strongly to land the Ashbury Fillies' Trial Stakes at Newbury today.
Butler sent out Saddler's Quest to land the Lingfield Derby Trial last Saturday and Whitefoot received an immediate 16-1 (from 40-1) quote for the fillies' Classic from bookmakers William Hill.
Circle Of Light set out to make the 10 furlong race a true test of stamina turning for home with a five lengths lead.
However, just as it looked as though she might just hold on to nick the spoils former champion jockey Frankie Dettori brought Whitefoot through for a one and a quarter lengths success. Premier Prize was five lengths back in third.
The winner was given a spin on the course earlier in the week in a bid to ensure she would not boil over today.
'We are in our own backyard here and as she has a nervous disposition Newbury kindly allowed me to gallop her on Wednesday,' said Butler.
'The Oaks has always been on the agenda no matter what happened today and we were aware one and a quarter miles is a bit on the short side. We knew she would stay and Frankie said they went a mile pace today and he always felt they would come back.
'We are a small stable and no one seems to take us seriously but they will,' he the trainer added.
Butler has high hopes that Princess Ellen, runner-up at 66-1 in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas, will go one better in the Entenmann's 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday week.
'She's improved a lot since Newmarket and she goes to Ireland with a definite chance,' he said.
There was a lot of market interest in the Queen's Request who set off the 5-2 favourite.
However, Sir Michael Stoute's charge could only finish fourth, while the Henry Cecil-trained Burning Sunset was backed as if defeat was out of the question contracting from 9-1 to 9-2 before finishing a disappointing ninth.
Request's jockey Kieren Fallon had better look in the previous race when swooping on the outside on board Carlys Quest (8-1) to land the mile and a half Tote Credit Club Stakes (Showcase Handicap).
Despite doubts about his ability to stay the 10 furlong trip, Indium (10-1) stayed on resolutely to land the TPK Consulting Handicap under Pat Eddery beating Admirals Place by three quarters of a length, giving trainer Willie Musson his third success of the week from just four runners.
The trainer's wife Judy explained Indium's improvement over the distance.
'He settles better now,' she said. 'He used to pull and tug but he's learned to relax now.'
Mrs Musson also paid tribute to today's jockey. 'Pat managed to get the best out of the horse.'
It had been 30 days since Newmarket trainer Ben Hanbury welcomed one of his charges to the winners enclosure.
However, Jarn (11-2) ended the drought when landing the opening Woodcote Conditions Stakes.
The Green Desert colt gave his trainer a boost when coming from last to first in the six furlong event to deny Winning Venture by a neck.
'He's a very nice horse and we have been waiting for the better ground with him,' said Hanbury.
'We'll be trying to go to seven furlongs with him and the Jersey Stakes (at Royal Ascot) is an obvious opportunity.'
Of his lack of winners Hanbury commented: 'They've all been running well but just haven't been winning.'
Hanbury hit out at race planning over the lack of opportunities for Jarn at three of the biggest meetings over the last month.
'There have been no suitable races at Newmarket, Chester or York for horses unlucky enough to have won first time out at two-years old. If they have a rating they are okay but if they have no rating you have to run in Classic trials,' he said.
Elsie Plunkett (4-6) completed a hat trick when landing the five furlong Highclere Stud Fillies Conditions stakes by two lengths from Fair Princess.
Trainer Richard Hannon will now look at increasing the trip for the Mind Games filly.
'I honestly think she'll be better over six furlongs,' he said.
One horse who will be kept to today's winning distance is Takrir who got the better of Grey Eminence and Glory Quest by three quarters of a length and a neck in a driving finish to division one of the Furlong Platinum Club Maiden Stakes.
On greeting his 20-1 winner, trainer John Dunlop said: 'He didn't run last year due to a few niggling problems.
'He could be a nice horse, he did that well and will stick to a mile for now.'
