NEWCASTLE (05 Sep 2005)

Good To Firm

2:30 toteplacepot EBF Maiden Stakes (5) (2yo)

[off 2:32] £4,299.75, £1,323.00, £661.50, £330.75 6f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Stepping Up (IRE) (16) M Johnston 2 9-0 J Fanning 13/2 — —

2 9 Spider Power (IRE) (6) Saeed Bin Suroor 2 9-0 K McEvoy 2/1F 80 — —

3 2 Chanteuse Noire (USA) (2) J Noseda 2 8-9 S W Kelly 9/4 — —

4 ¾ Sea Salt (4) T D Barron 2 9-0 P Makin 7/1 — —

5 ¾ Silver Sail (14) J S Wainwright 2 8-9 T Hamilton 66/1 — —

6 shd Blazing Heights (1) J S Goldie 2 9-0 P Hanagan 100/1 — —

7 ½ Secret Liaison (3) Sir Mark Prescott 2 9-0 J-P Guillambert 16/1 — —

8 2 Gala Casino King (IRE) (8) M Dods 2 9-0 P Fessey 33/1 — —

9 nk Leo McGarry (IRE) (9) S C Williams 2 9-0 D Allan 66/1 — —

10 2 Gettysburg (IRE) (7) J Howard Johnson 2 9-0 R Ffrench 25/1 — —

11 1 Mycenean Prince (USA) (11) R C Guest 2 9-0 N Pollard 50/1 — —

12 ½ Little Britain (USA) (15) J Howard Johnson 2 9-0 b W Cahill 33/1 — —

13 2 Dylan (IRE) (12) N Tinkler 2 9-0 Kim Tinkler 66/1 61 — —

14 6 Intavac Girl (13) C W Thornton 2 8-9 Dean McKeown 100/1 — —

15 6 Parkie Malarkey (IRE) (5) M Dods 2 8-6 P Mulrennan(3) 33/1 — —

16 8 Mykeyta (10) J G Given 2 8-9 A Culhane 66/1 — —

16 ran TIME 1m 12.18s (fast by 0.22s) TOTAL SP 118%

1st OWNER: S R Counsell BRED: Bishop's Down Farm And Kildaragh Stud TRAINER: M Johnston

2nd OWNER: Godolphin

3rd OWNER: Sir Robert Ogden

TOTE WIN £7.00 PL £1.80, £1.30, £1.20; Ex £29.80; CSF £18.02

Juvenile course record.

ANALYSIS: Quick ground for this meeting, which began with a spectacular display from STEPPING UP, who turned this average maiden into a procession. Although difficult to saddle and coltish in the paddock, he did nothing wrong, whatsoever, in the race itself and, in splendid isolation from the rest of his rivals on the stands side, won in clear-cut fashion from the runner-up, who led them home on the far side. A half-brother to Group 1 winner Fly To The Stars, he looks a useful prospect.

Spider Power, who has shown fair form in maiden company, was beaten easily in second. If this form can be taken literally, it makes the winner looks a smart colt, no matter what improvement is to come with further experience.

Chanteuse Noire, who, like the runner-up, raced on the far side, should find her niche in handicap company, a comment which also applies to fourth-placed Sea Salt.

Silver Sail was the second horse home on the stands' side, but was beaten a long way. She will do better in nurseries and, having improved for this step up in trip, can improve again over further.