Shergar - horse racing column

A couple of weeks ago Peter Chapple Hyam's 2-year-old filly Myself earned a favourable mention after her winning debut at a Goodwood evening meeting. On that occasion, she ran green but scored comfortably enough. Her trainer clearly holds her in high regard for she went on next to contest Ascot's Group Three Queen Mary Stakes. Here she put up one of the most impressive performances of the Royal Ascot week. Myself started at the generous odds of 7-1 and put in a storming finish to go down by just a short head to Gay Gallanta. She was racing on her own on the stands side of the course. And, arguably, she might well have won if she had company in the closing stages. It remained a most encouraging effort. Myself is certain to win more good races this season. She is by the double classic winner Nashwan out of the mare Pushy, which suggests she could be classic material herself.

A couple of other juveniles have also gone into the notebook in recent weeks. They may not prove top class. But they look distinctly useful. Brief Glimpse is trained at West Isley by Major David Chappell and was heavily backed from 5-1 to 3-1 at the last Kempton evening meeting. Brief Glimpse ran right away from a big field over six furlongs and won easing up by 10 lengths.

There was another substantial gamble at Salisbury where the Devon-based trained CJ Hill sent out Spectator to win a maiden event. In this case Spectator was backed from 12-1 to 13-2. He may not be a world-beater. But he clearly has plenty of ability and can win again.