The listed 1 1/4-mile Tote Foundation Stakes, which was won Sept. 23 by Anna Nerium, was marred by a fatal leg injury suffered by Thundering Blue, a popular stalwart of trainer David Menuisier's local yard.
He won six of his 29 starts for owner Clive Washbourn and finished third to Roaring Lion in a red-hot running of the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York in 2018.
"He was third in the Juddmonte International when everyone told me I was a loony for supplementing him," said Menuisier.
Thundering Blue took connections around the world, winning a group 3 in Sweden as well as competing in France, Canada, and Japan.
Anna Nerium runs in the colors of Jeanette McCreery, whose fellow homebred Billesdon Brook gave jockey Sean Levey a huge thrill in the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) two years ago.
He said: "I'm delighted for Mrs. McCreery, who has been absolutely brilliant to me since I've been at Richard Hannon's yard.
"It's nice to see her have horses like this one and Billesdon Brook who throw good races in."
Baker Switched On Lamp
The Lamplighter landed the six-furlong Tote.co.uk Home of the Placepot Handicap Stakes Sept. 23 for trainer George Baker, who reckons he has found the key to the 5-year-old.
How the trainer found it might still need some explaining.
"He was a horse we thought of a lot as a baby, and I think there's been complete trainer error for a number of years," he said.
"He's disappointed and disappointed, but suddenly this year he's become a model of consistency, and I never thought I'd put The Lamplighter and consistency in the same sentence. He's been a real star for us.
"He had his quirks in his early days and was sometimes saving a bit for himself. I should pretend I've been very clever and it's all down to superb training, but it's down to a horse who is in a happy place now, and that's key."
Doyle Gets In on the Act
Godolphin colt Act of Wisdom has the pedigree and price tag to be smart and registered his first victory Sept. 23 in the 1 1/4-mile maiden.
The Charlie Appleby-trained juvenile is by the phenomenal Galileo out of Jacqueline Quest, who crossed the line first in the Stanjames.com One Thousand Guineas (G1) in 2010 only to be demoted to second. That breeding might explain why he cost 1.1 million guineas as a yearling 12 months ago.
Winning jockey James Doyle said: "He's a horse who has shown us plenty of ability, and other days he can get behind the bridle. He's quite a laid-back character."
Doyle went on to complete a treble on Hortzadar and Makawee, who justified David O'Meara's decision to send them south from his North Yorkshire base.
