Small margins go against Pretty Mischievous and Cylinder

Top three-year-olds Pretty Mischievous and Cylinder both emerged with significant credit from narrow defeats in North America and Australia on Saturday.

Kentucky Oaks heroine Pretty Mischievous went down by half a length to Ceiling Crusher in the Cotillion Stakes in Pennsylvania. The three-time G1 scorer closed strongly after initially appearing uncomfortable on the sloppy track and remains in pole position for champion three-year-old filly honours.

Cylinder went agonisingly close to a breakthrough top-level success in the Golden Rose at Rosehill as he lost out on a three-way photo with Militarize and Encap following a wide trip.

Siskany continued the theme in Germany on Sunday as he finished a close third in the Preis von Europa. A step back up in trip is on the cards for the talented stayer, with a trip to Santa Anita one potential option.

Four Godolphin winners at Yarmouth on Wednesday included Sapphire Seas graduating to Listed honours in the John Musker Stakes. Quickstep notched a first Listed win of her own at Saint-Cloud on Friday, a card that saw exciting two-year-old Bauhinia maintain her unbeaten record.

Away from the track, Hartnell proved the star attraction as Godolphin’s Lifetime Care ambassador made an appearance at the Flemington stables open day on Sunday. Members of the public also got the chance to visit Godolphin’s rehoming programme in Newmarket as part of the Sir Henry Cecil open weekend.

Two of Godolphin’s heavyweights will be looking to ace their prep runs for the Breeders’ Cup at Aqueduct this Saturday, with Cody’s Wish on course for the Vosburgh Stakes and Rebel’s Romance set to line up in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.