Saturday Team on a Hot Streak

Hot Streak became the season's most exciting sprinter when landing the Gr.2 betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock, where his nearest pursuer was a resurgent Pearl Secret, completing a hugely satisfying one-two for Sheikh Fahad and Qatar Racing. Meanwhile, at the Curragh, Purr Along, ridden by Jamie Spencer, made her debut for the team and overcame testing conditions to win the Gr.3 Lanwades Stud Stakes.

Purr Along, a daughter of Mount Nelson, was bought by QRL and Newsells Park Stud for 1,000,000gns at Tattersalls December Sale last year. That was a significant sum for a filly whose form during the season read 84455, but trainer Willie Muir was convinced she was a Group One winner in waiting. He said a rushed attempt to ready her for Royal Ascot had affected her throughout the summer.

Following her purchase she was sent to the fledgling stable of former top jockey Johnny Murtagh, and the transformation was completed when she showed guts and class to overcome soft ground with heavy patches - and 13 rivals - to score in yesterday's race.

Murtagh said: "She came with a big reputation but we immediately thought a lot of her. She had a few issues earlier in the spring and they held us up, but we were patient - which is not easy for me - and it has paid off.

"I was worried about the ground, but it was worth taking the chance because we want to run her at Royal Ascot in the Windsor Forest Stakes and she needed a run before that."

Purr Along's win was in stark contrast to a disappointing performance by Obliterator, who finished last in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas - won by favourite Kingman - but David Redvers, racing and bloodstock advisor to Sheikh Fahad, said the colt was beaten by the ground.

He was delighted by the performances of three-year-old Hot Streak, who was ridden for the first time by apprentice Oisin Murphy, and five-year-old Pearl Secret at Haydock, and said the winner would stay at five furlongs and run in the Gr.1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, while the runner-up would step up to six furlongs and tackle the Gr.1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at the same meeting.

Hot Streak, a son of Iffraaj and bought by Redvers for 42,000gns at Tattersalls' Guineas Breeze-Up Sale in May last year, is on his way to becoming the best horse trained by Kevin Ryan. He told the Racing Post: "He's awesome - I've always thought the world of him. We knew he would improve for Newmarket [where he finished third in the Gr.3 Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes]."