Ratings Update: No stopping Continuous in St Leger

Continuous went into Saturday's St Leger as the one to beat on form – he was 5 lb clear on Timeform's ratings following his success in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York – and he raised his game another notch to give Aidan O'Brien a seventh victory in the Doncaster classic.

Continuous earned a Timeform rating of 124 (from 121) for his emphatic two-and-three-quarter-length defeat of Arrest (119 from 116) and that identifies him as an above-average winner of the St Leger, with the 10-year mean winning performance rating coming in at 121.6. It also places Continuous in a prominent position in the three-year-old pecking order, behind only Ace Impact (129p), Auguste Rodin (128), Paddington (128) and King of Steel (126).

The only St Leger winners in the last decade to have registered a higher performance rating than Continuous are Kew Gardens (127 in 2018) and Hurricane Lane (126 in 2021), both of whom went on to contest the Arc – Kew Gardens ran creditably but was unplaced behind Enable, while Hurricane Lane finished a close-up third behind Torquator Tasso. Though not currently entered in the Arc, Continuous would be worth his place in the line-up at Longchamp if connections decided to supplement him, a progressive colt who, at the very least, is likely to be a fixture in the top races over a mile and a half next season.

The best performance in the supporting races on Saturday's card at Doncaster came from Sandrine (118 from 114), who built on her effort at York with another career best to land the Group 2 Park Stakes, quickly asserting in the final furlong to beat the front-running Audience (remains on 118) by three quarters of a length. The winner seems to have benefited from the fitting of a visor on her last two starts and the Prix de la Foret could be next on her agenda. With her 3 lb sex allowance factored in, Sandrine wouldn't be without place claims at Longchamp on this showing, albeit her York conqueror, Kinross (122), promises to be tough to beat once again.

A return to Group 1 company could also be on the cards for King's Stand third Annaf (118 from 115), who surpassed even that form as he carried 9-12 to victory in the Portland Handicap, holding on gamely by a short head to gain his first win on turf. Away from the top level, he enjoyed a productive time of things on the all-weather last winter and his connections must be tempted to keep him on the go for a bit longer with other valuable prizes on that surface in mind.

Champagne Stakes winner Iberian (110p from 97p) was one of several smart two-year-olds on show at the meeting as he took another significant step forward to land the Group 2 prize which kicked off Saturday's action. Favourite Rosallion (remains on 110p) proved to be a disappointment which takes a little gloss off the victory, but Iberian is clearly a highly promising juvenile in his own right having won by two lengths with a bit in hand. He is likely to progress further and deserves a crack at a Group 1 in the autumn (entered in the Dewhurst and Futurity Trophy).

Similar comments apply to Dancing Gemini (114 from 101), who bettered Iberian's effort in winning the listed Flying Scotsman Stakes on Friday's card by four and a quarter lengths, a race in which all nine who took part were last-time-out winners. It was a much-improved performance from Dancing Gemini to put the others to the sword in decisive fashion and he ran to a level good enough to make him a major contender at pattern level. He is set to return to Town Moor for the Futurity Trophy next month, with the extra furlong there likely to eke out more improvement.

Big Evs (114 from 105) was another impressive two-year-old winner on Friday as he bounced back quickly from his Nunthorpe no-show with a dominant two-and-three-quarter-length win in the Flying Childers Stakes. Nothing else could land a blow after he took three lengths out of the field at the start, again displaying plenty of dash, and he put up one of the very best performances in this Group 2 since the turn of the century. He's not in the Prix de l'Abbaye and has the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint as his target, his speed and level of ability both likely to give him leading claims in the US.

Incidentally, Big Evs and Dancing Gemini are now ranked joint-fifth among the highest-rated two-year-olds in training, behind only Henry Longfellow (120p), City of Troy (119p), Bucanero Fuerte (117) and Vandeek (115p).

The other two-year-old performance of note came from the rapidly improving Darnation (105p from 98p), who completed a hat-trick with her three-length victory in Thursday's Group 2 May Hill Stakes. She's on the small side but looks well up to making an impact in one of the Group 1 events later in the autumn, with the Prix Marcel Boussac perhaps more likely than the Fillies' Mile (for which she would need to be supplemented) given how effective she is with cut in the ground. Incidentally, her form isn't so far behind that of stablemate Fallen Angel (110p) as the ante-post markets for the 1000 Guineas and Oaks would suggest.

Sumo Sam (115 from 112) was the other big winner on Thursday's card as she demonstrated a good attitude to land the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes, fully confirming the improvement she'd shown in winning the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood the time before. This was another most likeable effort from the front, sticking to her task well to win by a length and a half having ensured a proper test of stamina. The Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp might come sooner than ideal, but that appeals as potentially her best Group 1 option this autumn.

Options at Longchamp and Ascot are on the table for Trueshan (remains on 120) following his encouraging return from four months off (had a breathing operation during his absence) in Friday's Group 2 Doncaster Cup. He won by a length and a quarter despite despite doing a lot wrong, fighting his rider for a long way off a steady pace before being sent to the front, that he finished the race as stoutly as he did after pulling so hard auguring well for the Prix du Cadran (which he won in 2021) and/or the Long Distance Cup (which he's won in each of the last three years).

Sunday's card also threw up a couple of smart winners, notably Rogue Lightning (119 from 116), who saw off Raasel (remains on 117) to land the listed Scarborough Stakes by three quarters of a length. The winner continues to go from strength to strength and there was plenty to like about the way he completed the hat-trick back up in grade, readily on top once he'd got organised near the line. He is well worth another crack at Group company now and not one to underestimate if he gets his chance at the top level in the Prix de l'Abbaye.

In the Group 3 Sceptre Fillies' Stakes, Matilda Picotte (115 from 103) found a chunk of improvement to get off the mark for the season, taking her form to a smart level and doing so in a good time as she made all to win by three and three-quarter lengths. She'll now be forced back into a higher grade, and probably against the boys, if kept on the go this season, but this sort of form suggests she won't be out of place. She's reportedly set to stay in training, too, and a return to sprinting could be on the cards at some stage given her style of racing.