Improving Kassia strikes again in Baodicea Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket

The rest of the news from Dubai Future Champions Day at Newmarket, where Kassia took the opening fillies' event under Graham Lee.

Muffri'ha (8/1) ended her career on the crest of a wave, landing the Group Three Godolphin Stud And Stable Staff Awards Darley Stakes in the hands of Pat Cosgrave.

The William Haggas-trained daughter of Iffraaj had produced a career-best effort to win a handicap here last week and bettered it on her last run before going off to stud.

She had a length and a half to spare over Carry On Deryck (3/1), with Johannes Vermeer (5/2 favourite) the same distance further back in third.

The four-year-old bade Haggas, who has enjoyed a tremendous season, a fond farewell.

He said: "It has been extraordinary. She has been messing about in Listed races, not getting placed. She then got third in a Listed race at the Cambridgeshire meeting.

"We won a handicap last weekend with a lot of weight and today she grew another leg. She put up a career-best effort - and we are going to retire her on that.

"She loved the fast ground and really picked up today. What a game filly. Fantastic. I am so pleased.

"I don't know who she will go to, but she deserved this."

Haggas also paid tribute to the winning jockey, who has been in great form this season.

"He has been riding brilliantly. Pat is ambitious to ride more winners than he has ever done. I think his record is 104 and he must be on 95 or 96, so he has until the end of December, so he will do it.

"As for the yard, this has been our best year numerically. It is extraordinary."

Kassia gained her first success outside of handicap company when finishing to good effect in the Visionsport.com EBF Stallions Boadicea Fillies' Stakes.

With three wins to her name already this term the Mick Channon-trained 15/2 shot, who finished fifth in last year's Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot,  took a step back up in class in her stride to take the six furlong Listed prize.

Having been prominent from the outset Gravity Flow looked to have the measure of her rivals having seemingly stolen a clear advantage on the stands side rail entering the final quarter of a mile.

Despite the brave efforts of the William Haggas-trained runner, she could not quite hold off the late charge of the daughter of Acclamation and complete a five-timer with a head separating the pair at the line.

Chanon said: "We just followed them into it really. She deserved that. She is very good. We just had a little issue with the stalls which held us up a bit. That's probably why she is good now as she has taught herself.

"We always thought she was a good filly but she stays in training. She works like a very good filly.

"We will have to have a good go at all the good races. She is an out and out sprinter so we are in no two minds where we are going. I think next year she will be better again."

Gravity Flow only narrowly failed to bring up a five-timer and her trainer William Haggas said: "Gravity Flow has run very well and got a bit of black type and I am thrilled to bits. She'll stay in training and that will probably be it for the season, as she enjoys top of the ground but we'll see."

Another local handler Charlie Appleby's Mise En Rose (7/2 favourite) finished a further four lengths adrift in third.

Appleby said: "The drop back in trip was not out of her comfort zone. The first two home were on the other side and it was like there were two races - she beat her group well but was the last filly on her own.

"She deserves to win a black-type race and might have to go up in trip now in the Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield in about three weeks' time, which is one of the fast-track qualifiers."

Island Vision appreciated a step back up in trip when victorious in the Dubai Business Internships Fillies' Nursery Handicap.

Having been out of luck in two outings since landing a maiden at Chelmsford, the David Simcock-trained two-year-old addressed that matter when she helped Jim Crowley move another step closer towards his first Flat jockeys' title.

As was the case in the first race, all the action came down the stands' side - despite the field having initially split into two groups.

Last-time-out Ascot winner Flying North looked set to follow up when she moved to the front approaching the two-furlong marker.

Although Timmy Murphy did get out of a response out of his mount when called on for maximum effort, it was not enough to match the finishing kick of the 11/1 winner, who moved on inside the final furlong to oblige by a length.

Simcock said: "She run very well in a good nursery at Doncaster last time out.

"We were slightly hoodwinked after her run at Newcastle in June where she was favourite for a nursery there.

"It was about the time, though, that the horses were not running great.

"She looked like she didn't get home then so we dropped her back to six (furlongs) at Doncaster and it blatantly looked like she wanted further.

"She was very strong at the line and Jim said another furlong wouldn't be a problem. We might give her one more go this season.

"She will get a mile. She will be a great fun filly and is progressive. There are more races in her for definite."