Timeform with ten horses who increased their ratings on memorable weekend

Timeform look back on Irish Champions Weekend and Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, highlighting ten winners who notably improved their ratings.

Magical (128 from 125)

Magical may be a five-year-old but she proved better than ever when winning the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, becoming just the second horse - after Dylan Thomas - to win the race twice. She had been beaten three lengths by Ghaiyyath in the Juddmonte International but, under a more positive ride, the remarkably tough Magical never gave her rival a moment's peace and was hot on his heels on the turn for home before battling past him. Ghaiyyath wasn't at his brilliant best - a busy schedule by his standards perhaps taking the edge off - but he didn't go down without a fight and ensured Magical had to produce the performance of her life. She is now a seven-time Group 1 winner, which is no mean feat under any circumstance, never mind for a mare operating in the Enable era.

Galileo Chrome (122p from 115p)

Galileo Chrome arrived at Doncaster with an upwardly-mobile profile, successful on his three previous outings in 2020, and he took another big step forward to complete a four-timer in the St Leger, relishing the emphasis on stamina. A strong gallop cut out by Mythical and Subjectivist ensured that stamina was at a premium, and that played to the strengths of Galileo Chrome and Berkshire Rocco (122 from 113), who fought out the finish. Galileo Chrome’s rating of 122 is only that of an average St Leger winner, but he is lightly raced and could yet do better, particularly if tried over further. He appeals as a Cup horse for next season.

Thunder Moon (120p from 106p)

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin won the National Stakes with Quorto and Pinatubo and were bidding to make it three in row with Master of The Seas, who had created such a big impression when winning the Superlative Stakes. He had to settle for a minor role, however, in a race won with a degree of authority by Thunder Moon. The National Stakes was the best two-year-old race run this season, so it says a lot about Thunder Moon that he was able to run to such a high level on the back of just one win in maiden company. Thunder Moon encountered a troubled passage but, as on debut, he deployed an explosive turn of foot which carried him to the front with ease, looking value for more than the length-and-a-half winning margin. That was the best performance posted all season by a juvenile and he is a top-notch talent.

Champers Elysees (120 from 112)

Champers Elysees started the season by winning a handicap off a mark of just 86 at the Curragh but she has progressed rapidly and produced a very smart performance to make the breakthrough at Group 1 level in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. Champers Elysees, who was completing a four-timer on Saturday, was well suited by the strong pace but it was still impressive how she managed to sweep past rivals such as Peaceful and Fancy Blue, winning by a length and a quarter. It would be difficult to rule out further improvement given her progressive profile.

Chindit (117p from 111p)

Chindit had created an extremely favourable impression when winning a strong listed race at Ascot in July and he took the step up in class to Group 2 company in his stride at Doncaster, winning the Champagne Stakes with a bit in hand. Chindit was held up having been slow into stride, but he travelled well and always looked to be getting there after quickening nicely over a furlong out. He is clearly a smart sort and arguably the best juvenile we have seen in Britain so far this season. Runner-up Albasheer (114p from 99P) is also a two-year-old to be positive about as he showed much improved form on the back of a wide-margin win in a novice. He should benefit from the experience.

Cadillac (116p from 105p)

Cadillac had been a hugely impressive winner on debut at Leopardstown and, returned to that course after finishing runner-up in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh, he produced a sparkling performance to land the Champions Juvenile Stakes. Cadillac was always travelling powerfully and quickened well to lead entering the final furlong before pulling three and a half lengths clear. His rating of 116p has been surpassed by only Thunder Moon and Chindit in the juvenile division this season.

Pista (115p from 103p)

Pista had improved a big chunk to win a listed race at Leopardstown after getting off the mark in a Galway maiden, and she took another significant step forward to land the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Pista is clearly a strong stayer and she did well to win by a length and a half after a close finish had looked assured, proving at her strongest inside the final furlong. She still looked a bit green so is entitled to improve again after only four starts, and a step up to two miles could help bring about even more improvement.

Shale (114 from 105)

Shale came out on top when she met Pretty Gorgeous for the first time in the Silver Flash Stakes, but she was comprehensively beaten when they clashed in the Debutante Stakes. However, the pendulum swung again in the Moyglare, with Shale displaying a good attitude to fend off a persistent challenge from her old rival. The way she kept to her task was encouraging and there could even be a bit more to come over a mile. She is now rated 1 lb ahead of Pretty Gorgeous and behind only Prix Morny winner Campanelle when it comes to the pecking order among the two-year-old fillies.

New Mandate (107 from 93p)

Six of the field in the listed Flying Scotsman Stakes had a 'p' attached to their rating – indicating improvement was expected – and two such types came to the fore, with New Mandate and Laneqash fighting out the finish. New Mandate displayed a good attitude to squeeze through a gap on the far side and proved determined to win by a head. He is clearly well worth a crack at a Group race, as is Laneqash, who was arriving on the back of just a maiden win and may well have struck again were it not for his inexperience.

Indigo Girl (101P from 94p)

Indigo Girl is a sister to Group 1 winner Journey and she has made a very promising start to her career, building on her debut effort at Yarmouth when cosily landing the May Hill at Doncaster. Her inexperience was evident as she was slowly away and then ran green when making her challenge, edging left, but she was well on top at the finish and value for more than the three-quarter-length winning margin. She should come into her own over middle distances next season and, open to significant improvement, she is very much a filly to be positive about.