From a Group 1-placed sister to the Group 1 AJC All-Aged Stakes winner El Mirada, this youngster ‘won' the first event at Gosford on Thursday, then had the event nullified.

A barrier mishap deems the 1100m will never be recorded in official guides but Crossbow's cracking charge from the rear stamped him as something very, very special.

Further up the NSW Coast SUBCULTURE (four-year-old gelding by Commands - Private Stock, by El Kaoru Star) took his record to three wins in 10 runs when a smart Grafton winner last Saturday.

Rolled in his first four runs for Peter Snowden, the half-brother to Cellar has found his niche for Grafton-based Wayne Lawson, especially in sub-1600m contests.

Midweek in Brisbane the Laurie Mayfield-Smith-trained FRACTIONS (two-year-old gelding by Show A Heart - Inch, by Celestial Dancer) skated to his first victory at Doomben.

Favourite after striking Pellizotti in a maiden, Fractions asserted his superiority in no mean fashion, scoring by almost three panels. More wins await this professional type.

Even further north, last week's Royal Ascot meeting churned out high-grade equine action to the nth degree - let's go fishing in the shallows with IMPOSING (four-year-old horse by Danehill Dancer - On Fair Stage, by Sadler's Wells).

Perhaps not as noteworthy as Tommy Smith's 1979 Epsom-Stradbroke winner, this version motored up for second in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (2400m). He's prepared by another training legend in Sir Michael Stoute.

Across the Tasman, Aussie-bred WHISPERING BEAUTY (three-year-old gelding by Al Maher - Royal Kiss, by Royal Academy) bolted away with last Saturday's Ellerslie maiden (1400m) in fine fashion.

This was the third time in four runs Lance Noble's youngster has banked a cheque and he looks the sort to just keep progressing, so quickly did he put his 15 rivals away. 

Tony Brassel is senior form analyst with Sky Racing.