Racing Report Card: A star performer at Newbury, an impressive debutant for Roger Varian and a horse for the tracker on Thursday

WE lost Haydock and Uttoxeter to the weather but there was plenty of quality elsewhere.

We’ve been keeping a close eye on the action and picked out some snippets you may have missed.

Star performer

3.00 Newbury – Antonia De Vega 

A straightforward one to start things off as the classy Antonia De Vega made a winning return to action.

A Group 3 winner last season, she picked up an injury in the Fillies’ Mile when last sighted in the autumn.

But she was back with a vengeance and stayed on strongly to win the Listed Abingdon Stakes. She will step up in class now.

Impressive debut

2.00 Newbury – Mottrib

Roger Varian has made a flying start to the season and he looks to have another nice two-year-old on his hands.

Mottrib, a 150,000gns purchase at the sales, showed plenty of boot to see off the well-backed jolly Baadirr by two and three quarter lengths at the first time of asking.

He is bred to improve with age and distance, so this was a particularly encouraging start.

One for the tracker

4.10 Newbury – Tulloona

Tom Clover’s three-year-old was a beaten favourite here, but he is worth another chance.

He had shaped with a good deal of promise in his first three outings and was fancied for his handicap debut.

But he was stretched by 7f on soft ground, and could only finish sixth. He could bounce back when dropped in trip.