We have reached the halfway stage of the turf Flat season and no better way to mark it than with our fifth Classic success, courtesy of YOU GOT TO ME in last Saturday’s Irish Oaks.

She’s a tough, resolute filly who has been dining at the top table since winning the Lingfield Oaks Trial on her seasonal reappearance in May and it was great for everyone involved to see her win such a coveted prize.

The first-time tongue-tie helped her settle better, though we hadn’t planned to be that far back in the field and it’s a tribute to her bravery that she found a way through in time.

Next on the agenda is the Yorkshire Oaks and, given her iron-like constitution, there’s every reason to hope she’ll be just as good four weeks from now.

Another of our top fillies, BLUESTOCKING, may hold centre stage this weekend if bidding to add the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes to last month’s victory in Ireland’s Pretty Polly.

She deserved that Group 1 breakthrough success after a couple of near-misses last season and we’re looking forward to taking on the colts at Ascot in a race in which fillies and mares have a good record.

She’s unbeaten this year, having won the Middleton at York on her reappearance, and bearing in mind how close she went in last season’s Irish Oaks and at Ascot on Champions Day, this step back up to 1m4f should suit her.

Back to Ascot this Saturday and TALES OF THE HEART is set to take her chance in the Princess Margaret Stakes, a Group 3 event for two-year-old fillies. She won on debut at Kempton and finished a good second upped to Listed grade at Newmarket.

She went back there for the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge a couple of weeks ago but didn’t really come forward as I’d anticipated. I’m keen to give her another chance, especially over this stiffer six furlongs.

Glorious Goodwood gets underway on Tuesday when Royal Ascot winner DOHA is a possible for the opening Chesterfield Cup handicap, though she could run there later in the week instead.

A superbly-bred filly, she’s still on the up despite her defeat in a Listed race at Pontefract last time. It’s quite a tricky track and she didn’t get a gap when she needed it. I thought she was a little unlucky and did well to get so close to one who got first run on her.

Remarkable stable stalwart KINROSS is on course to defend his Lennox Stakes crown in a race he’s won twice and finished a neck second in three attempts.

A dual Group 1 winner two seasons ago, he retains plenty of ability at the age of seven judged on his reappearance second to a race-fit rival at Newcastle and his subsequent effort in the July Cup can be excused as he was a bit far back on ground that was quicker than ideal over the trip.

He’ll enjoy going back up to seven furlongs for the first time this season, irrespective of the ground, and this has been one of his main targets again.

SONNY LISTON is likely to go for the meeting’s Group 1 feature, the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday. He’s run well on previous visits to the track and is on a career-high mark after his gallant second under a huge weight in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot.

He’s ideally suited by a strong pace to aim at, which he didn’t get in the Group 2 Summer Mile back at Ascot last time. Hopefully the leaders will go harder in this superior grade, plus we’re putting blinkers back on him for the first time this season to keep him extra-motivated.

Friday’s high-profile Goodwood entries at kick off with QIRAT in the Golden Mile. I hope he gets in, otherwise we’ll look at a seven-furlong alternative. Either way I’m keen to run him at the meeting as he was an impressive winner on his only previous visit to the track.

In the ensuing King George Stakes, there’s a fair chance STARLUST will line up. His owners are keen for him to run at Goodwood, albeit he’s got such a good record at York that the Nunthorpe remains the principal aim.

As regards the Saturday card, RIVER OF STARS is looking good for the Group 2 Lillie Langtry. She was runner-up in desperate ground in last year’s renewal and goes into the race on the back of two pleasing runs this season, including a Listed win on quick ground last time. She’s in a good place and won’t mind what the weather does.