“Via Sistina is in great shape,” Boughey said. “It was a little frustrating watching the [G1] Nassau [last week at Goodwood] without having her in it in that [soft] ground, but it was never really the plan after we went to the Falmouth and she's getting ready to run in the Romanet at Deauville on Aug. 20.

“She'd had two quick runs and we've got to pick our battles–you can't run in every race–and it's been the plan to run in the Romanet for a long time should the ground be right for her. It's the last 4-year-old and above fillies-only race for her this year and we're very pleased with her. She worked yesterday [Monday] morning, Jamie Spencer sat on her and was very happy.”

In the Romanet, Via Sistina will return to 1 1/4 miles at Deauville and will go longer distances for the rest of her campaign, according to Boughey.

“We wanted to experiment over the mile in the Falmouth, but she was tapped for toe and we'll go back up in trip,” Boughey added.

“She's entered in the 10-furlong [G1 Champion S.] and the 12-furlong race [G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S.] on Champions Day at Ascot and she'll be in the [G1] Prix de l'Opera over 10 [furlongs] on Arc day.”

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George Boughey trainee Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), ridden by Jamie Spencer, drifted across the course near the finish and impeded placed horses when winning by two lengths earlier this month. Runner-up Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus])'s owners Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib appealed the stewards' decision to leave the placings as is. However, that appeal was dismissed on Tuesday.

In addition, Spencer was given a six-day ban for his mount's waywardness, but his suspension, too, remains and will take place on July 15, 17-20, and 22. Spencer's upcoming G1 July Cup ride aboard Royal Ascot longshot winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has been filled by Rob Hornby.

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Joseph O'Brien, who was responsible for two of the last four winners, saddles TDN Rising Star Above The Curve (American Pharoah), who took all of the attention away from Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) when winning last month's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud. Last year's G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner is one of two Coolmore hopes alongside Ballydoyle's Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is backed up 13 days after after her second in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

Al Riffa In International Return…
It has taken a while, but Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is back in action in the G3 Paddy Power International S. on the Pretty Polly undercard. Not sighted since winning the track's juvenile feature in September, he is giving Joseph O'Brien all the right vibes as he faces another long-absent colt in Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), last seen finishing a disappointing sixth in the Listed Chesham S. at last year's Royal Ascot.
While Alfred Munnings has to dust off the cobwebs, stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) is back just eight days after her runner-up finish in the Royal meeting's G3 Albany S. as she takes in the G2 Airlie Stud S. Three of Aidan O'Brien's last four winners of this had also been in action in Berkshire, but if this proves too quick a turnaround it may be that it benefits another with Coolmore involvement in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Grand Job (Justify) who was second in Matrika's course-and-distance maiden last month.

Return Acts At Newmarket…
The July Course's season got underway on Thursday and the action there on Saturday is not to be missed, with Charlie Appleby taking the wraps off last year's G3 Gordon S. winner and promoted G1 St Leger runner-up New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Listed Fred Archer S. “New London has had wind surgery since his last run and we have been very pleased with him at home,” his trainer said. “He has been for two racecourse gallops and this looks a good starting point for a campaign that should progress through the summer and into the autumn.”

The Fred Archer also sees the comeback of Shadwell's talented Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who looks to become the latest in a sequence to defy a lengthy lay-off having been sidelined since his win in Ascot's Listed Buckhounds S. last May. Interestingly, William Haggas also brings back another of Sheikha Hissa's stars missing in action of late in Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}) in the card's G3 Criterion S.

“We need soft ground for Aldaary, I declared him when it was raining,” Haggas said of last year's impressive Listed Spring Trophy winner who has been off for the same 420-day stretch as Al Aasy. “The ground is on the slow side at Newmarket, but whether that remains the case we'll see. We can make a decision as late as we need to, but as long as it's not fast I'd say he'll probably run because he needs to get going. Al Aasy is the same, he likes a bit of cut in the ground, but he needs to start. They've both been training well, so I'm hopeful they'll run well.”

In the fixture's opening Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' S., Charlie Appleby tests the waters with TDN Rising Star Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) who dazzled at Haydock 16 days ago. She faces Ballylinch Stud's What A Question (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a key member of the Charlie Johnston juvenile academy who was impressive at Goodwood on her debut a day after her Godolphin rival.

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Coco Returns

Making her seasonal bow is Team Valor's G2 Blandford S. winner La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}), who alongside Robert Moran's June 8 G3 Munster Oaks winner Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) forms a strong two-pronged assault by Paddy Twomey. “La Petite Coco is a lovely filly and the plan has been very much to campaign her with the second half of the season in mind,” the trainer explained. “She didn't miss a beat last year and we couldn't be happier with her.” William Haggas's golden period with black-type runners continued apace on Saturday and it may be significant that he saddles both Lael Stables' June 5 G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) and Sunderland Holding's My Astra (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The latter took Ayr's Listed Rothesay S. by 12 lengths on soft ground May 18 and as a half-sister to My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has the pedigree to get to this level in the immediate future.

“Purplepay is a charming filly. It is obviously her first time at the trip, but Tom [Marquand] is quite keen that she tries it,” Haggas said. “My Astra is up in class and she has only won a listed race, but she is very well and we hope she will run well.” Ballydoyle's Irish 1000 Guineas third and Oaks fourth Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) adds rich texture to a fascinating contest.

Statuette To The Test

If the Pretty Polly is a tantalising main course, then the six-furlong G2 Airlie Stud S. is the ideal appetiser with Ballydoyle's 'TDN Rising Star' Statuette (Justify) looking to enhance her already-significant reputation. So impressive on her debut over an extended five at Navan May 28, the daughter of Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) is taken on by Juddmonte's Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) whose defeat of Olivia Maralda (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Zoinnocent (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in a course-and-distance maiden May 22 is hot form. Also in the mix is another who has shown up well on debut over this track and trip in the May 20 Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden winner Papilio (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). The Fozzy Stack trainee's form received a boost on Saturday when the runner-up Apache Outlaw (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was third in the Railway.

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“The plan is to go for the Prix d'Ispahan on Sunday, she's in very good form and she came out of the Newmarket race well,” Walker said. “It is a big ask to go and take on the colts in a Group 1, but it is a nice stepping stone between the Dahlia and the Pretty Polly.

“We've been very pleased with her and we were very happy with the Newmarket run, she saw it out well–we're looking forward to it.”

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Santa Barbara takes on a different challenge here, meeting the older fillies and mares headed by the Australia (GB) duo,  Cayenne Pepper (Ire) and Epona Plays (Ire). Cayenne Pepper is back over the course and distance of her four-length success in the G2 Blandford S. in September, where the re-opposing Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) was in third. She was fourth on her return in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on contrasting ground here May 23 and trainer Jessie Harrington believes the more lively conditions will bring out the best in her. “We think she's come forward from the Tattersalls Gold Cup and that she will appreciate the good ground, as she doesn't like it soft,” she said.

Improving at a rate of knots, Epona Plays is one of the country's leading milers following her wins in the G3 Park Express S. at Naas Mar. 28 and G2 Lanwades Stud S. at this venue May 22. She has been over this trip before and won the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park in September, so she warrants maximum respect while Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) needs to bounce back after a lean spell. She had another Jessie Harrington representative Oodnadatta (Ire) (Australia {GB}) back in third when winning the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over seven furlongs here in September and the ground was against her when 10th in last Friday's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot.

Joseph O'Brien believes that Thundering Nights can build on her narrow second in the June 4 GII New York S. and said, “Thundering Nights has been a brilliant filly for us and was unlucky not to win earlier this month. She was interfered with on the first bend and got a bit further back than ideal. She finished off like a train in the closing stages, but came up a nose short. It was a fantastic run and she has come back from it in great shape. The big aim of bringing her back into training this year was for her to be competitive in Group 1 company and her form entitles her to be in the mix in this race. Conditions will suit and hopefully she'll run a big race.”

In the six-furlong G2 Airlie Stud S., last Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. third Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) backs up quickly having caught the eye when making up ground in that five-furlong contest where the front-runners looked to have an advantage. Aidan O'Brien puts 'TDN Rising Star' Yet (War Front) into the mix after she was 17th in that race, while Joseph O'Brien saddles the May 28 Fairyhouse auction series maiden winner Velocidad (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}).

Stayers get their chance in the G2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup, where Ballydoyle's Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) makes her seasonal bow having signed off in 2020 with a career-best third in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot in October. Last year's G3 Stanerra S. winner and G1 Irish Oaks third is joined by stablemate Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {GB}), last year's G1 Epsom Derby third who was 11th after setting the pace in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last Thursday. In Germany, the G3 Wettstar.de Dortmund Grand Prix sees Stall TMB's May 24 G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen winner Mythico (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) take on the older horses.

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“She's fine,” he said. “She was just a bit quiet at the weekend, and it's a long trip to France, so that's why we decided not to go. We decided to give her a bit more time. It's just looking at her–she was just not her usual bouncy self. So that's why we haven't gone this week. I was hoping to run her this week, and she's not far from a race.”

Races under consideration for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine include the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in mid-June and the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh on June 27. The dark bay also struck in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet two starts prior to her Breeders' Cup heroics.

“The Prince of Wales's would be a tough question to ask her first time out,” added Fanshawe. “But I'm sure she'll tell us. There's the Pretty Polly 10 days later, so there are various options–we'll see how she is.”

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If Magical is not at least near her top level, Jessie Harrington could be set to take advantage with Jon Kelly’s 3-year-old Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who gets a 12-pound weight-for-age swing. She showed her quality at two when taking the G3 Flame of Tara S. over a mile here in August before finishing fourth in the G1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in October.

Acting as support to the feature is the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S. and Denis Hogan’s Make a Challenge (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) bids to cement his place at the forefront of the domestic sprinters. He looked in a good place when taking the Listed Sole Power Sprint S. over five furlongs at Naas last Saturday and has shown enough to suggest he is at least a match for the June 20 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. fifth Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}).

Also on Sunday, Godolphin’s Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids for a third top-level success and a first in Europe having been found an ideal opening in a tepid renewal of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. On a card in which the operation’s TDN Rising Star Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) looks to get back to winning ways in the G2 Prix du Muguet, the Charlie Appleby-trained 5-year-old meets the May 31 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly winner and June 14 G1 Prix Ganay runner-up Way To Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and last year’s second Ziyad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). Old Persian can be hit-and-miss, but on his best day he is near the international elite as he proved when taking last year’s G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and the GI Northern Dancer Turf S. Rejuvenated after a break having signed off with a poor 11th in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf, the stalwart will probably not find a softer Group 1 anywhere in Britain, France or Ireland this year.

“Old Persian enjoyed a nice winter off out in Dubai after doing a lot of travelling last year,” Appleby said. “It was a disappointing run at the Breeders’ Cup, but it came at the end of a long season and the way the race panned out didn’t suit him. He has been freshened up for hopefully a nice European campaign over the summer and we have been pleased with his preparation. If he brings his A-game, he will be very competitive.”

Persian King was beaten on his keenly-anticipated return in the Listed Prix de Montretout over a mile at Chantilly June 10 and the Muguet looks a good fit for last year’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains hero and G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up. Standing in the way is the talent of Gerard Augustin-Normand’s impressive G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil winner Pretreville (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), who had last year’s G2 Prix Dollar and G2 Premio Roma winner Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) five lengths back in third in that May 18 Chantilly contest. Jean-Claude Seroul’s Skalleti has a four-pound swing here and has that sharpener under his belt, while Persian King’s trainer Andre Fabre also pitches in Lady Bamford’s G3 Prix Chloe winner Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) to ensure this is a proper test for his Classic hero.

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