“There's nothing drastically wrong with the mare at all–but we did miss a crucial bit of work with her, and I just felt that she wouldn't do herself justice if she went there a bit undercooked,” trainer William Jarvis told Nick Luck's Daily Podcast. “I don't see any point in lining up in a Group 1 race unless we're ticking every box. Emma Banks is very philosophical and patient and understands the situation.

“We're going to leave her in both the mile race (QEII) and the Champion S. at Ascot. With a bit of luck, that's what we're going to do.”

Lady Bowthorpe narrowly secured the G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket on May 2 making her first start of the year, and was second to standout miler Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the May 15 G1 Lockinge S. on May 15. She was fourth in the July 9 G1 Falmouth S. to a trio of Group 1-winning 3-year-old fillies, prior to her Nassau score.

“We did give her five days off, and she did benefit from that,” added Jarvis of her French effort. “Obviously it was a below-par effort, and we were desperately disappointed, but nothing came to light. Her action was good, and she looks very healthy still–she looks marvellous, actually.”

Looking farther ahead he added, “No decision has absolutely been made [on her retirement]. We're going to see how she goes on Oct. 16 and probably make a decision then. It doesn't necessarily have to be made straight after that either.

“We'd love to have her in training as a 6-year-old. But having said that, she's got that crucial Group 1 under her belt and owes none of us anything. We've been privileged and very lucky to have a mare as special as her.”

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“Obviously, it was very disappointing,” Jarvis said of his star's Romanet performance. “But that's horseracing, it happens. I can't really come up with an excuse for it. It went our way at Goodwood, [but] it didn't in Deauville. We've been in it for a long time, we can understand these things.”

Successful in the G2 Dahlia S. on May 2, Lady Bowthorpe ran a good second to Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Al Shaqab Locking S. at Newbury on May 15 and was second again in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot on June 16. Only fourth in the G1 Falmouth S. behind the Group 1-winning trio of sophomore fillies Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), she scored her first top-shelf victory in the July 29 Nassau S.

“We're going to sleep on it,” he added of the Emma Banks-owned mare. “Sometimes, you can't quite put a finger on it. But the filly has come back healthy and sound, so that's the main thing. She won't go back to France, I wouldn't have thought, for the Prix de l'Opera. So we've got the Sun Chariot as a possible target for her.

“We've got those [British Champions Day] races at Ascot. [So], if we're not pleased with her in time for the Sun Chariot we can wait and take up one of those entries.

“The Ascot races both look very competitive, strong fields. So if she was ready for the Sun Chariot I think we'd take up that option.”

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“I haven't been back [to the yard] myself, but I've had reports that everything is good with her this morning,” said trainer William Jarvis of the Emma Banks colourbearer. “I think she deserved it. She'd been knocking at the door in a couple of other Group 1, so it was a very special day.

“I've got to talk about it [plans] with Emma. There's a slightly obvious race, now that she seems to be travelling a bit better, and that is the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville. Then we could look at the Prix de l'Opera, possibly. She's not in the Juddmonte International and supplementing her wouldn't be on my agenda, but it's all open to discussion.

“I would have thought we'll be sticking to a mile and a quarter, although we could drop back for the Sun Chariot–we've got options.”

A winner of the G3 Betfred Valiant Fillies' S. at Ascot last year, Lady Bowthorpe kicked off her 2021 season with a bang, clawing out a head victory in the G2 Betfair Dahlia S. at Newmarket on May 2. Only 1 ½ lengths behind Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the May 15 G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury, the mare was second again, this time in the June 16 G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot. Her final run prior to her Nassau win was a fourth in the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at HQ on July 9.

Of plans farther afield than Europe, the Breeders' Cup is not in the cards, but the Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin in December are a possibility, according to the Newmarket trainer.

“She won't go to the Breeders' Cup, I wouldn't think, but if she's still in good form in December we could think about Hong Kong,” he said.

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Coming to the fore when winning Ascot's G3 Valiant Fillies' S. with more than a dash of style over a mile last July, Lady Bowthorpe was sixth in the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown the following month and in the G1 Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket in October before her winter break. Returning to annexe the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. back at Newmarket May 2, the bay was only 1 1/2 lengths behind Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) when runner-up in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 15 before filling that spot again in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. racing away from what appeared to be a favoured stand's rail at Royal Ascot June 16. In the Falmouth, she was caught up in traffic and forced to come around rivals before powering to the line to be just a length off Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}), prompting tears of frustration from her trainer who had been hoping to end the long wait since Grand Lodge's St James's Palace S. success in 1994.

This time, there was to be no hard-luck story as she waited for her chance to strike with Joan of Arc setting an honest pace up ahead. As Audarya failed to pick up in behind, Lady Bowthorpe had just the front two 3-year-olds to concern herself with and after they had tussled for a few strides she burned by in trademark fashion for an emphatic success. “It feels fantastic–we've dreamt about this for a long time,” Jarvis commented. “We always knew she was special and I'm so chuffed for the team at home more than anything, because they work so hard–we only have seven or eight staff. I was confident she'd stay. I was a little worried about Roger [Varian]'s filly [Zeyaadah], because she wasn't stopping but I knew we had that turn of foot. She relaxes so much better now–she's a superstar.”

“I think after she won the Dahlia Stakes that was when I, personally, thought that she should have the Nassau Stakes on her radar and we sort of worked back a little bit,” Jarvis added. “Having said that, she hasn't missed a beat–we went Dahlia, Lockinge, Royal Ascot, Newmarket, she's a very tough mare. I've been dying to run her over 10 furlongs for a long time, but events transpired against us until today. Anyway, I think she has proved that she's even better over 10 than she is at a mile. I've never lost faith in myself as a trainer. Quite a lot of other people may well have done, which is why we've only got 28 or 29 horses in the yard. However, I've got a lovely bunch of staff working for me and they've never lost faith in the way that we operate and they give me everything. We are a family unit and there is a lot of loyalty involved, including with Kieran who I am delighted for. There was a lot of pressure from outside people, saying should we do this or that or leave Oisin Murphy sitting in the weighing room, but it never really crossed out minds.”

Shadwell's Angus Gold said of the runner-up, “If you told me a year ago Zeyaadah would win a listed, a group 3 and be second in a group 1, I would have been very excited at the thought of that so I am thrilled. She will stick at that sort of trip. Jim [Crowley] didn't mention the ground. She won on bottomless, but I don't think that was for her. Jim did say she was moving beautifully.” Audarya's rider William Buick believed that the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine had an obvious excuse. “I would say that Audarya just didn't pick up on that ground,” he explained. “She won on fast ground at Royal Ascot and whilst she has run well in some big races on similar ground to today, the difference was that it is just so tacky and gluey. For me, it was the ground that was the issue today.”

Lady Bowthorpe's dam Maglietta Fina (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), who was a smart sprint handicapper for Robert Cowell, produced Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) as her first foal and he flew the flag by winning the G2 Greenlands S., G3 Phoenix Sprint S., G3 Renaissance S. and G3 Ballycorus S. and finishing third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. Lady Bowthorpe is her second, while her third is the Listed Cooley S. third Pretty In Grey (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}). Maglietta Fina is kin to the four-times group-winning miler Tullius (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}), who was also runner-up in the Lockinge while her pedigree also features Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) who was second to Essential Quality (Tapit) in this year's GII Blue Grass S. Her 2-year-old colt by Muhaarar (GB) is named Master of Colours (GB), while she also has a filly foal by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire).

Thursday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR NASSAU S.-G1, £600,000, Goodwood, 7-29, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 197yT, 2:08.94, g/s.
1–LADY BOWTHORPE (GB), 133, m, 5, by Nathaniel (Ire)
     1st Dam: Maglietta Fina (Ire), by Verglas (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Whipped Queen, by Kingmambo
     3rd Dam: Meringue Pie, by Silent Screen
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (82,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Ms E L Banks; B-Scuderia Archi Romani (GB); T-William Jarvis; J-Kieran Shoemark. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 16-5-4-0, $763,224. *1/2 to Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}), MGSW-Ire, SW-Eng, G1SP-Fr, $487,900. *1/2 to Speak In Colours (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}), MGSW-Ire, SW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $487,900. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zeyaadah (Ire), 124, f, 3, Tamayuz (GB)–Masaafat (GB), by Act One (GB). O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £129,000.
3–Joan of Arc (Ire), 124, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–You'resothrilling (GSW-Eng, GSW-Ire, $219,415), by Storm Cat. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £64,560.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.30, 7.00, 2.25.
Also Ran: Technique (GB), Audarya (Fr), Empress Josephine (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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“Six weeks is a nice gap between races when you are taking things step by step and we've had this race in mind for a while. She's got better as she's got older and she's doing everything right at home. It was fast ground at Keeneland and Royal Ascot, but she shouldn't have any problem on easier going because it was very testing last year when she won the Romanet and very soft when she ran so well in the Prix de l'Opera.”

Also flying the flag for the older fillies and mares is Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who like Audarya has gone from strength to strength since last summer and seeks a first top-level success after two fine efforts at this level in 2021. Runner-up to Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 15 and fourth when suffering a troubled trip in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket July 9, she tries this 10-furlong trip for the first time having won over nine in the May 2 G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket. “She's grown up as a 5-year-old mare and she's much more amenable now,” trainer William Jarvis said. “As a 3 and 4-year-old, we thought she was very much a soft-ground filly but her run in both the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket and more recently in the Falmouth Stakes were on good-to-firm ground and I think she's pretty adaptable. She was very tired when she came out of the Lockinge Stakes, but we had a very good preparation between Ascot and Newmarket and she's really been pleasing me since the Falmouth.”

Aidan O'Brien puts forward two high-achieving 3-year-olds in the June 20 G1 Prix de Diane winner Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who beat her stablemate in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh May 23. “We are lucky to have some great fillies and we try to keep them apart and give them their best chance by picking the races which will suit them best, but we have been aiming both of these fillies for this race,” he said. “Joan of Arc won the Prix de Diane and has been progressing lovely all season. Empress Josephine will be stepping up to a mile and a quarter. We went further with her in Gowran before she won the Guineas and then went back in trip. She's a full-sister to Minding, who got a mile and a quarter and got a mile and a half. It's possible she could leave that Gowran run behind her and get the trip, but she is a filly that's got plenty of speed.”

Shadwell's Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) beat Mantonbury Stud's Technique (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) by a cosy head margin in the G3 Hoppings Fillies' S. over this trip at Newcastle June 25 and the former's trainer Roger Varian is hoping the ground continues to dry. “She'll need to step up on the Newcastle form to win a Nassau, but while she only won a head she was in command at the line there. Bar the Oaks, she's done nothing wrong in her career. There was only one winner that day and the rest were nowhere. I think she's a 10-furlong filly and I also think she's a better-ground filly now she's going up against better horses, although she's got soft-ground form. She's in good form and I think she's ready for this test.”

In the G2 Unibet Richmond S. for the 2-year-olds, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's June 17 G2 Norfolk S. winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) bids to defy a penalty moving up from five to six furlongs. His defeat of Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) was made to look even better after the runner-up captured the G2 Railway S. and there is no reason on pedigree and racing style that he will not be at least as effective over this trip. “He has a three-pound penalty for his Royal Ascot win, which is always tough but the horse is in great order,” trainer Richard Fahey commented. “The ground is drying up and should be beautiful by the Richmond Stakes, possibly just on the dead side but he should handle that. I have no worries about going up to six furlongs, in fact I think he'll be better for it.” Leora Judah's Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) looks to add to Alan King's week to remember and has sound claims based on his second to Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 8, while Jassim bin Ali Al Attiyah's July 17 Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Gubbass (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) represents the Richard Hannon stable.

In the G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon S., the June 26 G1 Irish Derby third and July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) takes the next step towards a G1 St Leger bid. He is joined by stablemate Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who beat him in the 13-furlong Listed Yeats S. at Navan May 15 but has been absent since. “I don't think you can readily rule out any of these, so it's a competitive group 3, albeit one lacking a stand-out,” Wordsworth's rider Ryan Moore commented. “That said, I think my mount Wordsworth is the one to beat in here, even if Sir Lucan got the better of him the last time they met at Navan back in May. Wordsworth has clearly improved since then, being placed in group 1 company on his last two starts and his Grand Prix de Paris second last time came in testing ground.”

Ballydoyle's duo encounter stiff opposition headed by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who beat Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the May 8 Listed Lingfield Derby Trial before disappointing when over 11-lengths fifth behind that peer in the June 5 G1 Epsom Derby. Also down the field in the blue riband was Ahmad Al Shaikh's May 5 G3 Chester Vase winner Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), while Godolphin's Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another intriguing candidate having returned to form when capturing the 13-furlong G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket July 8.

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“She's come out of it pretty well and we're very pleased with her,” said the Newmarket-based handler. “Providing the ground isn't too quick, she'll go for the Falmouth S. at the July meeting.”

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Successful 12 months ago when upgrading his profile, Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) returns from a spell of international duty having finished fourth in Keeneland's GI Breeders' Cup Turf and won the Mar.  27 G1 Dubai Turf. Exactly what his capabilities are is yet to be ascertained, but this should answer some questions. “It will be exciting taking on Love,” John Gosden said. “She was exceptional last year, but she only raced against her own sex. I was thinking she was the one for the Arc, but that wound up on what the jockeys say was the deepest ground ever at Longchamp. I also like Armory a lot. It's a nice edition–one of those small but select fields.”

Love is joined by her talented stablemate Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who took time to establish himself at the top table last season but came good when third in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown in September before finishing runner-up in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley the following month. He looked prepped for a profitable campaign when brushing aside 'TDN Rising Star' Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on his return in Chester's G3 Huxley S. May 7 and will relish this testing mile-and-a-quarter trip. “This race has always been the plan for Armory and that is why he went to Chester, to get ready for it,” his trainer explained. “We were delighted with him at Chester and we've been delighted with him since as well. Going to Chester, we were a little bit worried about how he'd handle the soft ground, but good, fast ground is what he likes and needs.”

Ryan Moore spoke of the Ballydoyle duo on his Betfair blog and said, “You clearly have to respect every horse in here and Lord North is a top-class operator on his day, as he showed when dismissing Addeybb in this race last season and winning in Dubai last time, but he will be need to be on a going day to deal with Love and Armory. We haven't seen Love since she won the Yorkshire Oaks last August, but Aidan has just been waiting for better ground for her and she will get that here. This will be the deepest pool she has swum in class-wise and her first run over this mile-and-a-quarter trip, but this is a wide-margin winner of an Oaks and a Guineas we are talking about here and it will take a good colt, or mare, to beat her. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Armory did though. His form took off at the back-end last season, when he finished third in the Irish Champion S. before going over to Australia for the Cox Plate only for the ground to [go] against him late. So to finish second there was some effort and I was really very impressed by his Chester win from Sangarius first time up. He is a very exciting colt with more to give and he will love this ground.”

Like Love, Alison Swinburn's Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) also marks her 2021 debut and last year's G1 Prix Jean Romanet and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine is an intriguing runner with James Fanshawe unaccustomed to sending horses here without merit. “It's a tough introduction for her, but it would have been tough going to Ireland first time out too and I wanted to keep her against her own age group,” her trainer commented. “She seems really well and she's very straightforward to train day-to-day, although she has a fairly prickly personality and appreciates her own space. She's very tough and hardy, as she showed when losing only 10 kilos on that long trip to Keeneland and back, via Chicago.”

In the G2 Queen's Vase over the St Leger mile and three quarters, Aidan O'Brien is looking to equal the record eight successes of the late Sir Henry Cecil and saddles a Galileo (Ire) trio in Wordsworth (Ire), Arturo Toscanini (Ire) and Kyprios (Ire). The former is the pick of Ryan Moore stepping up from the 13-furlong trip over which he finished runner-up to stablemate Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Listed Yeats S. at Navan May 15. Arturo Toscanini was runner-up in the G3 Gallinule S. over 10 furlongs at The Curragh May 23 and it is interesting that he is tried over this far. From John and Thady Gosden's stable is Nat Rothschild's Stowell (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), who scored over a mile and a half in a maiden here May 7, while Kingsley Park's Dancing King (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) has won all four 3-year-old starts culminating in a Doncaster handicap over this trip June 5.

Ryan Moore said of Wordsworth, “He was second to High Definition in his sole start at two and I was impressed with him when he beat a subsequent winner in his maiden over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh in April, a race in which he was strong at the finish and shaped like a stayer. He couldn't follow up when stepped up to a mile five at Navan next time but the winner, stablemate Sir Lucan, is a very promising horse in his own right and I can definitely see Wordsworth being suited by this test. His brother Kew Gardens won this race back in 2018.”

After the confirmation of the prowess of Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in Tuesday's G1 Queen Anne S., Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) who was the only rival to give him a race in the G1 Lockinge S. sets the standard in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. 24 hours later. Beaten just 1 1/2 lengths by the Gosdens' leading light in that May 15 Newbury feature, she drops a level back among her own sex renewing rivalry with Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal) who she edged out in the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket May 2. “We've been very pleased with her since the Lockinge, that was a career-best,” Lady Bowthorpe's trainer William Jarvis said. “You never know until you turn up how much that race has taken out of her, but she appears to be giving us the right signals at home. No race at Royal Ascot is ever easy to win, we're going to be the favourite and we justify favouritism on her performance in the Lockinge, but it's a strong field. The ground is possibly going to be quicker than is ideal for us, but we're very hopeful and we're very much looking forward to it. There are some pretty good fillies in the line-up and we respect all of them.” Queen Power has subsequently won York's G2 Middleton S. over an extended 10-furlong trip by eight lengths at York May 13 and represents the Sir Michael Stoute stable successful in this on four occasions.

Both Lady Bowthorpe and Queen Power carry three-pound penalties for their Group 2 successes, while Teruya Yoshida's Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) has the full five-pound extra having annexed the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September. Easily forgiven her two efforts so far this term when fourth in both the seven-furlong G3 Athasi S. at The Curragh May 3 and in the G2 Lanwades Stud S. over this mile there May 22, the Johnny Murtagh flagbearer has quicker ground to suit and has yet to convince that she has lost any of her 2020 form. Ecurie Ama Zingteam's impressive June 5 G3 Princess Elizabeth S. scorer Parent's Prayer (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) is also in the mix along with Salah Fustok's progressive Double Or Bubble (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who needs to step up from her latest win in a seven-furlong Newmarket handicap Apr. 13 but who hails from the Chris Wall stable always to be respected.

Racing gets underway with the G2 Queen Mary S., where Stonestreet Stables' 'TDN Rising Star' Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) represents the Wesley Ward influx after her 7 1/2-length win in a Belmont Park maiden special weight May 9. Adding spice is the George Arnold-trained May 21 Churchill Downs maiden special weight scorer Artos (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) with Frankie Dettori in the saddle. Currently first and second in the betting, the Stateside visitors will have to see off the sharpest of the European fillies headed by St Albans Bloodstock's May 14 Listed Marygate Fillies' S. winner Nymphadora (GB) (No Nay Never) and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' May 16 G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. runner-up Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}).

Ballydoyle's 'TDN Rising Star' Yet (War Front) beat the Donnacha-trained Orinoco River (War Front) by a neck in a Dundalk maiden over this trip May 12 and is a fascinating contender, while there is a buzz surrounding Clipper Logistics' June 4 Catterick novice scorer Illustrating (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Ryan Moore said of Yet, “Her pedigree tells you she will get a fair bit further than this, but she clearly didn't lack pace to win over five furlongs at Dundalk and she showed a very willing attitude there. Being a War Front, you'd expect her to like this ground, too.”

Oisin Murphy took Tuesday's G2 Coventry S. and has a live chance of doubling up in the Queen Mary on the unbeaten Desert Dreamer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from the Stuart Williams yard. Successful over five and six furlongs at Newmarket Apr. 14 and May 13, she has an engine that will take her far. “The Queen Mary will be a tough race to win, with 22 going to post including Twilight Gleaming for Wesley Ward from stall 20, while Aidan O'Brien runs Yet,” Murphy said. “Artos is another American drawn in two, so the Stateside runners are wide apart and I'm drawn towards the far side in seven. I'm quite pleased about that as Desert Dreamer has loads of speed, she's going to jump and track them. I rode her in work recently and she's in great shape. I thought she did well to win at Newmarket on her second start under a penalty, she was impressive that day. This is a big step up, but she's quick.”

A total of 30 runners take part in the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile, which is followed by the Listed Windsor Castle S. where the key Ward runner is Stonestreet Stables' 'TDN Rising Star' Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}). She beat the Queen Mary-bound Artos (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by six lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland Apr. 22 and has the edge over her stable's Golden Bell (Macho Uno). Hat Creek Racing and Cheyenne Stable's bay registered her own wide-margin win over 4 1/2 furlongs at that venue on the same card, she commands respect taking on the colts including Ballydoyle's May 19 Cork maiden winner Amalfi Coast (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and Lit Lung Lee's impressive Newmarket and Chelmsford winner Dig Two (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}).

Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) won the Windsor Castle for The Queen 12 months ago and she has another contender this time in the Michael Bell-trained Spring Is Sprung (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a half-brother to the smart King's Lynn (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) who scored over this five-furlong trip at Windsor Apr. 26. Oisin Murphy rides and said, “I'm drawn in nine quite close to Ruthin, the Wesley Ward filly, so hopefully I get a tow off her. My colt is improving no end. He carries loads of condition and I think he'll run a big race.” The card closes with the Kensington Palace S. over a mile for older fillies and mares, where the feared combination of Cheveley Park Stud and Sir Michael Stoute are represented by the progressive Lights On (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who beat the re-opposing Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by a short head in a course-and-distance handicap May 8. “We have a well-related and improving filly on our hands and one that is proven on the track and on the ground,” Lights On's jockey Ryan Moore said. “She is a filly we liked last season and she is really coming good now.”

Click here for the group fields.

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