Aidan O'Brien expects conditions to favour Lillie Langtry greatly in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday.
The Timeform Fillies' 800 winner of last season flashed home in the Irish Guineas to finish fifth on her first start of the current campaign.
"We're very happy with her. It was her first run of the season at the Curragh and she was coming home really well. She's come out of the race very well and we always felt she was a very high-class filly. Everything has gone smoothly so far since the Curragh so we are looking forward to running her," said O'Brien.
"She was staying on strongly the last day and Johnny (Murtagh) felt she was coming home best of all, another 50 yards and she was probably nearly there so you'd have to be delighted with her for her first run. She's a very good mover who handles fast ground well and she has plenty of speed so good ground would be lovely."
Frankie Dettori teams up with Anna Salai for the first time in the Group One event. A product of the Andre Fabre-Godolphin production line, she was narrowly denied in the Irish Guineas.
Ahmed Ajtebi kicked for home a long way out at the Curragh and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni hopes a change of jockey will bring about a change in luck.
"Anna Salai was unlucky to get beaten on the line at the Curragh but she has come out of that race in good form and I have been pleased with her preparation," he told www.godolphin.com. "I am looking forward to seeing how Frankie Dettori gets on with her and she should go close."
Sent From Heaven is another filly bringing Classic form to the table, having finished fourth in a messy renewal of the English Guineas. That run proved she had trained on and connections have targeted this race ever since.
"She ran a great race in the Guineas last time. She has freshened up well and she ran well at Ascot last year," said trainer Barry Hills' son and assistant Charlie. "She was placed in the Fillies' Mile and her work has been very good. This has been the plan since the Guineas."
Posts
