Sir Henry Cecil has had to bide his time with Vita Nova but believes she is finally fulfilling her potential ahead of the Qipco British Champions Fillies' And Mares' Stakes at Ascot today.
Unraced at two, she ran twice as a three-year-old and won her first start this season in handicap company before finishing second in her other three races - in a Listed race at Haydock behind the reopposing Ferdoos, to Gertrude Bell, whom she will also meet again, in the Lancashire Oaks, and to Blue Bunting in the Yorkshire Oaks.
That final run proved she was up to mixing it with the best around, but she suffered a minor training setback before being given the green light for this weekend.
The trainer said: "Vita Nova has been very late maturing. She is a backward, big filly and was running against a very good filly (Blue Bunting) in the Yorkshire Oaks. For an immature filly to be beaten half a length that day was a very good effort."
The William Haggas-trained Dancing Rain made all the running when a surprise winner of the Oaks at Epsom in June, and proved that to be no flash in the pan when scoring in the German equivalent in August. She has not been seen in competitive action since.
Haggas said: "We don't have a very good draw (stall 11), but she's in good shape and I hope she'll run a very good race. She was very good in Germany and the quicker ground shouldn't bother her. She had a nice break and we think she's fit and well.
"She needs a good gallop, so if they don't go a good gallop she'll have to go on. She's a galloping filly. She's the only Classic winner, but it's a tough race. It's a fantastic day of racing and it's great to be involved."
Ferdoos beat Vita Nova, Meeznah and Crystal Capella at Haydock in May, but has been sidelined by injury since. Trainer Roger Varian is pleased with the exciting filly going into the weekend, but admits it will not be easy to confirm the Haydock form.
He said: "It's been a frustrating year with her as she's been on the sidelines while these other fillies have been running so well. She's done enough work and her work has been quite satisfying, but I think it's going to be a tough ask for her running back after almost five months off.
"She's running against a field of seriously good fillies who have probably upped their game since she beat them at Haydock. So while we've got good cause for encouragement having beaten those fillies in the spring, I think it will be much tougher to beat them again."
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