Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy), favourite for next Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, went “very well” in a gallop at Ascot on Wednesday under Ryan Moore. Moore was substituting for raceday rider Frankie Dettori, who was suffering from some soreness, though no serious injuries, after being thrown from his mount in the paddock at Yarmouth on Tuesday.
“She was very relaxed and knows what she's doing round here,” said Moore of the 3-year-old filly, who won last year's G2 Queen Mary S. at the meeting prior to collecting the G1 Prix Morny in France. The Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton and Peter Leidel-owned filly warmed up for the King's Stand with a win in the Listed Giant's Causeway S. at Keeneland on Apr. 15.
Trainer Wesley Ward told At The Races, “Lady Aurelia went very well. She had a good sprint and when Ryan pushed the button she just kicked on. That was the first time Ryan had ridden her and I can't thank him enough for coming to help us out. Ascot were very helpful. We worked nine horses and everything worked out beautiful.”
Lady Aurelia was one of 21 remaining in the King's Stand at Wednesday's six-day confirmation stage. She could face last year's winner Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), with another former winner, Goldream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), also still eligible. G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) is the leading British-based contender with bookmakers, while the French contingent includes G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Signs of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). A notable absentee is the former Ward-trained Queen Mary winner Acapulco (Scat Daddy), who won the Listed Sole Power Sprint for Aidan O'Brien on May 14.
There were no surprise defections for the opening day's two other Group 1s, the Queen Anne S. and the St. James's Palace S. Godolphin's Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) heads the former off a win in the G1 Lockinge S., and he could reoppose that race's second Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) as well as the dual Group 1-placed Mutakayyef (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien has left in Cougar Mountain (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while America could be represented by Miss Temple City (Temple City)-who also has an option in Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S.–and American Patriot (War Front), with that nation looking for back-to-back wins off Tepin (Bernstein)'s 2016 score.
Aidan O'Brien's dual Guineas winner Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be a daunting favourite for the St. James's Palace, where he is set to face the Godolphin pair Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) among 10 potential rivals.
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