Had it stayed dry in Berkshire, all assembled for Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. would have been quaking at the prospect of taking on yet another of Wesley Ward's unerringly accurate arrows in the 'TDN Rising Star' Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy). Now that the Royal meeting has a distinctly soggy look, the dynamic bay, who scored by 7 3/4 lengths in track-record time over Keeneland's 4 1/2 furlongs Apr. 21, faces the unknown like so many of her compatriots this week. Ward, Royal Ascot's new frontiersman, is remaining in confident mood as he prepares for a third Queen Mary after the eye-popping displays of Jealous Again (Trippi) and Acapulco (Scat Daddy). “This filly is just amazing. She's done everything we've asked at home and she should be really tough. I really like her chances,” he said. “She's very tractable. She can sit and come with the burst she has. It's not like she's a speed-crazy filly. I would say she's my best chance of the week. She's just a flying machine. When you watch her in the morning, it's like she breathes different air to the fillies she's breezing against. I'm really looking forward to seeing her run and watching the brilliance that I've seen in the morning. I think she's every bit as good as the two winners that I've had–she may even be a little better.” Another 'TDN Rising Star' who will be compromised by the slow surface is Michael Tabor's blueblood Roly Poly (War Front) as she bids to build on a fourth in the Listed Marble Hill S. on slightly better ground at The Curragh May 21. Previously, the daughter of Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had won a hot maiden also over this trip at Naas Apr. 26 and at least has experience of black-type company which will stand her in good stead when the going gets tough. From France is the unbeaten Al Johrah (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who beat the subsequently listed-placed Fixette (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in a conditions event on testing ground over five furlongs at Chantilly May 20. She sports the Al Shaqab Racing silks and is one of several with as-yet untapped potential and a perfect record to guard along with David Lowe's Kachess (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}). Impressive on her winning debut over this distance at Goodwood June 3, the highly-regarded bay should be able to handle conditions being by a sire who has passed on his admirable versatility to his progeny. One who is unproven on this kind of terrain is Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Kocollada (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who finished off strongly to double her tally in a decent conditions event at Musselburgh June 4.
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