She may have come out of the blue, so to speak, when stamping authority on some smart rivals in the G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket last time, but Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal) is no longer Godolphin's best kept secret as she heads to spot for Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot. With her only defeat coming when seventh in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August, the bay was readied for that nine-furlong test on the Rowley Mile with conditions wins on the Polytrack at Deauville Mar. 8 and at Chantilly Apr. 4, and readily brushed aside last year's G1 Juddmonte International S. heroine Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the dual Group 1 winner Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Godolphin's chief executive and racing manager John Ferguson is buoyant ahead of the appearance of one of the operation's leading hopes of the week. “The Duke of Cambridge is a nice race for her, even though she has won over nine furlongs, as you really need to stay at Ascot,” he said. “She has the quality for the Duke of Cambridge and it is the most appropriate race for her at Royal Ascot.” Ferguson added, “I just love talking to Andre Fabre about Usherette, as he gets the biggest smile on his face and it makes the rest of the conversation very easy. Andre is an extraordinary judge, which comes from years of experience and being a great talent. He does have a very high opinion of this filly.”
Also in the royal blue are last year's G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Lucida (Ire) (Shamardal), the May 12 Listed Hambleton S. scorer Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and the May 21 G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Devonshire (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), and there is very little between them. Always Smile is the least-exposed, having beaten the subsequent G3 John of Gaunt S. runner-up Convey (GB) (Dansili {GB}) over this trip at York which was her first outing since finishing second in the Listed Sandringham S. on this card 12 months ago. ” She has been doing really well at home and she is ready to go,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. “She finished second at last year's Royal meeting and she comes here off the back of a good win.”
Fourth in last year's G1 Coronation S. and only 1 1/4 lengths behind Lucida on that occasion, Miss Temple City (Temple City) is back again having gained the perfect confidence boost when capturing Keeneland's GI Maker's 46 Mile S. on firm turf Apr. 15. “We wanted to go to a European rider this time, as we think the straight mile is very tricky,” trainer Graham Motion explained. “I think having Ryan Moore on board is a huge asset. Quite frankly, we want to run her in the race where she has the best chance. I think she's a bigger, stronger individual this year and I've been impressed with her work this year.” Miss Temple City meets Barbara Keller's Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) for the third time here, with the Andrew Balding trainee a neck ahead of her when they were second and third behind Sentiero Italia (Medaglia d'Oro) in Belmont's GII Sands Point S. over nine furlongs in September. That form was reversed the next month in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup also over that trip, when Miss Temple City was second and Blond Me only sixth in the Keeneland highlight. The latter did encounter trouble in running there and there was a lot to like about the way she went through her successful comeback race in Goodwood's Listed Conqueror S. at Goodwood Apr. 30.
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