Still in relative infancy as a race at this time-honoured Royal Ascot meeting, the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. has quickly established a sound reputation and underlines that again on Wednesday by drawing last year's winner Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal) and the G1 Coronation S. heroine Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in a strong French challenge. While the former has yet to recapture the verve of that performance, she has been patiently handled, which is typical of Andre Fabre and re-emerges off an encouraging third in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over nine furlongs at Chantilly on May 28. “Usherette has improved with each run this year and has come on again for her run in the Prix d'Ispahan,” her trainer said. “She returns to Royal Ascot in great form and quick ground will not be an issue for her.” Qemah, who followed her Coronation success with another in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in July, was second to Mix and Mingle (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) on her return in Lingfield's G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. over seven furlongs on May 13. Al Shaqab's racing manager Harry Herbert commented, “Lingfield was a bit of a disaster. There were no suitable races for her in France and Jean-Claude liked the idea of heading over to Lingfield, but in the race she was too fresh and Frankie [Dettori] couldn't get cover. It was a disappointment, but it took the buzz out of her and she has been training really well. As a dual Group 1 winner going into a Group 2, you'd have to hope she would run very well.”
If Usherette fails in her repeat bid, Godolphin have another string to their bow in the progressive Laugh Aloud (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has taken the Listed Conqueror S. at Goodwood on May 6 and G3 Princess Elizabeth S. at Epsom on June 3 by a cumulative margin of 8 1/4 lengths. “Laugh Aloud came out of Epsom in great nick. She is coming up against a very good French runner in Qemah and it looks a high-quality renewal of the race,” trainer John Gosden said. “We have been happy with our filly and the ground won't be a problem for her.” The same stable is also represented by Drakenstein Stud Proprietary Limited's Greta G (Arg) (Exchange Rate), whose powerful front-running style was best demonstrated with a seven-length success in last year's G1 Gran Premio Mil Guineas at San Isidro. Like Greta G, Jessica Slack's Smart Call (SAf) (Ideal World) made her name in another part of the world, but she has at least shown that she can translate her high-class South African form to Britain with a creditable third in the G2 Middleton S. over an extended 10-furlong trip at York on May 18.
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