Her Day In The Sun?

Saturday's G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket is the probable swansong of Cheveley Park Stud's Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and there is a sense that it will be her moment at last after some near-misses at this level. While she was no match for Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when runner-up in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown last September, the homebred was an eye-catching fifth on her subsequent comeback in the July 30 G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville before again staying on strongly to be third in the last edition of the Matron four weeks ago. “It's been a little bit frustrating with her, but she goes there in great form and we'll roll the dice,” Cheveley Park's managing director Chris Richardson said. “We felt she was a bit unlucky because of the draw and the slow pace in Ireland last time. Mr and Mrs Thompson will make the final decision on whether this will be her final run, but I suspect it will be and it would be great if she can go out in a blaze of glory.”

Sixth in the Matron after wins in the G1 Falmouth S. on the July Course here July 14 and in the Rothschild, 'TDN Rising Star' Roly Poly (War Front) represents a Ballydoyle stable on an inexorable march towards a world record of group and grade one wins in a season. Her quality and toughness is already established, while Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar's Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal) is a filly on a sharp rise, with her latest impressive success in the G3 Atalanta S. at Sandown Sept. 2 marking her out as a live contender here. Trainer Marco Botti believes that the homebred has improved from her penultimate showing when second at 40-1 to Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot June 21. “The Sun Chariot has been the target for Aljazzi for some time and I am very pleased with her,” he said. “She was very impressive at Sandown, that form is working out quite well and the way she won suggested she is on the up and entitled to step up to group one company. The Duke of Cambridge was not officially a group one, but it had the quality of a group one and I would be hopeful that Aljazzi can reverse those placings with Qemah. The going shouldn't be a problem, as she has won on fast and soft and seems to handle anything.”

Qemah, who was subsequently fourth in the Rothschild and fifth in the Matron, heads a habitually strong French challenge in this race and tries again. “It looks a tremendous race. It must be one of the most competitive Sun Chariots there has been for a few years,” Al Shaqab's racing manager Harry Herbert commented. “We know our filly is pretty good on her day and Jean-Claude is very happy with her. She's a group one winner, so these are the races she needs to be running in. She just seems to be one of those fillies that needs things to go her way on the day. We know she has the ability to be extremely competitive if the cards fall right.” Siyoushake (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) was third in the Rothschild and trainer Freddy Head said, “She was fourth in the race last year and I think she is even better this year. She's run well in two group one races in Deauville in the summer.”