A maximum field of 10 is on the cards for Saturday's G1 Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket, featuring Wesley Ward's unbeaten stable star Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy).
The G1 Prix Morny winner and 'TDN Rising Star' has been ridden daily by Frankie Dettori since her arrival in Newmarket, where she has been lodging at the National Stud on the edge of Newmarket Heath's training grounds.
“Lady Aurelia worked great on the Rowley Mile the day before yesterday and is ready to run her best ever race in the Cheveley Park S. on Saturday,” confirmed Ward. “I have a lot to thank my assistant trainer, Frankie Dettori, for. He's the only person to have ridden her since she came over from France after the Prix Morny and I'm really excited to have been having such interaction race-to-race from the world's greatest jockey.”
Ward continued, “When I wake up every morning there's a video bulletin from Frankie waiting for me, telling me how things are going–it's as if I was there. And he's been telling me that we are really going to see something from her this time. Lady Aurelia was at a disadvantage at Ascot and in the Morny as she was taking on the home team. Now, mainly thanks to [manager] Brian O'Rourke, who has graciously allowed her to lodge at The National Stud, I feel that we are more of the home team than they are.”
That 'home team' does however include the Richard Fahey-trained Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who emulated her dam Lady Of The Desert (Rahy) and grandam Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge) by winning the G2 Lowther S. at York. The unbeaten Queen's Logic went on to win the Cheveley Park while Lady Of The Desert finished third in 2009.
G3 Prestige S. winner Kilmah (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) has also been confirmed by trainer Mark Johnston, while Richard Hannon could saddle Nations Alexander (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the maiden Promising (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Aidan O'Brien looks likely to field G3 Albany S. winner Brave Anna (War Front) and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Roly Poly (War Front), while other likely travellers from Ireland are Michael O'Callaghan's striking Holy Cat (Kitten's Joy) and the Ger Lyons-trained Velveteen (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
Pellucid (GB), trained in Newmarket by David Simcock for Doreen Tabor, could bid to become the first group winner for her freshman sire Excelebration (Ire).
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