Each year, Royal Ascot's G2 Ribblesdale S. offers the opportunity for those who fell short in the G1 Epsom Oaks to make quick amends as they take on their less proven contemporaries and Thursday's renewal is another case in point. Third in the June 2 Classic behind her Listed Cheshire Oaks conqueror Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Ballydoyle's Alluringly (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has a potentially tricky assignment against another Juddmonte notable in Mori (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a daughter of Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who beat the re-opposing Coconut Creme (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in Goodwood's Listed Height of Fashion S. last time May 25. Whereas Alluringly has an edge, having shown she belongs in more exalted company, it would be a surprise if a filly bred like Mori fails to go on and reach the same heights. Whether that happens here is another matter, as this competitive race is coming early in the career of a homebred that Khalid Abdullah must take particular pride in.
“She would certainly be pretty high on our priorities for the week,” racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said. “She's progressed very well and she's a stakes winner already, so we have to be pretty pleased about that. Everyone has been very happy with her since Goodwood and we're looking forward to running her.”
Denford Stud's TDN Rising Star Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was third in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at Deauville May 14 and fifth in the Oaks, is sure to enter the equation as she returns to a more conventional track with fast ground in her favour. John Gosden has another three engaged including the May 13 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Hertford Dancer (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}).
The latter's owners are known as 5 Hertford Street Racing Club and their manager Harry Herbert said, “Hertford Dancer is a remarkable filly. John Gosden, John and Jake Warren and myself had thought about running her in an Oaks Trial and the Lingfield race seemed to break up a bit. We hoped we could get some black-type and give everyone a fun day out as lots of the people involved in the syndicate are new to racing. It was absolutely astonishing that she won so well. She won well and won on merit. She improved her rating by 23 pounds. If she can improve by just half as much again, everyone is going to have a lot of fun.”
One who is sure to get the trip well is Newtown Anner Stud Farm's unbeaten Naughty Or Nice (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who captured the 13-furlong Listed Yeats S. at Navan May 20 and would be providing John Oxx with a boost after a spell in the wilderness.
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