Dressed To Impress

With solid form in Ireland behind her, Susan Magnier's Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) arrives at Royal Ascot with a reputation to defend in the G3 Albany S. on Friday. With three subsequent winners in her wake on her last two starts, including the re-opposing Bolger trainee Oh Grace (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), the Listed Coolmore Sprint S. winner sets the standard which the others have to meet as she bids to provide Aidan O'Brien with a first edition of this race inaugurated only in 2002. Ballydoyle also put forward Evie Stockwell's Brave Anna (War Front), who registered a maiden win over this trip on similar ground at The Curragh on Irish Guineas weekend May 21 and who has the pedigree, as a full-sister to Hit It A Bomb. St Elias Stables's Create a Dream (Oasis Dream {GB}) may be no Lady Aurelia, but the daughter of Anabaa's Creation (Ire) (Anabaa) is a decent type in her own right based on her debut success over five furlongs at Ascot Apr. 27, and it has been proven time and again that Wesley Ward's runners have to be respected here.

Frankel (GB) has his first Royal runner in Jaber Abdullah's impressive Catterick maiden winner Queen Kindly (GB), a daughter of Lady of the Desert (Rahy) who enjoyed her finest hour over this course and distance when winning the G2 Diadem S. in 2010, having also scored over the same strip in the previous year's G3 Princess Margaret S. Her owner-breeder's racing manager Bruce Raymond is hopeful ahead of the landmark occasion. “Frankel has certainly made an impact and the owner bred her himself, so she is his baby,” he said. “She beat nothing when she won at Catterick, but she won very well and looked as though this step up to six furlongs would suit her. I don't think the ground will be a problem for her, so we are hoping for a good run. [Trainer] Richard [Fahey] has always thought highly of her and he wanted to give her a nice introduction, which is why she went to a smaller race. We think she is up to this kind of race and we're hopeful of a good run.”

Merriebelle Irish Farm and Potensis Bloodstock's Grizzel (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) beat Clem Fandango (Fr) (Elzaam {Aus}) in Beverley's Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies' Conditions S. over five furlongs last time May 28, and that form was made to look better on Wednesday when that rival finished third in the race for the placings behind Lady Aurelia in the G2 Queen Mary S. here. “Grizzel was impressive winning the Hilary Needler, considering she wants more of a trip,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “This step up to a stiff six furlongs will be right up her alley and I think she has a great chance.”