Soviet Song is a warm order to notch her fourth Group One win of the season in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot tomorrow.
The James Fanshawe-trained filly is a best-priced 11-4 market leader with totesport, while Reuben Page go 5-2 for the mile race after 14 runners were declared yesterday.
Soviet Song, a daughter of Marju, is enjoying a hugely successful season, winning the Falmouth Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the Matron Stakes in Ireland.
She has enjoyed a healthy rivalry with star three-year-old filly Attraction, getting the better of her in both the Falmouth and the Matron.
Another mouth-watering clash had been on the cards, but Attraction was pulled out of the £250,000 contest.
Trainer Mark Johnston had expressed concerns that the watered ground may go against the dual Guineas-winning filly.
The three-year-old had been very disappointing on easy ground in the Prix Jacques Le Marois in August, and the daughter of Efisio will now be aimed at the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket next week.
''It is down to us feeling more assured, or as assured as we can be, that Newmarket is going to be faster ground. We feel there's a lot less chance of it changing at Newmarket,'' Johnston said.
''The filly's fine though, and she'll be running on Saturday week.''
Attraction's absence will only have helped Soviet Song's chances according to Coral's David Stevens.
''On paper, Soviet Song's task has been made slightly easier by the defection of Attraction, and there's little doubt the filly will go off a very warm favourite,'' he said.
Although Attraction does not run, Johnston will still be represented in the race by Lucky Story, one of last season's top juveniles.
The Kris S colt made a belated racecourse debut when a narrow second behind Norse Dancer in a Group Three at Salisbury last month. But he failed to make an impact in the Prix du Moulin last time.
Darryll Holland was forced to make the pace on Lucky Story and the colt could finish no better than seventh, prompting connections to consider a step up in trip.
However, Johnston thinks the colt may have had his excuses at Longchamp and he is hoping for a better showing tomorrow.
''It was a very disappointing run last time. We put it down to the distance and his laziness as he was not used to being in front and making his own pace,'' he said.
''We decided after that we would run in the QEII but with a view to the Champion Stakes, almost as a prep race.
''But having said that, I looked at Norse Dancer's form and the form of that Salisbury race, added to the way he's been working on the gallop would have to give him a chance.
''It seems likely there will be more pace in this race which should suit him.''
A total of eight runners were withdrawn, including the Luca Cumani-trained Le Vie Dei Colori.
The four-year-old was third in the Sussex Stakes before disappointing in the Moulin last time after pulling very hard early on.
l Fundamentalist produced a flawless performance on his novice chase debut at Perth and was part of a 99-1 five-timer for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Carl Llewellyn partnered four of the winners, including the ride on this year's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle winner, who was a warm order for the Albion Drilling Services Ltd Novices' Chase.
l Andrew Haynes, who has only been training for three weeks, saddled his first winner when Little Miss Gracie cruised home under Kieren Fallon at Pontefract.
The champion jockey sent the 11-8 favourite into the lead in the European Breeders Fund Frier Wood Maiden Stakes after two furlongs of the mile contest had been covered and the daughter of Efisio stretched clear on the firm ground to win eased down by five lengths from Amazing Valour.
Go Tech gained just reward for some sound efforts this season with victory in the £20,000 Dalby Screw-Driver Handicap.
Tim Easterby's four-year-old had finished a creditable second at Sandown last week but went one better here under a good ride from Graham Gibbons.
Relishing the fast surface, the 7-1 chance was produced with a powerful late challenge between horses and soon getting on top, Go Tech quickened clear one and a quarter lengths clear of James Caird at the line. ''It's amazing because when he was a young horse I thought he wanted soft ground and that couldn't be further from the truth - he wants it like a road,'' Easterby said
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