Chad Brown has won four of the last seven renewals and last year’s winner SISTERCHARLIE looks to have every chance of a repeat having won her last six outings in Grade 1 company. She has stablemate Thais to ensure a decent pace once again and can confirm latest running at Belmont with Mrs. Sippy but prolific course winner Vasilika and Mirth have a bit to find at this level. Of the European challengers, Fleeting found Villa Marina just too good in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp last month and stablemate Just Wonderful finished third behind Iridessa in the Matron Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown. The latter has subsequently placed behind Billesdon Brook in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket while John Gosden sends over the progressive Group 3 winner Fanny Logan. But French 1000 Guineas winner Castle Lady ran well for second over 1m1f at Keeneland last month and Henri-Alex Pantall’s filly could run a big race today.
Iridessa (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Billesdon Brook (9-3) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gs in Oct.
Sistercharlie (IRE) 1-5fav (8-11) 4w uppr, good kick, won at Belmont Park 1m 2f stks gd in Oct beating Mrs. Sippy (8-9) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Billesdon Brook 16-1 (9-3) In touch, headway entering final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gs in Oct beating Veracious (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mirth (USA) 6-1 (8-9) Speed,inside,held, won at Santa Anita 1m 2f stks gd in Sep beating Beau Recall (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Vasilika (USA) 9-2 (8-12) Rally, bid str,flatten, 3rd of 13, 3 3/4l behind Uni (8-12) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Castle Lady (IRE) 33-10 (8-9) Bid str,slowly gaining, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Cambier Parc (8-9) at Keeneland 1m 1f stks gd in Oct.
Villa Marina (8-11) won at ParisLongchamp 1m 2f Grp 1 fll sft in Oct beating Fleeting (8-11) by shd, 12 ran.
Mrs. Sippy (USA) 5-1 (8-9) Brush gate, willingly, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Sistercharlie (8-11) at Belmont Park 1m 2f stks gd in Oct.
Just Wonderful (USA) 18-1 (8-9) 8path 1/4, improved, 7th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Uni (8-12) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Fanny Logan (IRE) 4-5fav (8-13) Held up in touch, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, readily, won at Newmarket 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct beating Queen (8-13) by 1l, 8 ran.
Fleeting (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Held up in mid-division, headway 2f out, hampered over 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, not able to challenge after but stayed on well, 4th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Star Catcher (8-13) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 1 fll stks (1) sft in Oct.
Thais (FR) 12-1 (8-7) Spurted away 2p,ran on, 3rd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Sistercharlie (8-11) at Belmont Park 1m 2f stks gd in Oct.