Can Charlie Appleby complete a quickfire hat-trick of juvenile Group-race wins?

Saturday: 1.50 Goodwood
William Hill Prestige Fillies' Stakes (Group 3) | 7f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

Charlie Appleby has saddled just six juveniles in Group company this season and the last two have won. So can Fairy Cross give the Moulton Paddocks trainer another success to add to Noble Style's Gimcrack victory at York and Silver Knott's Sandown success in the Solario?

Fairy Cross is a free-going filly who made all when successful at Newmarket in June and she probably did too much too soon when outstayed by the unbeaten Dance In The Grass at Sandown last time. This easier seven furlongs, on a downhill track, should be more suitable.

She is 4lb clear of her nearest rival on adjusted Racing Post Ratings on that form, but is yet to race on ground this soft and testing conditions could prove her undoing if she races freely again. Her chance of winning is probably dependent on if she can settle better than before.

No Nay Never has been one of the sires of the season so far and particularly in the juvenile division. Little Big Bear has looked unstoppable and Blackbeard won the Prix Morny last week. The sire even had success in the older division with Alcohol Free's July Cup win.

Queen Olly is the latest of No Nay Never's progeny to go for juvenile Group-race glory and she has twice come up short this season, finishing fourth in the Albany and third in the Duchess of Cambridge. Her latest defeat came at the hands of a Godolphin-owned runner in Mawj, so it will be interesting to see if she can get the better of another of their top prospects.

Bright Diamond could be the joker in the pack. She won by nine lengths at Newmarket three weeks ago after making a mess of the start and, while the time was slow, she ran some fast closing sectionals and must have a lot of latent talent to kick so far clear off a moderate pace.

Richard Hannon saddled Billesdon Brook to land this in 2017 before she went on to win the 1,000 Guineas the following season and he has also had three others placed in the last ten years.

Hannon's sole representative is Bet Me, who was just over six lengths behind Fairy Cross when fourth in the Star Stakes at Sandown, but not a lot went right for her on that occasion.

She sweated up before the start, didn't settle in the race and had no change of gear. Bet Me won on soft ground at this course on her debut and may also have found the quicker going at Sandown against her. There is a chance she could bounce back on this softer surface.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Queen Olly takes drop in class

Only two of the nine fillies – Inanna and Ivory Madonna – are without a Group 1 entry later this year, and it looks a strong running with plenty of depth.

Queen Olly, who is the second highest rated on official figures behind the Godolphin-owned Fairy Cross, boasts some rock-solid form in Group 2 and 3 events over six furlongs this summer and could have more to give now stepped up in trip.

Her third to Mawj in Newmarket's Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on good to firm ground has subsequently been boosted by the runner-up Lezoo's Ascot success, and trainer Dave Loughnane was delighted to hear that Goodwood had been hit by a deluge of rain on Thursday morning.

Queen Olly: holds two Group 1 entries at the end of the seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

"She's been solid all year and we've been waiting for it to rain for a long time," Loughnane said.

"I can't imagine it will be the nicest of ground at Goodwood – it rained heavily there on Thursday and will be drying up all the time now – but she's a nice filly. She should be able to hold her own in this sort of company."

Queen Olly, who is owned by Amo Racing, will be partnered for the first time by Rowan Scott, who replaces Rossa Ryan.

She holds Group 1 entries in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh next month, and Newmarket's bet365 Fillies' Mile in October.

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of Bet Me
She will appreciate the softer ground and she's a smart filly, but found the ground a little bit too fast at Sandown last time out and we've been waiting for a bit of rain. She's not drawn very well in stall nine but has won at Goodwood before and enjoys it there. Her work is always very good.

John Quinn, trainer of Breege
I was very pleased with her run at Ascot. She'll be fine on the ground, and I expect her to run well.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Fairy Cross
The filly has come on for her second in the Star Stakes at Sandown last time, and if she reproduces that run will be very competitive. I don't believe the ground at Goodwood will be as bad as some people are expecting.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Mottisfont
It was a very encouraging run from her in the Sweet Solera last time. She was the least experienced of those who were close at the finish, and I would expect some further improvement at Goodwood. I am ever hopeful that she will run into a place but we'll have to wait and see if she'll handle the ground. Her half-sister Romsey ran in the race three years ago and finished one place in front of Alpinista, who won the Yorkshire Oaks last week.
Reporting by Richard Birch

Saturday previews:

2.40 Beverley: 'We've targeted this race' – can Tis Marvellous win the Beverley Bullet again?

3.00 Goodwood: 'We have him in a good place' – Boughey confident in St Leger hope Hoo Ya Mal

3.15 Newmarket: 'He's never had any luck in heritage handicaps, so we're aiming a bit higher'

3.35 Goodwood: 'He has a good chance' – Charlie Hills eyeing glory with unlucky Mutasaabeq

4.15 Curragh: 'He's in the form of his life' - Harrington seeks second Cambridgeshire success

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