Laurens Heads 11 contenders for Sun Chariot

Sun Chariot Stakes

Saturday sees some superb racing in Britain ahead what looks to be a weekend full of top class racing and the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket sets it all off.

A race that has seen many special winners in its past sees 11 fillies head to post with the final declaration stage on Thursday telling us exactly who will be looking for black type honours come Saturday.

The star name that heads the line up is last years winner of the contest in Laurens who claimed her fifth Group One of her career when taking this back in 2018 seeing off the Aidan O'Brien trained Happily.

Karl Burke's filly has since added to her Group One winning CV when landing the Prix Rothschild at Deauville early on this season.

However, if she is to take this contest for the second year in a row she will have to better than her recent performances, finishing second in the Group Two City Of York Stakes and then a weak fourth in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown where again she was looking to score for a second consecutive year.

In that Group One over in Ireland Laurens faced Iridessa for Joseph O'Brien who went on to win the contest and dual Guineas winner Hermosa for Aidan O'Brien and there is a strong possibility that these rivalries could be renewed on Saturday.

Fifth and Sixth in the Matron Stakes I Can Fly and Happen for the master Ballydoyle trainer have also been left in the race at this stage but may be brought out by Thursday.

Amanda Perrett has a rare Group One entry with Lavender's Blue and does not look out of sorts heading into this contest having won a Group Three contest last time out at Sandown in the Atalanta Stakes.

The French are set to bring two challengers across the pond on a weekend that is all centred around the pinnacle of flat racing in Paris but trainer Alex Pantall supplemented Madeleine Must to join stablemate Crown Walk in the contest.

(Credit At The Races) The trainer said: “We decided to pay the supplementary entry fee for Madeleine Must because there are not many races for a filly like her at this time of year and we think that the stronger tempo of English racing should suit her.”

The rest of the field is made up of some talented fillies With Veracious for Sir Michael Stoute, Billesdon Brook for Richard Hannon and John Gosden's Twist 'N' Shake