Eshaada ready to retain her crown in Fillies and Mares

Eshaada will arrive at the moment she has been prepared for all yea when she attempts to complete back-to-back successes in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The Shadwell Estate-owned filly has not won a race since she defeated Albaflora by a head 12 months ago and faces a strong contingent of three-year-olds, whose age group have dominated the £500,000 Group 1, compiling seven wins in the last eight runnings.

Emily Upjohn, touched off in the Cazoo Oaks in June, and Mimikyu, who defeated Eshaada in the Park Hill Stakes last time out, comprise a potent challenge from the stable of John & Thady Gosden.

The older generation are also represented by Sea La Rosa, who captured the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu recently, and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant, for whom Mickael Barzalona has been booked for her first start on British soil, among the 17 five-day acceptors.

Eshaada’s trainer Roger Varian said: “Eshaada has been trained for one race all year and I’m very happy with her. It doesn’t concern me at all that she hasn’t won yet this year as she needed the race first time out, nearly got brought down at Haydock, and then was second to a very good filly at Doncaster.”

International Challengers

Verry Elleegant, winner of 11 Group 1 races in Australia, has not been able to show her best in her three races since she came to Europe to join trainer Francis Graffard and was only seventh in the Prix de Royallieu.

Graffard, who could also saddle Prix Vermeille winner Sweet Lady, said: “Verry Elleegant was very unlucky in the way the race was run at Longchamp, where there was no tempo and she was boxed in on the rail and pulled hard. She basically didn’t have a race.

“It’s hard to see such a fantastic mare beaten like that and it’s upsetting too, but I felt that the race was over for her at the first bend when I saw where we were. Everything went against her and it’s best forgotten, but she’s come out of it well. She’s happy and she tries, and hopefully things will go her way at QIPCO British Champions Day.”

Eternal Pearl is set to represent Godolphin, with the winner of her last four starts taking another rise in grade, having defied a penalty to land the Group 3 Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket last month.

Big Guns Role the Dice

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Eternal Pearl is stepping up to Group 1 company for the first time. We are testing the waters, but she goes from strength to strength and on what she’s achieved so far she won’t look out of place. Staying is her forte, and if it came up testing it would play to her strengths.”

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed Emily Dickinson, fourth behind Sea La Rosa at Longchamp, while Mise En Scene will carry the hopes of Qatar Racing and Racehorseclub.com on her first start at 1m4f.

Mise En Scene, who secured trainer James Ferguson’s first Group victory last year, started the year in the Irish 1,000 Guineas but then had most of the summer off. Last time out she was just touched off in the Listed John Musker Stakes at Yarmouth on her first run beyond 1m.

“She ran very well, running on at the end after just hitting a bit of a flat spot,” said Ferguson. “It was a much improved run from Sandown and she ran like stepping up to a mile and a half won’t be an issue. She is very lightly raced this year and will appreciate the ground. It’s definitely worth her taking her chance.”

FULL LIST OF ENTRIES

Albaflora (GB), Eshaada (GB), Insinuendo (IRE), Lilac Road (IRE), Rosscarbery (GER), Sea La Rosa (IRE), Sweet Lady (FR), Thunder Kiss (IRE), Verry Elleegant (NZ), Ching Shih (IRE), Emily Dickinson (IRE), Emily Upjohn (GB), Eternal Pearl (GB), Mimikyu (GB), Mise En Scene (GB), Stay Alert (GB), Tranquil Lady (IRE)