Tepin tests temperature for raiding party

Belardo will seek to follow up his victory in the Lockinge Stakes. Picture: Racingfotos.com

There were a record 15 international challengers trained outside of Europe at Royal Ascot 12 months ago and that number looks like being surpassed this year.

American superstar Animal Kingdom ran below par in the Queen Anne Stakes in 2013 and last year “Beast from the East” Able Friend, trained in Hong Kong, also failed to live up to expectations.

This year the baton has passed to Tepin, an imposing mare trained by Mark Casse in America, and A Shin Erwin, who will represent Japanese trainer Hidemasa Nakao.

Tepin has won her past six races by an aggregate of more than 22 lengths but, since 1957, the only filly or mare to win the Queen Anne has been the brilliant Goldikova.

Godolphin have taken the spoils in the QIPCO British Champions Series event seven times in the past two decades and will be triple-handed via Belardo, Toormore and Barchan, with the last-named deployed as a pacemaker.

James Doyle rides Belardo, who pounced from off the pace when landing the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, with William Buick on Toormore, who was a below-par fifth in that exciting QIPCO British Champions Series contest.

“I suppose he disappointed a bit in the Lockinge, so it looks like he’s got a little bit to do in Group One company but he’s a good honest horse and he’s in there with a shot,” Buick said of his mount. “Solow was the standout in the mile division last year but he’s not about. Tepin has looked good but has questions to answer.”

Buick has ridden the Richard Hannon-trained Toormore only once, when landing the Bet365 Mile at Sandown on him in April. On that occasion he had Belardo behind.

“He won well at Sandown but it was a funny race and it’s hard to know what to make of it,” he said. “Belardo got beat that day but he ended up with a lot to do; then came out and won the Lockinge.”

Endless Drama (third) and Kodi Bear (seventh) made their respective reappearances in the Lockinge and are entitled to step forward.

Ervedya and Esoterique, trained in France, have won six Group One contests between them. Like Tepin, they represent the fairer sex, as does Amazing Maria, herself a dual winner at the highest level.

The other quartet in the race are Mondialiste, runner-up to Tepin in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last year, Cougar Mountain, Arod and Lightning Spear.