Miss Temple City set for third run at Royal Ascot

Miss Temple City, second left, was a close fourth on her first visit to Royal Ascot behind Ervedya and Found. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Miss Temple City could again help fly the flag for America in the QIPCO British Champions Series in 2017.

The four-year-old filly chalked up her third Grade 1 success of the year when landing the Matriarch Stakes in Del Mar late on Sunday night.

The Graham Motion-trained bay has finished fourth at the royal meeting in each of the past two years.

She was two lengths fourth to Ervedya in the Coronation Stakes in 2015 and was beaten around three lengths behind Usherette in the Duke of Cambridge this year when ridden by Ryan Moore.

Miss Temple City edged out Roca Rojo and Stays In Vegas in the Matriarch, having to win the hard way after being drawn wide in gate 11.

“I had a little bit of a sick feeling in my stomach when they hit the wire,” Motion told the Racing Post. “I think we were a little too cute with her earlier in the year, trying to get her covered up and take too much of a hold on her. She’s got a lot of natural speed and the key is to get her settled.”

Options for Miss Temple City at next year’s royal meeting will be the Queen Anne Stakes or another tilt at the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

She will probably create her own piece of history. How many other American-trained horses have run at the meeting three years in succession?