Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr
Following an outstanding debut at Haydock just a fortnight earlier, Lightning Polka will seek to carry the royal colours to Group Three success in the Ladbrokes-sponsored Firth Of Clyde at Ayr on Saturday.
The child of Night Of Thunder is among the very first horses sent to fitness instructor Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made a perfect start to her career on Merseyside.
Her handler is aware she has far more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, however is hoping she can show up to the job.
Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker stated: "It's a special day and she was really outstanding at Haydock on her debut.
"I think she'll be OK on the ground, even though Tom (Marquand) stated it was a bit dead and tacky when he rode there on Thursday.
"I believe she'll enhance again from this run and we have actually refrained from doing a lot since Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have loved it to have been three weeks given that her debut instead of 2, but she's a nice filly and she was actually simple and expert first time.
Trainer Ed Walker is all set for a big afternoon at Ayr (John Walton/PA)
"It's a dream to train for the King and Queen and she was actually our very first two-year-old to have a problem, which I could not believe.
"I was so fired up to train two horses for the King and Queen and I have a very nice filly who is a bit backward and after that Lightning Polka, who is more of a two-year-old type. She went and got a niggle early, however thankfully she got over that quickly and she's amazing."
Among the greatest risks to Lightning Polka seems double winner Coming Attraction, who won a hot conditions race at Chester last time and represents the prospering Roger Varian string.
Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who needed to choose second behind Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken on her Leicester debut before easily dispatching a subsequent winner at Beverley at the second time of asking.
Fahey believes the No Nay Never filly may not understand her complete capacity up until next season, however is eager to evaluate the waters at a greater level before the end of her juvenile project.
"We simulate her but I'm not sure how she will deal with the ground if it's on the sluggish side," he stated.
"We more than happy to run her and see what takes place. I believe her very first run was rather excellent and we feel we would probably beat the winner if we met once again and after that the race at Beverley which she won will have done her the world of excellent, so we have actually been pleased with her.
"She's a filly for next year actually and I didn't wish to run her too lots of times, however I required to run her once again so I thought I might also run her in an excellent race and see how she gets on."
An overall of 15 two-year-old fillies go to post on the west coast of Scotland, with other significant names consisting of Simon and Ed Crisford's Lowther fourth Dandana, Ed Bethell's simple Catterick winner Rogue Attraction and George Boughey's unbeaten three-time winner India Love.
There is also competitive action, albeit with less runners, in the Listed Ladbrokes "Big Builder Boosts" Doonside Cup, where Andrew Balding's Feilden Stakes winner Almeric makes his very first appearance since impressing at Newmarket in April.
He is the likely favourite in a field of 6 for a 10-furlong contest in which William Haggas is represented by Caviar Heights, with the Somerville Lodge handler hoping conditions stay appropriate for a four-year-old who has actually suffered succeeding narrow defeats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.
"He's been a bit regrettable but he desires soft ground and ideally it will still have some cut in it on Saturday as the softer it is, the better he will be," said Haggas.
"He's a really nice horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even much better horse."