Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr
Following an outstanding debut at Haydock just a fortnight ago, 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 daughter of Night Of Thunder is one of the very first horses sent to fitness instructor Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made an ideal start to her career on Merseyside.
Her handler is well aware she has far more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can show approximately the task.
Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker stated: "It's a big day and she was really outstanding at Haydock on her launching.
"I believe she'll be OK on the ground, despite the fact that Tom (Marquand) said it was a bit dead and ugly when he rode there on Thursday.
"I believe she'll improve again from this run and we have actually refrained from doing a lot given that Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have loved it to have been three weeks given that her debut rather than 2, however she's a great filly and she was truly simple and expert very first time.
Trainer Ed Walker is ready for a huge 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 setback, which I couldn't think.
"I was so excited to train 2 horses for the King and Queen and I have a very great filly who is a bit backwards and then Lightning Polka, who is more of a two-year-old type. She went and selected up a niggle early, but fortunately she overcame that rapidly and she's interesting."
Among the greatest dangers to Lightning Polka appears to be dual winner Coming Attraction, who won a hot conditions race at Chester last time and represents the growing Roger Varian string.
Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who needed to opt for 2nd behind Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken on her before easily dispatching a subsequent winner at Beverley at the second time of asking.
Fahey believes the No Nay Never filly might not understand her complete capacity till next season, but is keen to evaluate the waters at a higher level before completion of her juvenile project.
"We simulate her however I'm not exactly sure how she will deal with the ground if it's on the slow side," he said.
"We're pleased to run her and see what takes place. I think her first run was rather great and we feel we would most likely beat the winner if we reunited and then the race at Beverley which she won will have done her the world of excellent, so we've been pleased with her.
"She's a filly for next year truly and I didn't want to run her too many times, but I needed to run her again so I believed I might as well run her in a good race and see how she gets on."
An overall of 15 two-year-old fillies go to publish on the west coast of Scotland, with other notable names consisting of Simon and Ed Crisford's Lowther 4th 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 Football Bet Builder Boosts" Doonside Cup, where Andrew Balding's Feilden Stakes winner Almeric makes his first appearance since impressing at Newmarket in April.
He is the most 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 ideal for a four-year-old who has suffered succeeding narrow beats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.
"He's been a bit regrettable but he wants soft ground and ideally it will still have some cut in it on Saturday as the softer it is, the much better he will be," said Haggas.
"He's a very nice horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even better horse."