3 minute read
Last year's winner Usherette and Chris Wall's Mix And Mingle have been supplemented for the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
Andre Fabre's Usherette has been without a win since her success 12 months ago but returned to something like her best last time out when beaten less than a length by Mekhtaal in the Prix d'Ispahan.
Mix And Mingle has won both her starts this season, including when beating last year's Coronation Stakes winner Qemah, who she might meet again, in the Chartwell Stakes at Lingfield.
"We'd been weighing up all the options but she's in good shape, galloped well on Tuesday and I'm very happy with her," said Wall.
"Crucially, the weather looks set fair, which helped us make the decision.
"Last year I was convinced she didn't stay a mile, but she's another year older and her pedigree suggests she should have no problem staying.
"I'm not quite sure who'll ride her yet with Ted Durcan injured still, but we've a few irons in the fire."
As ever there is international interest, with Graham Motion bringing Miss Temple City over for a third go having finished fourth in the Coronation Stakes and this corresponding race for the last two years.
Furia Cruzada, formerly with John Gosden but now trained in France by Satoshi Kobayashi, is in the mix, while the Francois Doumen-trained Aim To Please completes a strong French challenge.
Gosden can run impressive Epsom winner Laugh Aloud, Persuasive and new recruit Greta G.
Somehow, Absolute Blast, Nezwaah and Smart Call are also among the 20 remaining fillies and mares.