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Opera Singer looks set to take on Elmalka in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on Friday after a field of ten was declared on Wednesday morning.
Roger Varian kicked off Royal Ascot week in great style when Charyn claimed Queen Anne Stakes honours and the Carlburg Stables-based handler will be hoping his 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka can give the yard further Group 1 honours.
The daughter of Kingman was ridden by Silvestre De Sousa at Newmarket but will be partnered by James Doyle this time around.
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for two of the ten declarations with red-hot favourite Opera Singer looking to build on her promising reappearance third in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh last month. Stablemate Content also features.
Newmarket second and third Porta Fortuna and Ramatuelle will be hoping they can turn the tables with Elmalka. The former will be ridden by Tom Marquand again, while the latter gets the services of Oisin Murphy for the first time.
Charlie Appleby failed to get off the mark on day one of the royal meeting after Notable Speech was somewhat disappointing in the St James's Palace Stakes. However, the Godolphin handler looks to hold strong claims with the unbeaten Devoted Queen stepping up in grade following her impressive success in the Listed Sky Bet Fillies' Stakes at York in May.
Folgaria, See The Fire, Rouhiya and Skellet complete the line-up.
Elsewhere on the card, impressive Sandy Lane Stakes winner Inisherin heads a field of fifteen in the Commonwealth Cup. The Kevin Ryan-trained colt was supplemented for the Group 1 six-furlong sprint on the back of his commanding triumph last-time-out.
Fresh off the back of Rosallion's success in the St James's Palace Stakes, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum looks to have a major chance of claiming more Group 1 glory after Karl Burke's Elite Status bounced back to his best in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury.
Clive Cox saddles Jasour, a comfortable winner of the course and distance trial last month, while James Fanshawe will be hopeful his unbeaten Kind Of Blue can take the step up in class in his stride.
Vandeek and Bucanero Fuerte were both ruled out of the contest earlier in the week, with Aidan O'Brien also deciding not to declare River Tiber this morning. The Ballydoyle maestro will instead rely on the Ryan Moore-ridden Military.
Seventeen horses were declared for the opening Albany Stakes on day three of the royal meeting, with Aidan O'Brien's Fairy Godmother ready to take on the Charlie Appleby-trained Mountain Breeze, who has impressed with two victories at Newmarket.
