Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr
Following an excellent launching at Haydock just a fortnight earlier, Lightning Polka will aim to bring the royal colours to Group Three success in the 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 profession on Merseyside.
Her handler is well mindful she has a lot more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can prove as much as the task.
Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker stated: "It's a big day and she was actually excellent at Haydock on her launching.
"I believe she'll be OK on the ground, although Tom (Marquand) said it was a bit dead and ugly when he rode there on Thursday.
"I believe she'll improve once again from this run and we've refrained from doing a lot given that Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have enjoyed it to have actually been three weeks because her debut instead of 2, however she's a nice filly and she was truly straightforward and professional very first time.
Trainer Ed Walker is all set 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 an obstacle, which I couldn't believe.
"I was so ecstatic to train two horses for the King and Queen and I have a really great filly who is a bit backward and then Lightning Polka, who is more of a two-year-old type. She went and picked up a niggle early, but luckily she overcame that quickly and she's amazing."
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 flourishing Roger Varian string.
Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who had to choose 2nd behind Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken on her Leicester launching before readily dispatching a subsequent winner at Beverley at the 2nd time of asking.
Fahey believes the No Nay Never filly may not realise her full potential till next season, but is eager to evaluate the waters at a greater level before completion of her juvenile project.
"We do like her but I'm not sure how she will cope with the ground if it's on the sluggish side," he said.
"We're pleased to run her and see what occurs. I believe her very first run was rather good 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 good, so we've been pleased with her.
"She's a filly for next year actually and I didn't wish to run her a lot of times, however I needed to run her again so I believed I might also run her in a good race and see how she gets on."
A total of 15 two-year-old fillies go to post on the west coast of Scotland, with other notable names including 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 Football Bet 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 most likely favourite in a field of six for a 10-furlong contest in which William Haggas is represented by Caviar Heights, with the Somerville Lodge handler hoping conditions remain ideal for a four-year-old who has actually suffered successive narrow beats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.
"He's been a bit regrettable however he wants soft ground and hopefully it will still have some cut in it on Saturday as the softer it is, the better he will be," stated Haggas.
"He's a very great horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even better horse."