Scott confident Staya can go the distance at Ascot

Staya takes the “natural next step” in returning to Ascot for the Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes.

An impressive winner at Yarmouth on debut, George Scott’s talented daughter of Havana Grey was not beaten far when fifth in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot before returning to winning ways when obliging favourite-backers in Sandown’s Listed Dragon Stakes earlier this month.

She now steps up to six furlongs as she returns to Group company and Scott said: “I thought this was the natural next step for her, back up in grade and she proved she enjoyed the track at Royal Ascot when she was a bit green and just rolled around a bit under pressure.

“She’s given us every indication she’s a filly who wants to go an extra furlong, she’s a filly who loves to drop her head early and relax rather than be an out-and-out speedball.

“She’s got a great attitude and the stallion really seems to breed that into his progeny. She’s quite unique as she’s quite bolshy and strong-minded, but at the same time really willing in her work and she’s definitely got a little bit of swag about her.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how she acquits herself and she’s been training beautifully since the Dragon, but it’s really up to her now.”

Ahead of Staya at Royal Ascot was Charlie Clover’s Flowerhead, who outran huge odds of 100-1 to finish first of those on her side of the track and second to Aidan O’Brien’s True Love.

She is another stepping up in trip on her return to the Berkshire track, with connections hopeful she can excel at her new distance.

“If her Queen Mary form is anything to go on, if she gets the trip, I expect her to be competitive,” said Clover.

“It’s obviously her first run at six furlongs, but the Queen Mary suggested it would suit and the jockey was very keen to try it as well. We’ve since tried her at home over that trip and the data was very promising.

“Course form plays a factor and she ran very well there, so it definitely helped persuade us towards this race and to go back to Ascot.”

Jack Channon’s Sukanya and James Tate’s Daneh Of Dandy both take their chance at a higher level after winning well on debut, with the latter trying to follow in the footsteps of 2019 winner Under The Stars by following up a minor success at Ripon in this Group Three event.

“It looks a shot in the dark at this stage, although we have done this before and like our last winner of this, Under The Stars, she won a novice at Ripon,” explained Tate.

“Yes, it’s a big ask and she is very much unproven. We hadn’t really revved her up at all before her first start and usually when they win first time out but are as green as she was, they can take a real step forward and that is the hope despite it being an unknown.”

Midnight Tango finished second in Newmarket’s Empress Stakes last month, with Richard Hughes’ Bella Lyra and David Loughnane’s Amberia not far away in third and fourth on the July course and also representing that smart piece of Listed form.

Hugo Palmer’s Albany Stakes fourth Fitzella will bid to go a few places better over the same course and distance after winner Venetian Sun advertised the form in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, while Eddie and Patrick Harty’s Irish raider Arugam Bay rounds off the field of 10, with Dance To The Music a non-runner.