Without Prejudice on trial for better things

A patient approach could pay dividends at Newmarket on Friday when Without Prejudice takes the next step in her burgeoning career in the Princess Royal Stakes.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the half-sister to Clarehaven’s Group One star Emily Upjohn was not seen until the final day of July, but she is now well on the way to making up time having followed up her impressive July course debut in equally taking fashion at Windsor.

She now moves into Pattern company as the least experienced of the 12-runner Rowley Mile Group Three, but with plenty of possible untapped potential still to be seen.

Simon Marsh, racing and bloodstock manager to owner Lord Lloyd Webber, said: “She’s a nice filly and John and Thady have taken their time with her. She’s won well both times she has run and we’ll see how she goes and if she steps up in grade OK.

“She’s been doing everything right and you don’t know until they come up against the better quality of horse. But Friday is going to tell us plenty about what we have got.”

The likely favourite is David Menuisier’s Inis Mor, who having placed in both the French and Irish Oaks earlier this year, now attempts to secure a trip to Ascot and British Champions Day.

Eamonn O’Connor of owners Quantum Leap Racing said “She’s been a tremendous filly. We’re just trying to build on her CV now and we’re taking her down in grade to (hopefully) get a confidence win under her belt. All being well and if the weather holds we can then have one last shot at a Group One at Ascot.

“We don’t know for certain the truth (what happened in the Yorkshire Oaks last time), but we’re inclined from jockey feedback to put it down to the ground. We just think she wasn’t comfortable at any stage throughout the race, but she’s hardly run a bad race for us so we can forgive her that.

“If she turns up in the form she was in in the Irish Oaks we’ll be fine on Friday, but time will tell.”

Inis Mor has been a beacon of light during a somewhat testing campaign for Menuisier and having exited the cold list with a win at Goodwood on Wednesday he could be handed the perfect wedding present on the weekend of his forthcoming nuptials.

“I’m not sure David will be there as there might be a few other things on his mind!” continued O’Connor, who himself will be jetting back from Greece to watch Inis Mor in action.

“We watched David win with Tribal Chief at Goodwood and he deserved that. It’s not been the best of years for him so far but hopefully Inis Mor will change that.”

Ryan Moore takes the reins aboard Inis Mor with usual pilot Oisin Murphy claimed to ride Park Hill Stakes fourth Prizeland for Andrew Balding.

Other notable names in the 12-furlong contest include Ed Bethell’s Coedana, last seen finishing sixth to Irish Champion Stakes hero Hotazhell in Germany, Charlie Johnston’s Chalice Stakes second Francophone and David O’Meara’s Aphrodite Fillies’ Stakes scorer Brielle.