Soprano giving ‘right signals’ ahead of Snowdrop return

Royal Ascot heroine Soprano bids to give her connections plenty to sing about when she makes her return in the Virgin Bet Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes at Kempton on Saturday.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner also scored at Deauville last season before finishing the year with some creditable runs in high-class contests and owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing are eyeing more big days this term.

“She’s in great form. She’s really turned inside out in terms of strength, she a very different filly to look at, having matured a lot over the winter,” said Highclere’s managing director Harry Herbert.

“You’d hope that means there’s some improvement, she seems to be training really well, she’s loving her work.

“It’s a nice starting point, she’s a Group Three winner, and hopefully she can move on up into Group Two and Group One class again.”

Highclere helped establish trainer George Boughey’s fine reputation when Cachet stormed to 1000 Guineas glory at Newmarket in 2022 and it is somewhat fitting they are also responsible for one of the fillies flying the flag for the handler at his new Craven House premises.

“George’s horses are in great form. The horses seem really well and training out of his lovely new base, and this filly is one of the most important in his yard,” continued Herbert.

“He has taken her away to train, she trained at Kempton the other day and she was very impressive, so we are hopeful she will run a very big race on Saturday.

“We are hopeful she will give all the right signals on Saturday and we will take it from there, one step at a time.”

As well as Soprano, another Royal Ascot winner in the line-up is Crimson Advocate who gave American handler George Weaver a day to remember when scooting to Queen Mary Stakes glory in 2023.

Transferred to John and Thady Gosden ahead of last year’s Royal meeting, she has not been seen since finishing down the field in the King Charles III Stakes and now tries a completely new trip which connections are calling an “experiment”.

Richard Brown, racing adviser for owner Wathnan Racing, said: “Stepping up to a mile is not what I or anyone really expected at the beginning of the year, but she’s not showing electric pace in her work, so this is a bit of an experiment and we will see how it goes.”

The one-mile Listed event also sees one-time Classic hopeful Shuwari make her long-awaited return for Ollie Sangster after missing the whole of the 2024 season, with the Manton handler also represented by Romanova.

Ed Walker will saddle Fleur De Lys Stakes fourth Rose Prick, with Oisin Murphy an interesting booking aboard Henry de Bromhead’s raider Rubies From Burma in a 10-strong field.