The Fugue try’s to go one better than last year.

Twelve months ago she was beaten by Shareta. Her profile differ’s this year in that last year she was coming off the back of a Group 1 in the Nassau Stakes. She had seen the track five times before York last year whereas this year she has only had the two runs. Both were against the boys in the Prince Of Wales Stakes and The Coral Eclipse. The first run back was a cracker running third at Royal Ascot only beaten 3 1/2 L behind Al Kazeem. She then disappointed in the Eclipse having scoped badly when beaten 12 1/2 L trailing in last.

She holds favouritism here on the basis she’s back against her own sex.

Venus De Milo hasn’t much on the clock having only seen the track four times. She’s a typical Ballydoyle well bred filly who will continue to improve with her racing. She improved from her maiden win to Listed company before her second in the Irish Oaks and confirmed her good order the taking a Group 3 at the Curragh to prep for this.

Riposte, also lightly raced wasn’t far off her at the Curragh running fifth confirming her good run in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot where she beat Just Pretending who then overturned the form finishing in front of her at the Curragh.

Tom Queally has chosen Wild Coco in preference to Riposte from the two Lady Cecil runners. A winner of the Park Hill Stakes last year she only made her seasonal debut at Goodwood in the Lillie Langtry Stakes where she beat Elik 2 1/4 L who was also 3 3/4 L behind Riposte in the Ribblesdale.

Scintillula has been busy since her Irish Oaks run where she finished fourth a neck in front of Riposte and 3/4 L behind Venus De Milo. Three runs in Group 3’s since the first of which she won beating Mars.

Ralph Beckett pulled Talent out deciding not to risk her on the fast ground but has let Secret Gesture take her place. Second in the Oaks to her stable companion she was intended for the Curragh but was pulled out because of the quick surface. Rerouted to Germany for their Oaks she couldn’t justify favouritism when running second to Peneopla, a local trained 16/1 shot.

The field is completed by Emirates Queen and Moment In Time. The latter ran tenth in this years Nassau having previously run second to the former in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.

Not a lot between these fillies on their running of both the Irish Oaks and Ribblesdale hence the market promoting the Fugue as the most likely winner. Her ability says she the one to win however she she’s been more miss than hit even when just against her own sex.

There’s every chance she will be vulnerable again especially after the bad scope last time out. The improving fillies Venus De Milo and Riposte need to step up to win and with Tom Queally opting for Wild Coco you would question the value of the Irish Oaks and Ribblesdale form.

It’s hard to see Secret Gesture acting on the fast surface and that concern extends also to Wild Coco.

This leaves Moment In Time and Emirates Queen who fought out the Lancashire Oaks as alternatives. While Moment In Time’s run at Goodwood wouldn’t encourage Emirates Queen went to Deauville two weeks ago finishing third in a G2 as a prep for this over 13f. She was doing all her best work at the finish and this extra furlong will be perfect for her. She’s in the care of Luca Cumani who’s a willy old wizard when it comes to older horses and at 16/1 she looks overpriced and is well worth backing each way if all eight stand their ground.

Recommendation : Emirates Queen 16/1 ew