John Gosden's leading four year old filly Inspiral will make her seasonal debut at Royal Ascot in the opening event of the festival in Queen Anne Stakes and is said to be showing all the right signs ahead of her run.
The Cheveley Park Stud owned filly was the champion two year old filly being unbeaten in all four of her starts and after a slight set back to her campaign this term, returned in fine fashion.
The daughter of Frankel on debut as a juvenile was seen landing a seven furlong event on good to firm at Newmarket in superb style, with the second and third in that race since going on to frank it.
She then went onto boost that form line herself next time out stepping up to Listed company and being a standout winner of the Star Stakes at Sandown.
Next time out she stepped up again into Group Two company at Doncaster in the May Hill Stakes and took the event in style by four lengths.
The filly made it 4/4 when taking her first Group One event in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket over a mile.
As mentioned she returned slightly later than usual, but had obviously trained on when dominating the Group One Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot to win by nearly five lengths.
Looking to make it back to back Group One races she went to Newmarket on the July course for the Falmouth Stakes but in a huge shock she could only finish second to Propserous Voyage.
Going off as the 1/7 favourite it is one of the biggest shocks of the season but she bounced back to form in a big way when she went to Deauville to land the Group One Prix Jacques Le Marios.
Oh wow! Inspiral is amazing in the Coronation Stakes under @FrankieDettori! #RoyalAscot @CPStudOfficial pic.twitter.com/rzr1hJVdNd
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2022
Unfortunately finishing the season at Ascot when sixth of nine in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, she again will start her season off later than expected in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and is said to be in fine form.
(Credit ATR) “We have been very happy with her recently and she enjoyed her work there. It was nice to get her back on the track,” said Gosden.
“A racecourse gallop was part of the plan and it is a big help heading into Royal Ascot without having had a run.
“She has taken her time to come to hand. We had a cold wet spring then we had a lot of cold, dry weather with winds from the north east off the North Sea. A lot of these fillies just haven’t flourished, that is all.”
He added: “We were hoping to go to the Lockinge but it didn’t quite happen so we will go straight into the Queen Anne. We did it last year going into the Coronation Stakes.
“It does give us confidence going there knowing that we have done this before. It is like all these fillies though – they will tell you when they are ready to run, you don’t tell them.
“Last year we were just taking on three-year-old fillies. This year we are taking on proven older horses like the Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, so it is a much bigger test.
“It would be very exciting if she did win. We just want to get her there in good order and at the moment we would be very pleased with her.”