Ed Dunlop is relishing the prospect of Snow Fairy potentially renewing rivalry with Midday in the Yorkshire Oaks on August 18.
The four-time Group One winner made a late start to her season due to injury, placing fourth in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
She took a big step forward in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood but was unable to keep tabs on Midday and had to make do with the runner-up spot.
Snow Fairy got a length closer to her rival than she had done in the Yorkshire Oaks 12 months ago, and Dunlop feels his star performer can continue to improve.
“Midday beat us three lengths in last year’s Yorkshire Oaks, so we are getting closer to her,” he said.
“The best filly on the day won at Goodwood, but Snow Fairy has always been better when asked to quicken off a strong pace, and they went very slow early on in the Nassau.
“This was a huge improvement on Snow Fairy’s comeback race in the Eclipse at Sandown, and Frankie (Dettori) is adamant that she will come on again for this race, so we are getting there and we could take on Midday again at York.”
After winning the English and the Irish Oaks last summer, Snow Fairy went on to claim lucrative prizes in the Far East, where she could return later this year.
The Newmarket handler told www.edunlop.com: “We have always been looking towards a second half of the season campaign.
“But it can get soft in Britain in the autumn so Snow Fairy, who was a globetrotting superstar for us last year, might well be on her travels again as she is more likely to get her favoured fast ground abroad.
“There is the Breeders’ Cup, Japan and Hong Kong – everything is in the mix.”
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