Frankie Dettori has issued an ominous message to American filly Lady Aurelia’s rivals, saying she might be even better suited at York than she has been at Ascot.
The Wesley Ward-trained filly blitzed the field for the second year running at the Royal meeting, this time against her elders in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Dettori was forced to miss the ride on her that day through injury, but he will be back in the saddle for the Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday (Saturday AEST) and put her through her paces at York last week.
“I think it was an almighty performance in the King’s Stand. She brushed aside some great older horses,” Dettori told Racing UK.
“She’s a typical sprinter. She’s on her toes and she has two switches – slow and fast. There’s nothing in between.
“Last year we tried really hard to get her to run over six furlongs. We got away with it in the Prix Morny, but for me five furlongs is ideal for her.
“I think York will suit her as she’s got tremendous speed and typically American horses like a flat track.
“York might suit her better than Ascot.”
Lady Aurelia does at least have a different in-form rival taking her on in the shape of Charlie Hills’ Battaash.
His progress this season has been staggering, winning at Listed, Group Three and Group Two level.
Champion jockey Jim Crowley rode him in public for the first time at Goodwood but had been able to gauge his speed on the gallops.
“I pulled him out in his work and he was gone. It was a great feeling,” he said.
“He’s not overly big but he’s just got such a high cruising speed.”
