OPERA SINGER (3.45, nb) is fancied to hit a high note in the Coronation Stakes on day four of Royal Ascot.
A champion juvenile, Aidan O’Brien’s filly missed her shot at a first 2,000 Guineas title after a small setback.
It was a home game for round two, when the impressive five-length Prix Marcel Boussac winner arrived at the Curragh.
Given her stop-start training beforehand, she emerged with great credit with a third place to Karl Burke trainee Fallen Angel.
Opera Singer made giant strides as a two-year-old, improving with every outing with her stamina eked out a little more.
Having made excellent physical progress during her downtime, Justify’s daughter has looks to match her profile and she can gain the upper hand over Newmarket Classic heroine Elmalka.
O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore are tipped to reward their supporters with two other runners on the penultimate card.
With much of Coolmore’s focus on Derby hero City Of Troy, several stablemates have taken a little longer to fulfil their potential.
Wednesday’s Queen’s Vase hero Illinois is one example – and downgraded DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (5.40, trb) is expected to match his Ascot achievement in the King Edward VII Stakes.
The £2.5million Frankel colt missed Epsom to run in the Prix Du Jockey Club, turned into a test exclusively for mudlovers after heavy rain.
Short of pace when fourth in the French 2000 Guineas, he steps up to 1m 4f on fast ground, the first time he has encountered a decent playing surface since September of last year.
Trainer and jockey are also united with FAIRY GODMOTHER (2.30), the form horse going into the Albany Stakes.
A race on from her debut behind Sparkling Sea, she reversed the form after an interrupted passage in a Naas Group Three.
In a big field, the likelihood of a strong pace will be ideal for a youngster capable of producing a telling late burst.
Moore has Willie Mullins onside for the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, riding popular pick ETHICAL DIAMOND (4.25).
Good enough to contest a brace of top level novice hurdles at Leopardstown and Cheltenham, the four-year-old was pipped to the post on handicap debut.
Back up in trip, there is mileage in his rating given the stiff festival assignments over obstacles.
Two main players, Vandeek and Bucanero Fuertoe were late withdrawals from the Commonwealth Cup (3.05), which has made INISHERIN’s task easier.
Supplemented at a cost of £46,000, Kevin Ryan’s charge relished a distance reduction in the Sandy Lane Stakes – and that is unlikely to be his limit.
DORNEY LAKE, a treble candidate in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes (6.15), has caught the eye in races at Yarmouth and Lingfield, finishing strongly after showing bundles of enthusiasm for his job.
Saffie Osborne’s mount NOCTURNAL, trained by James Ferguson, is an each-way play for the Sandringham Stakes (5.05).
ROYAL ASCOT FRIDAY TIPS
2.30 Fairy Godmother
3.05 Inisherin
3.45 Opera Singer (nb)
4.25 Ethical Diamond
5.05 Nocturnal
5.40 Diego Velazquez (trb)
6.15 Dorney Lake
