King Charles III Stakes runner up Rayevka is reportedly in fine fettle ahead of her Nunthorpe Stakes bid. The Blue Point filly was agonisingly pipped by Mission Central having hit the front up the middle.
After a pleasing beginning to the season, connections will be hoping the decision to keep her fresh since will pay dividends.
Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, via Sporting Life, the Aga Khan Studs Racing Manager Nemone Routh said: “She’s not had any issues. She came out of the run in Ascot really well. But I think Francis wanted to set her aside for this race.
“She could have gone for the Group 2 at Goodwood but it would have meant travelling again. Hopefully, we’ll get her ground. I see there is a little bit of rain predicted next week. She likes fast ground so I hope there’s not too much rain that falls. She does handle soft, she’s just not very good on testing ground, it’s not her thing.
“I hope it is her day. She loves five furlongs. But she is a hold-up horse so she does always need a little bit of luck in running. If she gets the splits and she’s in the right pack, I think she’ll run a big race.”
Group 1 glory in Routh’s sights
Having been unlucky not to win both her Group 1 sprints at Royal Ascot, Routh will be hoping for a change in the tide at York.
Routh continued: “She’s very professional in the mornings. She actually trained with Drazinda the other day and got her ready for her race. We have a few real speedsters in the morning. We have a very good lead horse who brings them along.
“She’s very relaxed in the morning, she comes alive a little bit when she comes to the races. She’s very genuine. Like her brother as soon as you put her in a race she’s going to try her hardest.
“I hope it’s her day. She got so close last time. She always runs well. It would be great to win a Group 1 with her.”
Having mentioned Drazinda, Routh was posed the question regarding her participation in the Prix Morny. “We will have to see,” said Routh. “She did get a slight nick, nothing serious. But she got a little bit of a nick on her fetlock in her last run the other day which we’ve been treating. So, we’ll have to see if she gets over that.