Theyskens' faces Cup trio in Grade 1 at Belmont

Preview: USA, Saturday 10.18pm BST (liveon ATR)

Belmont Park: Garden City Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1f, turf, 3yo fillies

THE Brian Meehan-trained Theyskens' Theory (Garrett Gomez) catches a hot-looking field on Saturday when she returns to the US for the first time since finishing sixth at last year's Breeders' Cup.

Then the daughter of Bernardini struggled to leave a mark on the dirt at Churchill Downs, but this time she tries out the Belmont turf track for the Grade 1 Garden City Stakes - where rivals include More Than Real, Winter Memories and Kathmanblu, who finished 1-2-3in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Theyskens' Theory has won two of her three races this term since running in Kentucky, both Listed contests: the Michael Seely Memorial at York in May and last month's Atalanta Stakes at Newbury.

Those runs sandwiched a down-the-field effort at Royal Ascot in Grade 1 company in the Coronation Stakes, where More Than Real was among the three who finished behind her.

"She travelled over well and will carry plenty of stable confidence," said Meehan on his website. "Several of the best US turf fillies await her but she gets in on a reasonable weight and will be fresher than any of her rivals."

Owner AndrewRosen also runs Meehan-trained Fashion's Flight in a Belmont maiden on Sunday's card.

Likely favourite for the $250,000 event is four-tiem graded winner Winter Memories (James Toner/Javier Castellano), a filly blessed with a killer turn of foot.

But she has never won a Grade 1, and comes here after a shock defeat at long odds-on in the Lake Placid at Saratoga, where she failed to fire on yielding ground behind Hungry Island (Shug McGaughey/Alex Solis).

"I would like for her to make amends for her last race," said trainer James Toner. "I certainly don't want to take anything away from Hungry Island, who ran a great race. I just hope she can run her race, is all."

Hungry Island, who is on a five-timer, comfortably held Kathmanblu (Kenny McPeek/Jose Lezcano) at Saratoga; the latter appears to have gone off the boil since a highly promising winter campaign.

More Than Real (Todd Pletcher/Corey Nakatani) breaks from the rail, having been more than five lengths behind Winter Memories in the Grade 2 Lake George in July on her only outing since her unavailing trip to Royal Ascot.