Menuisier's sister to Group 1 winner among newcomers in competitive Ascot novice

The extended seven-furlong fillies’ novice (2.35) contest at Ascot on Saturday is a half and half affair - four of the runners have one run behind them and the other four are making their debut.

Ottilien represents the David Menuisier stable and certainty has a family to live up to seeing she is a sister to Group 1 winner Morandi.

By Holy Roman Emperor out of the Bering mare Vezina, she was bred by Seven Hills Bloodstock and might need a bit further than Saturday’s distance in time.

Her most famous sibling, Morandi, won the Group 3 Prix de Conde as a juvenile, along with the top-grade Criterium de Saint-Cloud by no less than seven lengths for the Jean-Claude Rouget yard.

All four of his career wins came at two but he certainly trained on, as he finished runner-up in the Prix du Jockey Club to Intello.

Jon and Julia Aisbitt have homebred Canterbury Bell to look forward to, and given the powerful connections of William Haggas and Ryan Moore, she could easily start the shortest-priced of the four newcomers.

By Ribchester out of Shamardal mare Lavender Lane, she is a half-sister to stablemate Lilac Road, by the late Mastercraftsman, who only last month won the Listed Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury.

Icy Lady, meanwhile, is a Jeff Smith homebred for the Andrew Balding yard. By Norse Dancer out of Sakhee’s Secret’s daughter Celestial Secret, she has a fair bit of speed in the family generally - including Lochsong - though her sire did his Group 3-winning at a mile and just beyond.

Mashaaer, by Muhaarar, is a Shadwell homebred out of Distorted Humor mare Fleeting Smile and is a half-sister to a five-furlong two-year-old winner. She is with Richard Hannon.

Bouquet, Beautiful Secret and Destiny Queen all ran well on their debuts and will present a formidable trio to overcome for the newcomers, albeit connections will learn plenty.

Across the Irish Sea at Navan, in the mile fillies’ and mares’ maiden (3.55), Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore introduce three-year-old Awhile, who is out of Wonder Of Wonders, whose own dam was a sister to the great Galileo.

Awhile is by War Front and is a sister to three winners including last year’s Listed Ruby Stakes winner So Wonderful. She has stacks going for her on pedigree and, while most of her 13 opponents have some experience, she could well figure on her debut.

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