Albany Stakes heroine Main Edition has a fine Royal Ascot heritage

Main Edition, a game winner of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday, has success at the meeting in her blood.

The Mark Johnston-trained filly – now as short as 16-1 for the 1,000 Guineas after running on strongly to defeat Godolphin's Dandy Man filly La Pelosa by a neck – is a daughter of Zoffany, who has a rich Royal Ascot heritage.

In his own racing career Zoffany was sixth in the Coventry Stakes at two and got alarmingly close to Frankel when second in the St James's Palace Stakes at three.

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Sent to stand at Coolmore upon his retirement, his first crop of two-year-olds lit up the royal meeting in 2015 with three of them – Illuminate, Washington DC and Waterloo Bridge – winning that week.

Main Edition gives breeders plenty of encouragement for Zoffany's future as an important stallion, as she was bred when he stood at €12,500, before he dazzled with his first two-year-old runners.

Next year's Zoffany juveniles were bred at a fee of €45,000, so in light of what their less expensively produced paternal siblings have managed there will be excitement about what they might achieve.

There were also Royal Ascot clues on the distaff side of Main Edition's pedigree.

She was bred by Minch Bloodstock out of the late Woodman mare Maine Lobster, who was twice placed over 6f for trainer John Dunlop.

Maine Lobster has produced four other winners, notably the Group 2-winning miler and Sussex Stakes third Major Cadeaux, who found only Hellvelyn too good in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2006.

Another of Maine Lobster's sons, Beachfire, scored at the royal meeting in 2011 when he streaked clear in the Wolferton Handicap.

Maine Lobster was out of the Overskate mare Capades, successful in the Grade 1 Selima Stakes and a half-sister to Capades Dancer, the dam of Prix d'Harcourt winner Vangelis.

Main Edition – the last foal out of her dam, who died in 2016 – was bought by Mark Johnston for 62,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and carries the silks of Saif Ali.

Her Albany Stakes victory continues the theme of recently retired Banstead Manor Stud stallion Dansili being the power behind the throne of many of the kings and queens at Royal Ascot this week.

Zoffany is a son of Dansili, as was Delegator, the late sire of Queen Anne Stakes hero Accidental Agent.

Daughters of Dansili have meanwhile produced the winners of the Jersey Stakes and Ribblesdale – Expert Eye and Magic Wand.

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