Graeme Rodway sides with improver over solid option in Princess Elizabeth

4.15 Epsom
Princess Elizabeth Stakes Group 3 | 1m, 3yo | Fillies | ITV/RTV

The market makes this the classic match between proven form and potential.

On the one hand we have Cloak Of Spirits, who lines up with the best form courtesy of solid placed efforts in the Rockfel Stakes and 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. On the other we have Fooraat, who comes into this unbeaten in two starts but with loads to find.

Her pedigree screams at better to come, though. She is by one of the great modern sires in Dubawi and her dam is none other than Nahrain, who won the Prix de L’Opera at Longchamp in 2011 for Fooraat’s trainer Roger Varian before going on to finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs. They do not come much more blue-blooded.

The big question for punters is can Fooraat improve past Cloak Of Spirits?

Cloak Of Spirits is a 10lb better horse on highest Racing Post Ratings and 9lb superior according to BHA figures, but it is possible to argue Cloak Of Spirits has regressed.

The Richard Hannon-trained daughter of Invincible Spirit recorded her career-high RPR of 108 when finishing third behind Daahyeh in the Rockfel last September but has not matched that level since the restart.

She was 2lb below that form when second in the 1,000 Guineas on her reappearance and then took another step backwards when beating only two home in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, when she achieved an RPR of just 102.

A reproduction of that form would still make Cloak Of Spirits the one to beat in this Group 3, but Fooraat improved 15lb from her debut figure of 83 at Newcastle last year when recording a rating of 98 at Chelmsford last time and any further progress would give her a huge chance.

Given Fooraat is having only her third start, Cloak Of Spirits will probably have to reproduce her best form to repel her improving rival and recent regression suggests she may struggle.

Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of Cloak Of Spirits
She is in good form and if she handles the track she should go very close. There are a few fillies in there who are pretty unexposed, but she would have a great chance.

Roger Varian, trainer of Fooraat
I don’t think she beat a lot at Chelmsford but it was the manner in which she did it that would have you excited by her. She’s a filly who doesn’t do an awful lot at home in her work. She’s got a good mind and a cracking pedigree, being a sister to Benbatl and out of Nahrain who won the Opera for us, so she’s bred to be smart. She’s looked smart in her two starts but this is a bit different, moving from two all-weather runs to a first turf experience on a track like Epsom. She should cope with the contours of the track and, if she does, she’ll run very well.

John Gosden, trainer of Love And Thunder
The plan would be to get some black type with her as the race is for three-year-olds only this year.

Onassis and Hayley Turner win the Sandringham StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Summer Romance
She produced a pleasing run in the 1,000 Guineas and came out of the race well. She is a Listed winner already and we feel that this is a nice opportunity to try and pick up a Group 3 race. Her preparation has been very straightforward and hopefully she will get conditions to suit at Epsom.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Onassis
She has a bit to find on ratings. However, I don’t think her rating of 87 is a true reflection of her ability, it’s more a reflection of how long it took me to work her out. It’s a good race, but we’ve got Ryan Moore on our side. If she finishes in the first three it will do her paddocks value the world of good.

Reporting by Richard Birch

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