Lady Aurelia starts back on Royal Ascot trail in familiar territory
Preview: USA, Saturday (9.57pm BST)
Keeneland: Giant’s Causeway Stakes (Listed) 5½f, 3yo+ fillies and mares, turf
Lady Aurelia (Wesley Ward/John Velazquez) starts her four-year-old season in familiar surroundings on Saturday by bidding for back-to-back wins in this $100,000 contest.
The superstar sprinter has used Keeneland as a launchpad for the past two seasons before travelling across the Atlantic to blow away her opposition – first in the Queen Mary two years ago and again in last year’s King’s Stand Stakes.
Drawn in stall eight, Lady Aurelia faces nine rivals on Saturday, headed by potential spoiler Morticia, who was second at Gulfstream last time and has a good record at Keeneland.
The aim for Lady Aurelia after her run at Keeneland is the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, for which she is the 4-1 joint-favourite with Battaash.
Also on Saturday
Keeneland: Lexington Stakes (Grade 3) 1m½f, 3yo, dirt
The last chance saloon on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and My Boy Jack (Keith Desormeaux/Kent Desormeaux) heads the betting and the list of possible Classic candidates.
"If I can't win the Lexington, this horse has got no business in the Derby," Keith Desormeaux told bloodhorse.com.
"These are serious, serious horses this year, even more than in years past; I think the talent this year is off the charts. If he can't win the Lexington and do it decisively, then he has no business in the Kentucky Derby."
Keeneland: Jenny Wiley Stakes (Grade 1) 1m½, 4yo+ f&m, turf
She is among the outsiders in this race with Don Bruja (Ignacio Correas/Jose Ortiz) leading the market.
Read exclusive previews from 6pm tonight on racingpost.com
Published on 13 April 2018inInternational
Last updated 13:46, 15 April 2018
- 'We didn't throw money at this' - McPeek toasts homebred Kentucky Derby success
- Kentucky Derby: Kenny McPeek completes Oaks-Derby double as Mystik Dan prevails in three-horse photo thriller
- French trainer Georgios Alimpinisis handed 12-month ban for 'serious shortcomings' in veterinary treatment of horses
- OBS Spring Sale picks up steam as $1.9 million Tiz The Law filly leads the action
- Falbrav owner Luciano Salice dies at the age of 88
- 'We didn't throw money at this' - McPeek toasts homebred Kentucky Derby success
- Kentucky Derby: Kenny McPeek completes Oaks-Derby double as Mystik Dan prevails in three-horse photo thriller
- French trainer Georgios Alimpinisis handed 12-month ban for 'serious shortcomings' in veterinary treatment of horses
- OBS Spring Sale picks up steam as $1.9 million Tiz The Law filly leads the action
- Falbrav owner Luciano Salice dies at the age of 88