Albany Stakes: 'Setarhe will take the beating if she handles surface'

Albany Stakes (Group 3) | 6f | 2yo | ITV/SKY

Winning debutantes Setarhe and Undertake give Roger Varian a strong representation as last year's winning Albany Stakes trainer bids for his third win in seven years in the fillies' Group 3.

Varian is yet to win another two-year-old contest at Royal Ascot but his two Albany winners, Cursory Glance (2014) and Daahyeh (2019), both progressed throughout their juvenile campaign and graduated to higher Group-race honours, with the former winning the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Daahyeh gave Varian his second Albany win last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

The trainer will be hoping to continue the trend with one of his pair, with Newmarket victor Setarhe overcoming an inconvenient position on debut to win decisively. He is also represented by the David Egan-ridden Undertake.

In contrast to Varian, this has not been a lucky race for US trainer Wesley Ward despite the tendency of his speedballs to thrive in the royal meeting's other two-year-old races.

He has another crack at a first Albany win with Flying Aletha, who won her maiden at Gulfstream Park by five and a half lengths.

Aidan O'Brien, who saddled Brave Anna to victory in this race four years ago, relies on Navan second Mother Earth, with her talented stablemate More Beautiful running in Saturday's Queen Mary Stakes instead.

There are a further five winners in the 14-runner Albany field – Golden Melody, Dandalla, Valpolicella, Follow Suit and Bonne Vitesse.

What they say

Karl Burke, trainer of Dandalla
She's also declared for the Queen Mary but will take her chance in the Albany, which looks a slightly easier race on paper, as long as it's good to soft. She's a high-class filly and we're very happy with her. She's an exciting type and it was a good performance on debut in a good time.

Clive Cox, trainer of Follow Suit
It was a gutsy, determined run [at Wolverhampton]. Kodi Bear [sire] was very much at home on an easier surface as well so hopefully that will be agreeable for her, but she’s come back from her first success well. We’re going to roll the dice.

William Haggas, trainer of Golden Melody
She may not be good enough, but she should enjoy the ground.

Jack Channon, assistant to trainer Mick Channon
She ran a cracker first time out at Newmarket after being green and getting a little bit outpaced. Her work has been very good since and I’m hopeful of a good showing.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Mother Earth
She's in good form and seems to have come forward nicely from her first start at Navan, so we're hoping she can run well.

Roger Varian's Undertake was a cosy winner on debut at LingfieldCredit: Pool

Roger Varian, trainer of Setarhe and Undertake
Setarhe showed a lot of class when winning on her debut at Newmarket. This will be a different surface, but if she handles it she will take the beating. Undertake did nothing wrong when winning at Lingfield and she should handle the ground and run another good race.

Oliver Cole, joint-trainer of Valpolicella
She's in good form, she should give a great account of herself. She’s definitely come on for her debut.

John Gosden, trainer of Willabell
She ran a nice debut at Yarmouth but has a top of the ground action, as many of these War Front's do, so she may not handle the soft.

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