Who will come out on top as Royal Ascot races are pitched against each other?

Friday: 2.25 Newmarket
Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (Sponsored By bet365) (Group 2) | 6f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

Only six have been declared in this Group 2 for juvenile fillies, but it’s a case of quality over quantity as Royal Ascot races are pitched against each other with Maylandsea and Mawj.

Maylandsea finished second in the Queen Mary and Mawj filled the same position in the Albany, so which is the stronger form? Times can be enlightening here and Topspeed leaves no doubt as to which was the better race, with Maylandsea’s 97 far in excess of Mawj’s 64.

In reality, there obviously isn’t 33lb between the pair, but even the Racing Post Ratings have Maylandsea 7lb clear of Mawj and the Queen Mary form has a clear edge on both metrics.

It’s more likely that Maylandsea’s biggest danger didn’t compete at Royal Ascot because Lezoo is the second-highest rated in the race on both Topspeed and RPRs. She achieved a time figure of 90 in the Empress Stakes last month and that was over course and distance.

Lezoo has 4lb to find with Maylandsea on RPRs, so needs to improve, but she is unexposed and trainer Ralph Beckett excels with fillies. He is also due a change of luck in this contest.

Beckett has saddled three runners in the Duchess of Cambridge in the last four years for two thirds and a fourth. Time Scale, who was fourth in 2020, also won the Empress before coming here.

All three other runners need to reverse places with horses who have beaten them before. Queen Olly was two places behind Mawj in the Albany, Tagline two places behind Lezoo in the Empress Stakes, and Carmela finished six spots behind Maylandsea in the Queen Mary.

Tagline looks the most likely candidate. She was a big eyecatcher when keeping on strongly for third in the Empress last month and could easily give Lezoo more to think about this time.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'Maylandsea brings the best form into the race'

The second and eighth from the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes, the second and fourth from the Group 3 Albany Stakes, and the first and third from the Listed Empress Fillies' Stakes clash in a fascinating bet365-backed Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

Michael Bell won the race in 2018 with Pretty Pollyanna and the Derby-winning trainer is hoping the strongest form this year hails from the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where he saddled Maylandsea to finish second to Dramatised in a quick time.

"She looks great and brings the best form into the race," said Bell. "Six furlongs looks like it will suit her on the evidence of the Queen Mary and we're looking forward to it."

Michael Bell: has a smart two-year-old on his hands with MaylandseaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Maylandsea outran her 28-1 odds at Ascot having won her first start at Nottingham but the performance did not come as a shock to her trainer.

He added: "We were expecting a good run but it was a very deep race with something like 14 last-time-out winners in it. The Queen Mary was probably the strongest two-year-old form of the meeting and the clock backs that up.

"She will need to improve again to win this but with that Queen Mary experience under her belt, she ought to come forward."

What they say

David Loughnane, trainer of Carmela and Queen Olly
Carmela was on her head from pillar to post in the Queen Mary and she never got a breather. She was under the pump all the way but once she hit that rising ground, especially in the last furlong, she absolutely flew home. The form has been franked numerous times and the step up to six should really suit, so I'd be hopefully of a big run and think she will outrun her odds at 20-1. Queen Olly wasn't beaten too far in the Albany. She was out on a wing on her own and did it the hard way, so I think the performance can be upgraded. I would have liked a little bit of juice in the ground but I think she's a high-class filly. I wouldn't put either owner off.

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Mawj
She came back well from the Albany and worked nicely last week. She's a small filly but has a big heart. It's a good race but the conditions are ideal for her and she always tries very hard.

Rod Millman, trainer of Tagline
I thought she ran really well in the Empress Stakes and, bar the winner, was finishing fastest of all. It will be tough to turn the form around with Lezoo – she's a good filly – but she did get first run on us. We rode Tagline to get the place money and she got it, and hopefully we can do the same again.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Lezoo
Lezoo has trained well since the Empress and appears to be thriving on racing. I'm hopeful for her chances.
Reporting by Lewis Porteous

Friday's Newmarket previews:

1.50 Newmarket: Is former Derby fancy New London thrown in off opening handicap mark?

3.00 Newmarket: Can Candleford follow up his stunning success at Royal Ascot in bet365 Trophy?

3.35 Newmarket: Gosden hopes to avoid 'trappy race' for red-hot Falmouth favourite Inspiral

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