Queen returns to York seeking winning revival

Unibet Summer Stakes (Group 3) | 6f | 3yo+ fillies' and mares | ITV3/RUK

Queen Kindly returns to the scene of her biggest success bidding to rekindle the form that established her as one of the most exciting two-year-olds of last summer.

At last year's Ebor festival the Frankel filly overwhelmed Roly Poly and Fair Eva to capture the Lowther Stakes, but has not hit the same heights since at a variety of trips.

She was ninth in the 1,000 Guineas and beaten favourite for an Ayr Listed event at 5f, but connections hope to have found a better winning opportunity as she returns to 6f for a race that has attracted a 16-runner field, including two from Germany.

The Richard Fahey-trained Queen Kindly is owned by Jaber Abdullah, whose racing manager Bruce Raymond said: "We thought her last race was a gimme but she just got a bit outpaced over five furlongs. That was a prep race for this and we're expecting a much better showing than last time."

German trainer Dominik Moser has sent over Artistica, who is unbeaten this year, and Sugar Free. Moser enjoyed a special day in 2012 when Gracia Directa won the same race. She also finished second the following year.

Artistica won a Listed race at Nottingham followed by a Group 3 at Baden-Baden on May 27.

Moser said: “After Nottingham, when we went to Baden-Baden there was a very short time between the races but she ran very well in a fantastic time.

“We gave her a little break after her last race and she's worked very well in the last two weeks. I think six furlongs is the best distance for her. We saw last year that seven was a little too far.”

Gracia Directa and Robert Winston win the 2012 Summer Stakes for German trainer Dominik Moser, who now runs Aristica and Sugar FreeCredit: John Grossick (racingpostphotos.com)

Sugar Free stumbled exiting the stalls when sixth in a Listed race at Haydock and Moser rates her close to Artistica.

He said: “Sugar Free had a little bit of a bad luck at Haydock last time. I think she needs a little bit more good ground – she doesn’t like soft."

Lack of similar opportunities has led William Haggas to field three candidates. Gravity Flow, who won four on the bounce last year, is the shortest-priced but the trainer says all have a similar chance.

"There are very few Group 3 races over six furlongs for fillies only and this might be the only one," he said. "They're all similar, useful fillies trying to get some black type. I'm not convinced there's that much between them. They're entitled to have a go."

Eartha Kitt is stepping up from a handicap victory over course and distance with black type the aim.

Trainer Tom Dascombe said: "We were very disappointed with her run at Lingfield so we dropped her back to sprinting and she won nicely. She'd have to run better to pick up black type but there's no reason she can't."

Unibet Summer Stakes, card, form and betting