'A repeat of her run in the spring will put her bang there' - can Cinderella's Dream end a 22-year hoodoo for Godolphin in the Sun Chariot?

It is 22 years since Godolphin won the final non-juvenile Group 1 of the season on the Rowley Mile, but they look in prime position to break that run with Cinderella’s Dream, who has proven her effectiveness at both Newmarket tracks.

Trainer Charlie Appleby and William Buick are also bidding to add the mile contest to their respective CVs with the four-year-old, who could have a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup on her radar after this.

The daughter of Shamardal was an impressive winner of the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes on the Rowley Mile in May, when she powered clear to beat last year’s 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka by four and a half lengths.

After finishing runner-up in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, Cinderella’s Dream then gained a second Group 1 success when denying January in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July festival.

She now drops back to a mile after finishing a respectable fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet in August over a 1m2f.

Appleby said: “Cinderella’s Dream was impressive in the Dahlia Stakes at the Guineas meeting and returns to the Rowley Mile in great nick. She has enjoyed a nice little break since the Prix Jean Romanet and a repeat of her run in the spring will put her bang there.”

Unbeaten Varian ace a big danger

It has been a patient build to get here, but Roger Varian gets an opportunity to put Lady Of Spain into Group 1 company for the first time as she bids to extend her unbeaten record.

The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain started from humble beginnings, taking a Wolverhampton novice in the final days of her juvenile year before further all-weather wins at the same track, Southwell and then in Listed company at Deauville.

Four wins became five when she made her turf debut in some style at Sandown in August, and she now steps into a Group 1 for the first time under Ray Dawson.

Lady of Spain wins the Atalanta Stakes at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Varian said: "She’s in very good form at the minute and has trained well into the race. She’ll have to step up again and it’s a straight track and it’s undulating which is something different for her. 

"She likes ease in the ground and it’s anyone’s guess what it will be like and what strength the wind will be. Looking at the weather, I expect it to be a tough test on the Rowley Mile and it’s a Group 1 in which she is taking on a couple who have done it before."

Blue Bolt was the filly Lady Of Spain ran down in the closing stages at Sandown, and she renews rivalry for Andrew Balding. Colin Keane, who claimed the Sun Chariot 12 months ago on David Menuisier's Tamfana, takes the ride again.

What they say

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Cheshire Dancer
She’s enjoyed an amazing year and produced five career-bests in a row – we now need another. She’s a tremendously versatile filly who goes there in very good form. She looks amazing.

David Loughnane, trainer of Sparks Fly
She ran a blinder at Leopardstown last time considering I wasn’t that keen on running as it was only good ground. The softer the better for her, and I’m excited to see how she gets on. If it is wet it can take the turn of foot out of the better horses so hopefully she can come home strong.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Spiritual
She ran a solid race to be third in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster last time and should be suited by going back up to a mile. It’s a deep race, but she won’t mind any ease in the ground and hopefully can take a hand.

Rowan Scott, rider of Cathedral
She looks like a filly who gets the mile well and, hopefully, it’ll be a strongly run race as I think that will help her chances. She’s run against a few of these horses before and hasn’t been beaten too far, and you could argue that her last run at Leopardstown was one of her best, so she’d have a good chance if she backs that up.

Read more from our Saturday Raceday Intel package:

12.58 Longchamp: where are all the stayers? Stamina the big question mark in a wide-open running of the Cadran

2.25 Ascot: will it be an Al Qareem hat-trick or is Hamish ready to thwart him in a battle of two old warriors in Cumberland Lodge? 

3.00 Ascot: 'This is a stepping stone to the British Champions Sprint' - analysis and trainer quotes for the Group 3 Bengough Stakes 

3.35 Ascot: 'From what we’ve seen in the mornings he should be bang there' - who fancies their chances in a typically competitive Challenge Cup? 

4.00 Longchamp: 'She’s going to run well' - have the French finally got one who can repel the raiders in the Prix de Royallieu?

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