Can Group 2 winner Arabian Dusk deny challengers from Ireland and France in Chelmsford's feature Listed sprint?

Runners from Ireland and France have been attracted to Chelmsford on Thursday evening for the Listed Chelmer Fillies' Stakes, though it is the Newmarket-trained Arabian Dusk who sets the clear standard on the basis of her two-year-old form.

Simon and Ed Crisford appear to have found a decent opportunity for the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes winner and Cheveley Park Stakes third, 16 days on from when the 108-rated daughter of Havana Grey appeared not to get home on her reappearance in the Nell Gwyn.

The turnaround is not far off what she would have been required to manage had she gone to the 1,000 Guineas, while this race offers her an unpenalised opportunity against her own age group, rather than taking on confirmed Group-class older fillies and mares in the opening Listed race at Newmarket on Saturday.

The question which Arabian Dusk has to answer is whether she can transfer her turf form to the all-weather, a doubt which doesn't concern the chances of the Joseph O'Brien-trained Lady With The Lamp, a winner at Dundalk last October and also successful at this level on her comeback at Cork last time.

The presence of Wewilldanceagain for Francis Graffard and Sprit D'Or from the Chantilly yard of Gavin Hernon adds considerable further interest, with the pair coming here after finishing in that order in what may have been quite a hot conditions race over seven furlongs. 

Spirit D'Or earned herself a major payday in a sales race at the Curragh during the Irish Champions Festival last September, and Hernon believes there are sound reasons to expect an improved showing.

Gavin Hernon: trainer of Spirit D'OrCredit: Ecurie Gavin Hernon

"Last year she was extremely keen and even at the Curragh Ronan Whelan got a bit lucky to get on the heels of the leader," said Hernon. "I stepped her up to seven [furlongs] for her comeback because over the winter she had been training like a completely different horse, she was so laid-back and mature.

"She looked like she didn't stay, she hadn't come in her coat and my horses weren't 100 per cent at the time."

Hernon added: "I'd be fairly hopeful that she can reverse form with Wewilldanceagain. Lady With The Lamp and Arabian Dusk look like they might be above the crowd but if she got out on the front end, she might have a bit of an advantage. She's absolutely lightning from the gate."

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