Signora well fancied to give Aidan O'Brien a third Albany winner in four years after a promising debut at Naas

Signora has to be the starting point in the Albany, although her sister Exactly's best came over further than this trip, so legitimate questions can be posed about whether she will be quick enough to win at six.

She found things happening too fast at Naas on her debut last month, but was pitched in at the deep end in a Group 3 and kept on into third. She went off 12-1, so outran expectations, with the Ryan Moore-ridden stablemate and 4-5 favourite Simply Astounding fifth.

But a significant amount of improvement can be expected from Signora and the Aidan O’Brien-trained juveniles are flying this week. Everything points to her having all of the answers.

Starman is an old favourite and his first progeny have hit the track this year. What a success they have been, too, with ten winners from just 57 representatives, and Flowerhead almost gave the new sire his best success when second in Wednesday’s Queen Mary at 100-1.

This race provides Starman his biggest opportunity for a first Royal Ascot success because he is the sire of not only the well-fancied Venetian Sun, but also Gold Digger and Green Sense. All three are single-figure odds in the overnight market and that speaks volumes for the sire.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Pedigree pointer

Signora could start a big day for her dam Heartache in the Albany Stakes as her year-older Frankel sister Exactly lines up less than two hours after the opening contest in the Coronation Stakes.

Another daughter of Frankel – whose extraordinary influence has seen him sire Group 1 winners from six furlongs to two and a half miles – Signora is out of Kyllachy mare Heartache, a speedy and precocious juvenile when landing the Queen Mary and Flying Childers Stakes in 2017.

Just like his own sire, Galileo, Frankel has an affinity with speed mares. His leading performers out of Group-winning sprinter mares include this year's Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria, Lowther Stakes scorer Queen Kindly and recent Prix de Diane second Bedtime Story, a sensational winner of last year's Chesham Stakes, among others.

Signora (left): finished third behind Lady Iman and the reopposing Green Sense on her debut last month

Signora (left): finished third behind Lady Iman and the reopposing Green Sense on her debutCredit: Patrick McCann

Queen Kindly came close to winning the Albany in 2016, beaten half a length into third by Brave Anna, and it should not be a surprise if Signora goes better. The Coolmore homebred was pitched into Group company on her debut, finishing strongly for third behind the exciting Lady Iman.

She has to step up again, but if she is as tough and hardy as her sister – who ran seven times for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore with a Group 3 win and a brace of Group 1 placings – then connections have every right to aim high.
Kitty Trice

O'Brien relies on Balantina to emulate Porta Fortuna

Donnacha O'Brien unleashed one of the best fillies of recent seasons in this race two years ago when Porta Fortuna notched the first of her two Royal Ascot victories under Frankie Dettori and Balantina bids to repeat the feat in the same colours.

The Ten Sovereigns filly finished a promising fourth on her debut at the Curragh behind Andab and improved to land the odds last time at the same track when staying on strongly to beat stablemate Cape Sounion on Irish Guineas weekend.

Tom Marquand takes the ride and he has enjoyed an excellent partnership with O'Brien, riding two winners and a second from three rides between Britain and Ireland, including at this meeting last year when steering Porta Fortuna to land the Coronation Stakes.

O'Brien said: "She's been in good form since she won at the Curragh. We think the track and the trip will suit her. It's a competitive race, but we think she'll run well."

What they say

George Boughey, trainer of Awaken
She's a nice filly. She was good on her debut without winning. She was immature at the time and she's done well physically. She'll see out the six furlongs very well and has a live each-way chance.

Amy Drummond, racing manager to Amo, owners of Bibi Dahl and Indigo Dawn
Bibi Dahl's come over from Gulfstream. She was second on her debut to Lennilu, who was third in the Queen Mary. She's a lovely filly and has taken well to being over in England so we're hopeful of a nice run. Indigo Dawn has only run the once but we like her a lot. She was bought by Ross Doyle, and Richard Hannon was always keen on her.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Fitzella
It's competitive and open, with lots of different formlines, but she won well at Haydock and the third has won since. The six furlongs at Ascot won't be a problem, she's a miler of the future.

Richard Spencer, trainer of Gold Digger
She has a great temperament, she's very relaxed with a great mind. She’s classy and she’s probably one of the best we've had for a good while. She has natural speed, and Jamie Spencer has been pleased with her straightforward attitude and keeps commenting on her natural speed. The form of her race has worked out well with the third and the fourth winning since.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Green Sense
She comes here on the back of a good run at Naas. We've been happy with how she's prepared for the race.

Adrian Murray, trainer of Ipanema Queen
She was impressive at the Curragh and we're hoping for a good run, but as always you need a lot to go in your favour. The big-field experience from the Curragh will do her good and I'm not sure about the fast ground, but it was good ground at the Curragh so hopefully it won't be an issue.

Ipanema Queen and Wayne Lordan (white cap) win at the Curragh last monthCredit: Patrick McCann

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Nandita
She won nicely at Kempton second time out. It's a big jump in class, but she's a progressive filly.

Jack Davison, trainer of Oh Cecelia
The form is shaping up nicely from her win at Cork and I couldn't be any happier with her since. She's improving and six furlongs on quick ground will suit her and I think she can run a huge race. This has been the plan as she has a biggish frame to fill so I didn't feel the need to run her again before Ascot.

Tom Dascombe, trainer of Senorita Vega
She had a terrible draw at Chester and won after that. I can't believe she's 100-1 and maybe that's realistic, but I'm surprised her price is as big as that.

Adrian O'Brien, trainer of Signora
She's only had the one run, but she seems to have progressed nicely from it. We think she's nice.

Jamie Insole, joint-trainer of Spinning Lizzie
I thought she did very well to win at Ripon first time out, it's a really tough track to debut at and she got better as the race went on. She's come out of it well and I think she can run a big race.

Karl Burke, trainer of Venetian Sun
She's a lovely filly. I'm told Aidan O'Brien's is supposed to be very good and we'll see how good we are. The draw is not to our advantage, but it was a nice performance at Carlisle and she's improved a lot on that.
Reporting by Conor Fennelly

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