The Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (G2) at York has proved the key to the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) in recent years and it has been the winners who have dominated. Four of the last 10 Lowther scorers have gone on to land this but just one of the beaten horses at York has been victorious in the last 10 seasons.
Lumiere is the filly in question. She finished second behind Besharah in the Lowther in 2015 but reversed the form in this group 1 event, beating her York conqueror into third.
Miss Amulet and Sacred filled the first two places in this year's Lowther, so can Sacred emulate Lumiere's achievement or will Miss Amulet become another to complete the double Sept. 26 at Newmarket?
Trainer Ken Condon said Miss Amulet has "been very good since York. She needs to step forward again into group 1 company but we're very happy with where we are with her and we're hopeful she'll run a very big race."
The answer looks simple on form. Miss Amulet had Sacred well held by a length at York, where they achieved Racing Post Ratings of 110 and 107 respectively. Miss Amulet has not run since but Sacred has taken a backward step, running to a two-pound lower RPR of 105 when beaten a short-head by Ubettabelieveit in the five-furlong Bombardier Flying Childers Stakes (G2) at Doncaster 15 days ago.
However, that is basing the judgement purely on the book and visual impressions give you a different perspective. Sacred might have been beaten on her last two starts but she looked set to defeat Miss Amulet half a furlong out over six furlongs at York before her effort flattened out.
It was a similar story at Doncaster last time too. Sacred traveled like the winner throughout that contest over the minimum trip and was in front well inside the final furlong only to be headed in the dying strides. This time she disappointed backers at a low of 1:04 in running, causing some to question her attitude.
Sacred is suspected to have the more talent of the two but Miss Amulet is the more straightforward and the fact William Haggas fits cheek pieces on Sacred is an indication he thinks the same.
"I'm very pleased with her. She's in great form," Haggas said of Sacred. "My concern is the weather. She's better on quick ground."
Umm Kulthum, who was third behind Miss Amulet and Sacred at York, showed a high head carriage when winning the Scotty Brand Firth of Clyde Stakes (G3) at Ayr last week but was going away at the finish.
It looks significant that she is turned out just a week later. Her trainer Richard Fahey has a 24% strike-rate (6-25) with juveniles returning to the track within seven days of their last run since the start of 2016. Umm Kulthum must have come out of the race well.
"The owner is very sporting and the filly's fine, so we're happy to take our chance," said Fahey. "She gave them a head start and still beat them last week—I don't think she'll be able to give these a head start and beat them."
