The Sept. 27 Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket Racecourse is by no means a straight head-to-head, with four exciting fillies holding major claims, but it could be decided by the outcome of the rematch between Lowther Stakes (G2) 1-2 Royal Fixation and America Queen.
Just a length separated the 5-2 joint-favorites at York Racecourse last month, when Royal Fixation came out on top for Ed Walker from the Richard Hughes-trained America Queen.
The buildup to the second bout has been illuminated by confident noises from both camps, particularly in the America Queen corner, with Hughes describing his contender as the best filly he has ever trained.
However, Walker has faith that Royal Fixation, whose only defeat came when a neck second to the subsequent Prix Morny (G1) winner Venetian Sun in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (G2), can confirm her superiority from York, even though market confidence has waned through the week.
"I don't see why she can't uphold the form," he said. "I know Richard is very bullish that he'll turn it round, but to do that we'll have to run below par or America Queen is going to have to step up.
"None of us knows if one or both of those scenarios will happen, if any of them, but Royal Fixation has been training well and is in great nick. It's always a bit of an unknown how horses will handle the Rowley Mile, but I'm pleased the ground is going to be decent.
"It's a group 1 at the end of the day and she's going to have to be at least as good as she was at York, if not better."
Hughes is adamant a better version of America Queen will be seen at Newmarket. Having won by 12 lengths on her debut at Haydock Park, America Queen has had just the two starts—one less than Royal Fixation.
"I feel we're going to give the favorite (Royal Fixation) a very good run for her money," Hughes said. "She's definitely improved a lot since York. She was just green there and Ryan (Moore) said he just had to commit earlier than he would have liked to stop from getting cut off.
"She won't mind the track at all. We have a mile straight gallop that is up and down in Lambourn, where they run down into a dip, and she worked very well on it."
Hughes is not just aware of Royal Fixation, with Ballydoyle pair True Love and Beautify looking to extend Ballydoyle's recent domination of the race.
"It's very hard taking on Aidan O'Brien in these big races," he said.
Beautify is the Ballydoyle second string on jockey bookings and is another filly with links to Venetian Sun from their meeting in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1), where Beautify finished runner-up. She beat Venetian Sun, who was third, and probably did well to, having sat closer to a headwind with front-running favorite Composing fading.
It is interesting to see Beautify following the Lake Victoria route by taking in the Cheveley Park so soon after the Moyglare. She had the speed to beat Lady Iman in the Airlie Stud Stakes (G2) two starts ago and shouldn't mind dropping back to 6 furlongs.
Yet it is easy to see why Wayne Lordan selected True Love over Beautify. True Love's destruction of Puerto Rico and Power Blue in the Railway Stakes (G2) was a special performance and lameness scuppered her in the Phoenix Stakes (G1) when the form was turned on its head.
Granted a smooth preparation off a 49-day break, she deserves another chance to return to those levels.
