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Free Wind will be hoping to put a below-par performance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind her in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot tomorrow.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained mare returned from a lengthy absence to beat subsequent Royal Ascot winner Rogue Millennium in the Group 2 Middleton Fillies' Stakes at York back in May. Free Wind since disappointed in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and Lillie Langtry Stakes before getting back on track with a fine second behind next-time-out Qatar Prix Vermeille scorer Warm Heart in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks in August.
Connections have stated she found the ground too quick when down the field in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp three weeks ago and will be expecting a much better showing at Ascot on Saturday.
"Free Wind found the ground a bit lively in the Arc. Frankie looked after her and that's one of the great things about him, he's very quick at knowing when they aren't enjoying it," said John Gosden.
"He wrapped up on her with 400 metres or so to go and that's why I can entertain running her again here – she seems in good form."
Free Wind will be one of five mounts for Frankie Dettori on what looks set to be his final competitive appearance in Britain.
Free Wind is a current 11/4 shot to get back to winning ways with Paddy Power but she will face no easy task with the likes of Jackie Oh, Bluestocking, and Time Lock among the opposition.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Jackie Oh couldn't have gone much closer last-time-out when going down narrowly to French star Blue Rose Cen in the Prix de l'Opera on Arc weekend, and the daughter of Galileo could yet have more to give now tackling the mile-and-a-half trip for the first time.
O'Brien said: "We always thought Jackie Oh would stay further and she loves an ease in the ground – it was probably a little bit too quick for her the last day.
"She'd been working very well and progressing every week as the year went on and her last run was probably by far her best run."
Two contenders that will have no problem with the mile-and-a-half journey are the Juddmonte-owned pair, Time Lock and Bluestocking, with both holding proven form over the distance.
Time Lock backed up her French Listed success with a commanding win in the Group 3 Dubai Stakes at Newmarket last month and trainers Roger and Harry Charlton will be hoping she can take the step up to Group 1 level.
Harry Charlton, who will be taking over from his father on a permanent basis at the end of the season, said: "She is in great form and is on the right path, growing in confidence with her success. It looks very competitive with a big field but she's in as good form as any of the others at the moment,"
"It's hard to be too confident as the conditions aren't ideal. We'd be going with more confidence if they weren't looking at so much rain, as good ground would have been ideal, but she handles soft."
On the other hand, Bluestocking has nothing to prove at the top level having finished runner-up in the Irish Oaks before finishing fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks earlier in the season. The daughter of Camelot subsequently failed to capitalise on a drop in grade when second to Al Qareem, who has since won an Ascot Group 3, in Listed company at Chester last month.
Conditions look sure to be on the testing side at Ascot on Saturday despite the moving of this contest to the Inner Course and Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon admits the ground may not be ideal for either filly.
He said: "They're two lovely fillies, the ground is an obvious concern I suppose for both of them, but they have both shown they can handle it on occasions,"
"Time Lock ran well on Goodwood on heavy ground when she finished third in the Lillie Langtry and obviously Bluestocking was second in the Irish Oaks on soft ground, so they have run well on soft before, it just depends how testing it is.
"It's the end of the season, it's a lovely place to finish up and it's nice to have both of them in it with a chance."
Time Lock is a general 9/2 chance for the Group 1 prize, with Bluestocking a best-priced 10/1 with Ladbrokes.