3 minute read

Lucky Kristale could head straight for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 28 following her hugely impressive display on the July Course on Friday.

A winner at Newmarket and Yarmouth before finishing sixth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, George Margarson's filly benefited from waiting tactics as she careered home to claim the Group Two Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes.

With Margarson keen to remain at six furlongs for the remainder of this season, the only viable option prior to the Cheveley Park is York's Lowther Stakes on August 22, but she may have to concede weight to each of her opponents on the Knavesmire.

Margarson said: "She's come out of the race as well as we expected. I'm very happy with her.

"We'll have a chat about what we do next, but it could be that we wait and go straight for the Cheveley Park. The Lowther is the obvious next step, and that is a possibility, but she'd have a penalty to carry there and that makes me a bit wary. It's a shame it's not a Group One.

"We know she's a filly who goes well fresh, so we can take our time with her. Ideally we'd like another couple of races, but there isn't a lot else for her, so we'll see."

Lucky Kristale unsurprisingly picked up quotes for next year's 1000 Guineas following her brilliant Newmarket display, but Margarson is unsure whether his speed filly's stamina will last out over a mile.

"I don't want to make any assumptions as we'll just see how things progress, but she might go straight to the Cheveley Park and I would imagine we'd draw stumps for the year after that," said the trainer.

"That would give her a nice break and I could bring her back in that bit earlier ahead of next season.

"Everyone is talking about her as a Guineas filly, which is very nice, but you would have to have some doubts about her getting a mile as she has so much speed. If everything went well, we'd probably start her off in one of the trials over seven furlongs next year and go from there."