Just eight face the starter for the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (which used to be the Windsor Forest Stakes), the Group 2 race for fillies and mares: Integral: Sir Michael Stoute’s mare carries a Group 1 penalty as she attempts to win the race for the second year. Her campaign started with a close-up fourth in an average Lockinge Stakes but that still looks the best form on show. Bragging: Sir Michael’s other runner carries a Group 2 penalty for winning the Dahlia Stakes but disappointed last time in the ten furlong Middleton Stakes and has only won a maiden race over a mile. Cladocera: Alain De Royer Dupre’s filly was well beaten in the Dubai Turf last time but previously won twice at Meydan, earning a Group 2 penalty for winning the Balanchine Stakes. Amazing Maria: third in a handicap on her seasonal bow and two lengths third in a Group 2 race lately at The Curragh, David O’Meara’s filly needs to find quite a bit to feature in this company. Euro Charline: Marco Botti’s filly has only managed to win a Listed race in pattern company on these shores but did win the Beverley D Stakes at Arlington last season. She finished ahead of Cladocera when behind Solow at Meydan on her first start of 2015. Evita Peron: Ralph Beckett’s filly started her campaign finishing third in a Group 3 race and her only pattern race win here was a Listed race so she may be up against it in a Group 2 race. Lightning Thunder: Olly Stevens’ filly disappointed on a number of occasions last term including the Coronation Stakes behind Rizeena but did finish runner-up in both the Newmarket and Irish 1000 Guineas. On her sole start this season she finished behind Evita Peron at Lingfield. Rizeena: Clive Brittain’s filly warmed up for this with a poor showing in the Dahlia Stakes behind Bragging over a trip that was probably too far. Last season she won the Group 1 Coronation Stakes and was runner-up in the Falmouth Stakes and the Matron Stakes so she clearly is good enough to win here. Although Integral has a penalty to carry, the form of her warm up race reads well enough that she can probably concede five pounds to Rizeena, who looks to have been trained for this race having reappeared over more than her optimum trip of a mile.
