READY AND RARING TO SHINE

Henry Cecil, the leading Royal Ascot trainer and winner of 32 classics, has had a few quiet years at Warren Place, but this season he has a couple of nicely bred fillies who could develop into smart prospects for the autumn campaign.

Cecil has always done well in the distaff division, having won the Oaks several times and at the big meeting next week his hopes rest with Novellara, who holds a live chance in the Ribblesdale after winning her only start last month. Today,however the Newmarket trainer will be focused on his only runner at Newbury, as the lightly raced Star Cluster steps up into Listed company for the Lord Weinstock memorial Stakes (3.55)

Cecil has stated in the past that patience is the key to training and he has taken his 3yo, who also holds an entry in the Pretty Polly St at the Curragh next month.

The daughter of OBSERVATORY has only raced twice, but the maiden win at Newmarket on her sole juvenile start last July has worked out really well, with ten of the fillies behind her scoring since.

She returned to action last month over 7f when she was 2nd behind the progressive Red Evie, who was completing a four-timer. She earned an RP Rating of104 that day and quickened nicely to pull well clear of the 3rd.

That RPR is better than any of today's rivals have achieved, but she is entitled to come on for the run and should appreciate the step up to a mile and a quarter, as 2 of her half-siblings have made the frame in Listed grade at this trip.

There are few other progressive fillies involved today and Anna Pavlova looks worthy of the step up in grade, as she has won four of her seven starts and achieved an RPR of 103 last time.

The other pair worthy of a mention are Luca Cumani's Princess Nada, who is a half sister to Dubawi and Sir Michael Stoute's US-bred Random Call, both of whom are entitled to improve on their maiden victories.

Date: 15 June 2006