In the 5f Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes that gets proceedings underway at Royal Ascot on Wednesday (13:30), Final Song is fancied to land the spoils in the two-year-old fillies’ contest following an ultra-impressive success on debut.
That win came over course and distance where the Saeed Bin Suroor trained daughter of Dark Angel romped to an all the way five-length success over Mrs Flanders.
Final Song, who carries the famous all-blue colours of Godolphin, broke well to take up the running.
When shaken-up approaching the final furlong, she showed an instant turn of foot to shoot clear and put the race to bed.
She won with any amount in hand and the third home Star Alexander, who was beaten a further head, has since come out and bolted up by six lengths at Beverley to give the form a boost.
The way in which Final Song travelled effortlessly throughout and quickened up so nicely suggested she is a hugely exciting prospect who needs keeping firmly onside.
This obviously represents a step up in class, but Final Song is fully expected to prove up to it and maintain her unbeaten record en route to even better things.
So, at 11/2 with Bethard, Final Song looks a worthy favourite and the one to be on.
Kimari a fascinating contender for Ward
American trainer Wes Ward has won three of the last 10 runnings of the race, so that makes his Kimari of obvious interest.
This daughter of Munnings, a top-price 6/1 with Betfred, put in a remarkable performance when winning on deut in a five-runner contest on the dirt in Keeneland.
After dwelling at the start, Kimari showed electric pace to take up the running after 100 yards and made all to draw clear and beat Halfmoon Reef by 15 lengths.
It was a breathtaking display and the runner-up went on to score next time up, so is clearly no slouch.
Although it’s impossible to compare how that form equates to that of the UK runners, to the eye Kimari won in the manner of a very exciting prospect.
Ward has made no secret of the high regard in which she is held, but the big question is whether Kimari can be as effective on the turf.
Blinkers also now go one for the first time, which is a bit surprising at such an early stage of her career, but her handler clearly knows the time of day and Kimari has to be feared.
Divine Spirit each-way value
Divine Spirit is another Goldolphin owned runner and also looks a key player following a taking success on debut
This daughter of Kingman is a half-sister to three winners and fetched 850,000 guineas at the breeze up sales before being sent to trainer Charlie Appleby.
She was backed off the boards and sent off odds-on to land a 12-runner maiden at Windsor last month when bolting on the way to post.
However, things went more smoothly in the race itself and, after tracking the leaders going well on the rail, Divine Spirit overcame trouble in-running to quicken smartly between rivals in the last 150 yards and comfortably beat Pink Sands by 1 3/4 lengths.
There was nothing not to like about the way in which she put the race to bed in decisive fashion. Divine Spirit clearly has a big engine and is open to any amount of progression.
A bold bid to follow-up looks assured and she looks cracking each-way value at 12/1 with William Hill, who are paying a fifth of outright odds for four places.