Some high-class fillies have won the Albany over the years and this season’s renewal looks potentially right out of the top draw.
Simon and Ed Crisford enjoyed Royal Ascot juvenile success when A'Ali landed the Norfolk Stakes back in 2019 and their Carla's Way needs to be taken very seriously in Friday's opener. The Chesnut filly turned plenty of heads when making a winning debut at Doncaster over six and a half furlongs at the beginning of the month and certainly has proven stamina in her locker now dropped back to six. The runner-up that day has since recorded a facile eleven-length victory at Haydock to give the form some substance and it's hard not to see her firmly involved assuming she handles the quicker conditions.
George Boughey looked to have a smart filly on his hands when Soprano made a winning start to her career over the minimum five furlongs on Newmarket's Rowley Mile back in May. The Highclere Thoroughbred-owned filly was strong in the market before the off and duly backed up what was reportedly some impressive homework to beat subsequent Hillary Needler winner, Midnight Affair, snugly first-time-out. There should be plenty more to come from her now stepping up to six furlongs and it's easy to see why she's popular towards the fore of the market with William Buick booked to ride.
The prize has gone to Ireland on just three occasions, but they look to have a strong challenge this year. Aidan O'Brien landed this last season with subsequent Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Meditate and his filly, Matrika, looks the pick of the Irish contingent this year. A half-sister to Royal Ascot winner The Wow Signal, she defied a sizeable market drift to score over this trip on debut at the Curragh. The daughter of No Nay Never raced lazily throughout but was strong at the line and should relish the stiff six furlongs on offer at Royal Ascot.
The more experienced Porta Fortuna commands respect having landed the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes at Naas on her second start. That said, Navassa Island produced a debut full of promise when narrowly denied in the aforementioned Group 3 and she may well be capable of reversing the form with that experience under her belt.
However, it's Roger Varian's winning debutante Jabaara that gets the vote. It was tough not to be impressed with her successful Newmarket debut over this distance last month. David Egan never panicked having found himself stuck in a pocket with two furlongs to travel and once switched off heels the daughter of Exceed And Excel picked up in breathtaking fashion to score snugly. The stable won the same Newmarket novice event with Daahyeh back in 2019 before going on to Albany success a few weeks later and the Jabaara can follow the exact same tried and tested path.
Of those at longer prices, Persian Dreamer would hold claims on her Newmarket debut victory while first-time-out Ripon scorer Pretty Crystal is bred to stay further and should be putting in some good late work.
