Set To Music, owned by Her Majesty The Queen, could line up in the £300,000 Group One Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (sponsored by Investec) at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 2, providing she runs well in the Group Two Middleton Stakes at York tomorrow.
The Michael Bell-trained four-year-old is one of 17 horses remaining in the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (sponsored by Investec) after yesterday's scratchings stage and is the only filly still engaged.
Set To Music improved rapidly last season, winning a conditions race at Doncaster in June and two 10-furlong handicaps at Nottingham in July before running away with the 12-furlong Listed Galtres Stakes at York in August. On her final start of 2011, she finished second to Meeznah in the Group Two Park Hill Stakes over 14 furlongs and 132 yards at Doncaster on September 8.
Bell, who trains at Fitzroy House in Newmarket, said: “The Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup is a race we could look at with Set To Music, but obviously a lot depends on how she runs at York.
“She is in good form and coming to hand nicely. Last season she improved with every run and won very nicely at York. Looking at her pedigree, she is bred to improve, so I hope as the season unfolds her progress will continue.
“I think the trip at Doncaster on her final start stretched her as she travelled strongly but didn't appear to get home. She is starting over 10 furlongs at York which should be fine and I can see her being flexible between 10 furlongs and 12 furlongs.
“She is already rated 110, so she is a high-class filly and I'm hoping she is one of those that continues to progress.”
Last year's winner St Nicholas Abbey, trained by Aidan O'Brien, suffered a shock defeat behind stablemate Windsor Palace in the 10-furlong Group Three Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh on May 7. The son of Montjeu had previously won the Grade One Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs last season, before returning this year with a second behind Cirrus Des Aigles in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March, both over 12 furlongs.
Cirrus Des Aigles enjoyed his first Group One success in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot in October and has been victorious twice more at the highest level. After his win in Dubai in March, he returned to France and took the Prix Ganay in great style at Longchamp last month.
O'Brien could also be represented by the 2010 victor Fame And Glory, progressive Group Three Ormonde Stakes winner Memphis Tennessee, last season's Investec Derby runner-up Treasure Beach, Australian import So You Think and Leopardstown scorer Robin Hood.
Sir Michael Stoute is chasing his sixth win in the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (sponsored by Investec) and could run last year's Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Sea Moon, while John Gosden may rely on last season's impressive Group One St Leger winner Masked Marvel, who finished seventh on his reappearance in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on May 5.
Godolphin has won the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (sponsored by Investec) on two occasions with Daylami in 1999 and Mutafaweq in 2001, both trained by Saeed Bin Suroor. In this year's renewal Godolphin could be represented by Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso, who is trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Quest For Peace, runner-up in the Jockey Club Stakes on his return, could attempt to give trainer Luca Cumani his first success in the race, while Italian Group One winner Jakkalberry, trained by Marco Botti, will be looking to build on his third in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic.
William Haggas' Beaten Up finished sixth behind Cirrus Des Aigles at Meydan in March, but had rounded off the 2011 season with an impressive victory in the Group Three St Simon Stakes at Newbury.
Ed Dunlop has last year's Melbourne Cup runner up Red Cadeaux, who finished second on his seasonal return in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes at Kempton on May 2, while Tom Dascombe could run Listed Winter Derby Trial Stakes winner Junoob.
In the Investec Specialist Bank 'Dash' 58 horses go forward including York Glory, who is the 9/1 ante-post favourite with William Hill, the Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival.
The Tim Easterby-trained pair of Captain Dunne and Confessional, who filled the first two placed in 2011, are both still engaged in the five-furlong contest, which takes places on Investec Derby Day, Saturday, June 2.
The next scratchings deadline for both the Investec Derby and the Investec Oaks is this Friday, May 18. Details of the horses going forward in the two Classics will be revealed by 4.00pm the same day.
LATEST ODDS FROM WILLIAM HILL, OFFICIAL BETTING PARTNER OF THE 2012 INVESTEC DERBY FESTIVAL
Investec Dash: 9/1 York Glory; 10/1 Ballesteros, 12/1 Dickie's Lad, Long Awaited, Shoshoni Wind; 14/1 Arctic Feeling, Bear Behind, Captain Dunne, Confessional, Duchess Dora, Es Que Love, Lexi's Hero, Verinco; 16/1 Cadeaux Pearl, Catfish, Chocolate Hills, Courageous, Jamesway, Lui Rei, Steps, Taajub; 20/1 Blue Jack, Celerina, Desert Law, Dinkum Diamond, Fitz Flyer, Humidor, Judge N Jury, Living It Large, Partner, Sohraab, Tax Free, The Thrill Is Gone; 25/1 BAR (EW ¼ 1,2,3,4)
