David Egan© Photo Healy Racing
Enchanting Empress booked her ticket to Royal Ascot as owners Amo Racing won the Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes for the second year running.
Alice Haynes’ Maximum Impact obliged as an evens favourite 12 months ago, but this time Dominic Ffrench Davis’ daughter of Sergei Prokofiev – the only filly in the field – was sent off an 11-2 chance in the hands of David Egan.
A professional winner on debut at Wolverhampton 21 days ago, she showed plenty of heart to see off the Murphy-trained Rock Hunter by a neck.
This victory came over five furlongs, but Ffrench Davis is now eyeing a move up to six furlongs for the Albany Stakes at the big meeting later in the summer.
He said: “I think she’s done enough to come back to Ascot, but I think she is more of an Albany filly than a Queen Mary filly.
“She will definitely get six and will probably go further in time. It’s a fast pedigree, but she was behind the bridle at Wolverhampton and she was behind the bridle a little bit again today.
“She’s as tough as old boots and she answered when David asked her, so I think the Albany is probably her target.
“She’s probably done enough for now and you don’t want to overrace these fillies. We’ll keep her fresh for Ascot.”
Her rider concurred that six furlongs is Elegant Empress’ trip, with Egan adding: “If she does come back to Ascot I’d say six furlongs would be the more obvious trip.
“She’s not the most strong-travelling filly and you need that when you have the likes of the Wesley Ward horses, who would go a lot quicker than we did just there.
“She’d be more comfortable over six.”
There were two divisions of the Naas Racecourse Handicap over five furlongs with 7-2 favourite Woolhampton striking in the first for trainer Rod Millman and Robert Cowell’s Isle Of Lismore taking the spoils 35 minutes later at odds of 11-1.
The latter was partnered by Kieran Shoemark, who said: “He’s incredibly uncomplicated and I could have hit the front two and a half out, his attitude is so willing – he was always sticking his head out.
“Robert said he was fresh and well and he’s already had a couple of nice runs this season. I suppose off 85 there was a question if he was still well-handicapped, but I thought he dug deep there. He’s a lovely individual.”
There was a smart performance from the regally-bred Diamond Rain, who could have a bright future after coming home strongly to deny 2-1 favourite Shaha in the Darley British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the strapping Godolphin-owned daughter of Shamardal is out of William Haggas’ Oaks heroine Dancing Rain, and although slowly away from the stalls, finished her race in the manner of an exciting prospect.
“I think she did need the experience today,” said winning jockey William Buick.
“She had been showing some nice signs at home and Charlie and the team thought today was a nice safe starting point for her, which it was. It was nice, safe ground and a beautiful track and whatever she did was going to be looking towards the future.
“I was very pleased with that. She was very green from the stalls, but I was pleased with how she picked up. I think there were some nice fillies in that race and a couple of nice types and she was one of them.
“I had to just wait for my run and then quicken and I was really delighted with her and think she will progress from here. She will probably ideally want another couple of furlongs.”
The concluding Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap went the way of the Jonathan Portman-trained 100-30 favourite Two Tempting who struck in the hands of Olivia Tubb.
