Trends analysis

Fillies have won 12 of the last 15 runnings

Aljazzi was the first mare to win this race for ten years 12 months ago, and if you’re looking at those aged six or older you’re going against the stats, as only the mighty Soviet Song has been able to strike at the veterans’ stage since the first running in 2004.

Soviet Song was trained by James Fanshawe and the Newmarket man has a pretty good record in this having won it twice, and he came close to bagging it again last year when Tribute Act finished second. However, no trainer has a better record than Sir Michael Stoute with four wins, while the best record of all goes to jockey Wayne Lordan, who is a perfect two from two.

France’s form has also been eyecatching in recent years, with two winners, a second and two thirds since 2014.

Verdict

Sir Michael Stoute has the favourite in Rawdaa, but the trends suggest the one we should be focusing on is Veracious, who had a nice prep when third in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom, which is historically a decent pointer. The selection also finished third in last year’s Coronation Stakes and is owned by Cheveley Park Stud, for whom Stoute has won this race twice before.