Soviet connections consider options
Soviet Song may make her seasonal debut in the Windsor Forest Stakes rather than the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at York next week.
The Marju mare, trained by James Fanshawe, won three Group One races last year but has yet to race so far this term having been sidelined with respiratory infections.
As she has not run since finishing sixth to Rakti in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last September, connections are looking to the easier of the two options and that is likely to be the Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes next Wednesday.
Soviet Song came to the Royal meeting last year with three runs under her belt and was only beaten a neck by Refuse To Bend in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes
“She is in good form and worked this morning with two stable companions on the Limekiln gallops at Newmarket,” said Matthew Budden, racing manager for owners the Elite Racing Club.
“She will have her first run of the season at Ascot in either the Queen Anne or the Windsor Forest.
“We may start her off in the Windsor Forest as we will be looking for the easier of the two races although at Royal Ascot it is never easy. She would just be taking on other fillies in the Windsor Forest.
“Last year it took her a couple of races to reach her peak. After Ascot we will be looking to the Falmouth at Newmarket which she won last summer.
“She had a couple of little respiratory infections in the last two or three months. She’s over these now and is coming to herself.”
The five-year-old mare will be ridden at York by her regular partner Johnny Murtagh.
