Soviet Song and Attraction are set to clash again in the Group One Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The pair finished first and second in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in July when the year older Soviet Song beat Attraction by two and a half lengths to hand the dual Guineas heroine her first defeat in nine starts.
Attraction has since finished second to last on unsuitably soft ground in the Prix Jacques Le Marois but the trainer’s wife Deirdre is hoping she can bounce back.
“She goes to Ireland as long as the ground stays fast,” said Mrs Johnston. “She is in fabulous form.
“At least in France it was a non-event as far as we were concerned in that there was a reason for her performance – she wasn’t fourth or fifth which in a way would have left lots of doubts.
“It was a complete no-go because of the soft ground and Kevin (Darley) wasn’t hard on her, she just wasn’t going well on it.”
However, she will face a tough task against Soviet Song, who has gone on to beat the colts in the Sussex Stakes.
Trainer James Fanshawe has given the four-year-old a short break since that win at the end of July, and Matthew Budden, racing manager for owners Elite Racing, reports her to be in good order.
“As far as I know the plan is to go to Ireland on Saturday. She’s taken her last race well. She’s had a bit of a break since then but all the indications are that she’s in good form,” he said.
“We beat Attraction impressively last time and hopefully she will show the same form again.”
Soviet Song is likely to tackle the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 25 after the weekend.
“She has an entry in the Champion Stakes but after Saturday the most likely plan would be to go for the QEII at Ascot,” said Budden.
“It’s very likely that she will stay in training next year but we’ve got to get to the end of this season first. If she does though, the Breeders’ Cup may well be her big target next year.”