No Time like the present at York today

The daughter of Sea The Stars kept a low profile last season and was allowed to come through the ranks steadily, though victory over subsequent St Leger winner Simple Verse at Goodwood showed she had plenty of potential.

However the Charlie Appleby-trained filly took last month’s Lancashire Oaks with flying colours. “She is a filly that we’ve taken our time with,” said Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson. “Charlie has been very, very patient - her first race (in 2016) being the Lancashire Oaks on Eclipse day. She’s got good form on soft ground but she’s also got good form on quick ground.”

On Ladies Day, all eyes will be on Fair Eva when she puts her unbeaten record and huge reputation on the line in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes. As a daughter of the great Frankel and Group One-winning mare African Rose, Roger Charlton’s filly is bred to be smart and has upheld family honour thus far.

Frankel’s credentials as a stallion is one of the stories of the 2016 season and the great champion also sired the Richard Fahey-trained Queen Kindly who could be the biggest threat to Fair Eva. She barely came off the bridle when making a winning debut at Catterick before finishing a close third at Royal Ascot.