Primo Bacio heading for Royal Ascot after impressive York success

Primo Bacio booked her Royal Ascot ticket as she continued her improvement in landing the Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes at York.

The Ed Walker-trained three-year-old was stepping up in trip to a mile having previously been campaigned over six and seven furlongs, with her seasonal debut resulting in a luckless fourth-placed finish in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury in April.

The extra distance of a race better known as the Michael Seely Memorial seemed to be entirely to the filly’s liking, as she showed an impressive turn of foot to accelerate past the majority of the field with a furlong left to travel, eventually crossing the line three lengths ahead of Creative Flair to prevail at 14-1.

Walker said: “She just had to relax to get the trip – that was going to be the key with her. She was a bit keen an a bit fresh at Newbury and got stopped dead in her tracks. Who knows how close she’d have got? She got properly stopped at a key point of a race.

“It was discussed afterwards whether we should supplement her for the Guineas, but it was never really an option in my mind.

“She improved so much through the winter and was working the house down, hence we ran a 79-rated filly in a Group Three. She’s got a great turn of foot and picked up very well today. The Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot will be next.”

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, Primo Bacio is owned by David Ward, the same owner that joined Walker in enjoying the Group Two success of Starman in the Duke of York Stakes on the Knavesmire on Tuesday.

The latter is bound for the Diamond Jubilee at the Royal meeting.

“There aren’t many of them, but it’s been a good week,” Walker added. “It’s very exciting going to Royal Ascot with the two of them. It’s great for the Wards, who are big supporters of ours.”

Richard Hannon’s Snow Lantern, the 10-11 favourite, took a keen hold throughout and could only finish third as she struggled to find the late pace to pursue the leading duo.

Hannon said: “She was disappointing. She was very keen. We’ll get her home and see how she is.”

Nymphadora claimed a clear-cut victory in the Langleys Solicitors British EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York.

Sixth behind the exciting Desert Dreamer on her racecourse debut at Newmarket last month, Andrew Balding’s juvenile was a 13-2 chance as she stepped up to Listed class on the Knavesmire.

Jason Watson’s mount moved to the front passing the two-furlong marker and while several challengers attempted to reel her in, the daughter of No Nay Never refused to yield and passed the post with a length and a quarter in hand.

Canonized filled the runner-up spot, with 7-2 favourite Crazyland close-up behind in third.

Paddy Power quote Nymphadora at 8-1 for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

Watson said: “She showed ability on her first run and that day she kind of jumped slow and ended up leading the race.

“She’s come on plenty for that today, she travelled like a real star.

“She got to the front and was looking around her, obviously still a bit green with it being her second run.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if she did a stay a bit further, there’s obviously a bit more in the tank.

“She’s obviously shown she can do it over five (furlongs) today, she’s not short of speed.

“Maybe with a bit more time she can go over six, it’ll be interesting to see what she can do – she gave me a really nice feel.”

Balding’s wife, Anna Lisa, added: “She’s always shown plenty at home, at Newmarket she showed her pace and she’s built on that today.”