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Soprano aiming to hit Pipalong high notes

Soprano aiming to hit Pipalong high notes

Winner of the Sandringham Stakes at the Royal meeting last season, George Boughey's filly returned to the Berkshire circuit on the back of a successful reappearance in Listed company at Kempton.
However, the four-year-old was too keen to do herself justice in the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes and weakened to finish last of seven behind Crimson Advocate, who she had beaten on her previous outing.
Harry Herbert, managing director for Soprano's owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: 'She's in great form and looks absolutely fantastic, the best she's looked this year I think.
'Sadly we had a disaster at Royal Ascot when she ran with the choke out for more than half the race and obviously didn't get home, so she doesn't need to do that again.
'She was just too fresh going into that race but she's well, Billy (Loughnane) knows her very well and while it's a tough race giving weight away at Pontefract, I think she'll be very competitive.
'We had beaten the winner at Ascot the time before so it was frustrating what happened, she beat herself on the day. She thrives on racing and we probably should have given her another run, but it's easy in hindsight.
'George and the team closest to her think she's bang on for this to run a big race.'
Soprano heads a field of 11 fillies and mares declared for Pontefract's Listed feature, with Dave Loughnane's Sparks Fly and Royal Dress from James Tate's yard among her rivals.
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