Ed Dunlop has confirmed that our globetrotting stable-star SNOW FAIRY will take her chance in Saturday's £1.3m Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, with Olivier Peslier becoming the 11th jockey to take the ride.
He said: "Mrs Patino is a very sporting owner and she is all for giving it a go. The Champion was never really on the agenda as everything was again focussed on an autumn raid on Japan and Hong Kong but we had to rewrite the script somewhat after her injury in Dubai and consequently, she only got started properly in July so is still a relatively fresh filly."
"Obviously, it is a concern that the race comes up only 13 days after the Arc, but she has taken her exertions in Paris better than we could have hoped and she looked in great form when she worked up the Al Bahathri under Adrian McCarthy on Wednesday morning."
"Who would have thought that we would get our ground on the third Saturday in October but that looks like being the reality and with the QE11 Commemorative Cup in Japan five weeks away, it would be silly to let such a big prize pass us by."
"Snow Fairy has not won in Britain since she landed the Oaks at Epsom last year and we are all very excited that she is playing at home with a big chance. Olivier Peslier rode Native Khan for us when finishing third in the Guineas and he is a top-class jockey, who rides Ascot particularly well. He did the job for us on Ouija Board in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and has a great record around the track, so all is set fair."
"We are under no illusions about the task Snow Fairy faces. So You Think has beaten us twice but we took our revenge at Longchamp and though there are plenty of others to worry about, such as Nathaniel, Twice Over and Midday, we are going there in optimistic mood."