Nassau Stakes the likely target for Judge

The Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is next on the agenda for Just The Judge after she was firmly put in her place by Sky Lantern in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

Sky Lantern emerged as a narrow winner when the pair met for the first time in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, but with Just The Judge running out an impressive winner of the Irish Guineas subsequently, many expected her to turn the tables at the Royal meeting.

However, Sky Lantern confirmed her superiority over a mile with a brilliant display under Richard Hughes and Just The Judge had to make do with minor honours in third, after being pipped to the runner-up spot by French outsider Kenhope.

David Redvers, racing manager for Just The Judge's owners Qatar Racing, is looking forward to seeing the Charlie Hills-trained filly step up to a mile and a quarter for her next appearance on August 3rd.

He said: "Sky Lantern looked to have done incredibly well physically and I think the timing of the race perhaps worked out slightly better for her than it did for us.

"She won the 1000 Guineas and then had a good six weeks to get over it, whereas we ran at Newmarket, went to Ireland and then to Ascot as well.

"Just The Judge looked really fit, but looking at her after the race I think she could do with a bit of a break and we're going to give her that time to fill out again now.

"I think her most likely target is the Nassau Stakes. Jamie (Spencer) is very keen to ride her over 10 furlongs."

Redvers is keen to let the dust settle on Kiyoshi's astonishing Ascot performance before committing her to future targets.

A creditable fourth on her Newmarket debut before running out an impressive winner at Goodwood, the Hills-trained juvenile blitzed her rivals in the Albany Stakes despite hanging markedly inside the last of six furlongs.

Kiyoshi is now the ante-post favourite for next year's 1000 Guineas and could step up to seven furlongs on her next start, with the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on September 1st an option that has been discussed.

Redvers said: "She's come out of the race absolutely fine, as have all the Ascot horses, thankfully.

"Out of all of them she was the one who created the real buzz for us and she's obviously hugely exciting.

"She hung across the track, which is most unlike her as she has a great temperament, but I think we can put that down to greenness.

"She hit the front with such speed, I think it was all of a bit of a shock to her really.

"Everything at Ascot happens so quickly, I want to sit down now the dust has settled and look at things objectively.

"The Moyglare and the Fillies' Mile have been mentioned, but we'll see."

The other juvenile filly that has Redvers purring post-Ascot is Wind Fire, who ran an excellent race against the colts to finish third in the Norfolk Stakes.

Redvers said: "We're hoping she can develop into a Cheveley Park filly."