Big Three stand their ground in Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes

The showdown between the last two UltimateBet.com 1000 Guineas (G.1) winners, Russian Rhythm and Attraction, and the brilliant UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes (G.1) and Cantor Odds Sussex Stakes (G.1) winner, Soviet Song, remains a possibility after all three stood their ground at the forfeit stage for the £200,000 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (G.1) at Newmarket on Saturday 2nd October. Between them they have won six Group 1 races this season.

A total of 21 fillies remain engaged in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes, which was upgraded to Group 1 status for the first time this year, thereby ensuring that there is now a Group 1 race on each of the three days of the Cambridgeshire Meeting.

Russian Rhythm has been off the course with an injury since winning the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (G.1) at Newbury in May, but she is reported to be in top form again as she builds up to an autumn campaign. Last season she won the 1000 Guineas in brilliant style, before following up in the Coronation Stakes (G.1) at the Royal Meeting. Attraction won those same two races this year, as well as the Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh. However, she tasted her first ever defeat when beaten by Soviet Song in the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes and found the soft ground against her when last in the Prix Jacques Le Marois in France on her only start since.

Soviet Song, meanwhile, followed up her Falmouth victory with a brilliant triumph in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. She would probably be the pick on this season´s form, but was decisively beaten by Russian Rhythm on the two occasions that they met last year in the Guineas and at Royal Ascot.

There are a host of other high class fillies in the race - Chic, who represents the same connections as Russian Rhythm, has come good in her last two starts, notably in winning the totesport Celebration Mile (G.2) at Goodwood last time; Favourable Terms tasted Group 1 success in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and also won the Windsor Forest Stakes (G.2) at Royal Ascot; Phantom Wind came back to form in the Oak Tree Stakes (G.3) at Goodwood last time, while Red Bloom did the same in the sporting options.co.uk Betting Exchange Strensall Stakes (G.3) at York; and Tropical Lady racked up five wins on the bounce earlier in the season in Ireland.

'Some people doubted the merits of upgrading the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes and the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes to Group 1 status, but the Falmouth was more than worthy of it in July and the Sun Chariot has all the makings of a sensational race if these forfeits are any guide,' said Lisa Hancock, Newmarket´s Managing Director.