Cheveley Park Stud still hopes to give Sir Michael Stoute a major victory before his retirement, with their promising filly, Anna Swan, potentially running in Friday's bet365 Fillies’ Mile.
Stoute, the renowned handler at Freemason Lodge, has expertly guided many of Cheveley Park's top horses to success over the years, turning champions like Russian Rhythm and Medicean into household names, and even claiming victory in the U.S. with Breeders’ Cup winner Queen’s Trust.
Having trained over 35 individual Group-race winners for Cheveley Park, Stoute could soon add another with Anna Swan, who has impressed in her debut at Yarmouth and her recent conditions race victory at Newbury.
Alongside Friday’s Group One Fillies' Mile at Newmarket, Anna Swan is also entered in the Group Three Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes on the same day. Final decisions on which race to target will be made after discussions between the trainer and owner.
"It’s very exciting, and she’s entered in both the Fillies’ Mile and the Oh So Sharp," said Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park.
"We’ll be talking with Mrs Thompson and Sir Michael before declarations to decide, but it would be fantastic if she could represent him in one of those races. She’s in excellent form, and the intention is to run her in one, all being well."
Another of Stoute’s two-year-olds, Formal, generated excitement ahead of her recent Rockfel Stakes appearance but disappointed as the 7-4 favourite in the Group Two race. Despite this setback, connections remain optimistic.
"Formal didn’t run her race. Maybe she was over the top," Richardson continued. "She never really got going, was a bit free, and just unsettled. That wasn’t her. We’ll draw a line under it and come back stronger next year."