Relief Rally is set for a drop back in trip, as sights turn to the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot after winning the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury.
She was very unlucky not to be undefeated as a juvenile, having lost only by a nose to American raider Crimson Advocate in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she had won four of her five starts the previous season.
The daughter of Kodiac, who was purchased by Zhang Yuesheng for 800,000 guineas in December, was given a test of stamina over seven furlongs on her debut in the new campaign by her connections.
Her trainer believes that even though she ran admirably and placed honourably fourth as the 7-4 favourite, she should now return to sprinting distances and aim to win back Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup in late June.
“I’m certain she didn’t stay and I said to Tom (Marquand) before the race, this will be the last time she runs over this trip, but I couldn’t not run in it,” said Haggas. “Whether she is going to be a top filly, I don’t know, but she is going to run six furlongs next time, maybe at the Lockinge meeting against the colts. There is an all-weather race at Chelmsford (on May 2) for fillies, but that feels a bit hard on her and I don’t think she will go there. Tom said she was very weak in the last half-furlong when he thought he had them covered, so I’m not sure, she may have just got tired as well, but she won’t run seven furlongs again and she’s not going to be running in the French Guineas. We’ll try to get her to Ascot if we can, with a run before.”