Usherette, a four-year-old daughter of Shamardal, is held in the highest esteem by her trainer Andre Fabre and the Godolphin filly demonstrated exactly why when storming to victory in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Settled in mid-division, Usherette’s jockey Mickael Barzalona was still motionless approaching the two-furlong marker and she moved to the front with only the gentlest of encouragement. Once asked for her effort inside the final furlong, she moved clear with consummate ease, winning under hands and heels by two and a quarter lengths.
Usherette is now unbeaten in four starts this year, with her previous victory coming in the G2 Dahlia Stakes on Guineas weekend at Newmarket. She will now be aimed at the G1 Falmouth Stakes.
Usherette is out of the Stakes-placed Maria’s Mon mare Monday Show, a full sister to multiple Group winner and G1 performer Expansion. Monday Show has a filly foal by Exceed And Excel at foot.
Shamardal has sired ten individual Black type winners so far this year and a further eight runners who have been placed at Stakes level. He has two 2016 G1 winners to his name in Tryster and Dariyan.
