Twenty engaged to face Black Caviar in Diamond Jubilee

It appears the lure of Royal Ascot has outweighed the fear of taking on

Australia's Queen of Speed, Black Caviar, as 21 contenders remain engaged in

Saturday's Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot after Monday's

confirmation and supplementary stage. The unbeaten mare has continued with light

exercise as she builds up to her date with destiny, and the arrival of big-race

partner Luke Nolen has seen the final pieces of the jigsaw fall into place.

"Black Caviar looks great and has traveled over well," the rider told

Racing Post. "She probably had a lot less to drink on the plane than I did.

I know (trainer) Peter (Moody) is very happy with her. I rode her in her last

gallop before she left and she was in very good nick. I'm not worried too much

about the undulations (of Ascot) as she travels very well and takes a big

stride. She goes great on straight tracks at home and she is the highest-rated

in the race."

"Black Caviar is the fittest I've ever had her," Moody said. "I made sure she

was pretty straight when she got on the plane and she hasn't needed to work

since. Hopefully we can get her on the (Newmarket) Limekilns (gallops) Tuesday

morning and give her a gallop over three furlongs or something, but nothing

major."

Her task will be no straightforward affair as a host of top speedsters also

stood their ground for the six-furlong dash. Last year's winner and leading

domestic hope Society Rock tuned up for this main target with a third in last

month's Group 2 Duke of York Stakes at York. The James Fanshawe trainee may yet

be joined by last month's Group 2 Temple Stakes victor Bated Breath, whose

participation in Tuesday's Group 1 King's Stand Stakes remains dependent on

suitable track conditions.

International spice is enhanced by the presence of last term's Group 1 Prix

Maurice de Gheest heroine Moonlight Cloud, who was imperious when taking out

Longchamp's Group 3 Prix du Palais-Royal on seasonal return earlier this month;

and the Fawzi Nass-trained raider from Bahrain, Krypton Factor, who plundered

the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Meydan's World Cup card, but was undone when

encountering unsuitably softened going when fifth in Kranji's Group 1

International Sprint last month.

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