This is the time of the year when competition for the two-year-old Group races deepens. Early-season types, to the fore at Royal Ascot, must contend with a new onslaught – so often of well-bred horses from the major yards – as championship honours begin to be fought over. Wild Blossom, in the former category, has looked smart from the outset, handing out a ten-length beating to her rivals on debut at Carlisle. A difficult draw at Royal Ascot scuppered her chances in the G2 Queen Mary but she subsequently confirmed her class with an authoritative win in the Alice Keppel Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, running 0.2s faster (about one length) than the winner of the G3 Molecomb Stakes on the same afternoon. A badge of honour. The Karl Burke-trained filly has a second chance at G2 glory, stepping up to 6f in the Lowther Stakes, the two-year-old fillies feature of the meeting, now in its 80th year. It’s a race which has, over time, been a springboard for such brilliant fillies as Al Bahathri, Queen’s Logic and Russian Rhythm. We also run Alta Regina, from the Hamad Al-Jehani stable. She was in front of Wild Blossom from a better draw at Royal Ascot, but then disappointed when caught on a wing in her subsequent start. Both fillies may improve for racing on a less jarring surface than the good-to-firm turf of high summer.