Usherette Out To Bloom In Dahlia Stakes

Time/Date - 14.25hrs local time/Sunday, May 1, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Newmarket/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 1f

Lightly-raced four-year-old Usherette returns to Pattern company for the G2 Charm Spirit At Tweenhills In 2017 Dahlia Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket, UK, on Sunday, May 1.

The Andre Fabre-trained filly has been successful on four of her five starts, with the only defeat coming in the mile G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville, France, in August, when she kept on to finish seventh, four lengths behind the winner Amazing Maria.

Usherette has had two outings in conditions races on Polytrack so far this year, following up a cosy win over seven and a half furlongs at Deauville on March 8 with a three-length success in a seven-furlong contest at Chantilly on April 4.

Her two other victories also came at Chantilly, as she made all in an extended nine-furlong newcomers' race on Polytrack at the end of March, 2015 and followed up at French course in June when winning a mile conditions contest comfortably on turf.

Mickael Barzalona, who has partnered Usherette on all of her appearances, again rides the Shamardal filly who is drawn in stall four.

Eight fillies and mares are in opposition, including Amazing Maria and other G1 winners Arabian Queen and Furia Cruzada.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: "Usherette is in great form but is coming up against some very good fillies.

"She has always shown a lot of ability and has certainly confirmed that in her two starts this year.

"We wouldn't want the ground to get any softer and stepping back up in trip to nine furlongs is a bit of an unknown."