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Today we find out if she has the speed for a Group Two contest when she lines up in Doncaster's Flying Childers Stakes (13.55) sponsored by Aer Lingus. The £70,000 race over five furlongs has attracted nine runners, although a glance at the market suggests it is a two-way contest between Bear Cheek and the Richard Hannon-trained Gutaifan. The last-named finished second in the Gr.1 Prix Morny on his most recent start, having won his three previous contests.

With the well-bred Independence Day and smart Log Out Island among other serious contenders today's race is a cracking way to start day three of Doncaster's Ladbrokes St Leger meeting.

Bear Cheek is not Qatar Racing's sole Stakes runner on the card, for Pallasator lines up in the Gr.2 Doncaster Cup (15.05) and should appreciate the step back up in trip after a fair effort over one mile and five furlongs at Newbury last time out. He was a very good fourth over two miles in the Qatar Goodwood Cup on his previous start, and today's race does not have the depth of that event.

Pallasator (3rd from left) finishes fourth in the Goodwood Cup to Big Orange (2nd right)

Qatar Racing has some fine juvenile fillies among its ranks this season, among them Opal Tiara, who bids for the Gr.2 May Hill Stakes (15.40). The Mick, Channon-trained Opal Tiara has been knocking on the door in Listed races, and ran very respectably in the Gr.3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket, but today's field contains some smart rivals.

Terror ran a fine race to be third in yesterday's Gr.3 JRA Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster, and the useful two-year-old Flying Empress can do no worse than that at Salisbury this evening when she lines up in a three-runner conditions race (17.50).

A busy weekend of racing lies ahead, with Doncaster staging Britain's final Classic of the year, Ireland putting on its Champions' Weekend and France offering one of the season's mile highlights, the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. Arod remains on course for that event - and his rivals could include Maimara, whose sire, Makfi, has been responsible for a burst of winners in New Zealand - while Simple Verselines up in 'the Leger' and Lightning Spear is in Ireland for the Gr.2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes.

The Gr.1 QIPCO Champions Stakes could see Derby winner Golden Horn take on Guineas hero Gleneagles at Leopardstown, while Qatar Racing's Ainippe bids to extend her winning run to three in the Gr.1 Coomore-sponsored Matron Stakes.

Also in action at the top level is Mr Owen, Qatar Racing's representative in the $1m Gr.1 Woodbine Mile in Toronto, Canada.

Pallasator picture: Dan Abraham

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