The best is yet to come from Royal Aclaim warns James Tate who has his sprint sensation in peak form for York's Sky Bet Ebor Festival.
William Hill's 6-4 favourite puts her unbeaten record on the line in Friday's Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.
Acliam's daughter counted last year's winner Winter Power among her victims when scooting home in a Listed heat over track and trip. But Tate, seeking his first Group 1 after a rung lower score on the Knavesmire with Invincible Army in 2019, has his stable star poised for a big run.
"She has never been 100% fit and ready to go like she is now," he said.
The five furlong dash has long been the plan for Tate, a trained vet whose uncle Michael Dickinson saddled the first five home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Royal Aclaim's victorious return from a 382-day break in a lowly Bath novice was the first step towards the lofty target, part of the QIPCO British Champions Series. Tate is hoping his charge, owned by longtime yard supporter Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, remains in tip-top shape.
"To be actually going for it and to be favourite is very exciting," he said. "It was a dream that had a chance of being a reality because we had a fair idea from what she had done as a two year old on the track and at home, the short of engine she has.
"To have her going to this race off a good preparation, I keep having to pinch myself and hope everything stays right the next four days."
Supplemented candidate The Platinum Queen, the 5-2 second favourite, bids to become the first two-year-old winner since Kingsgate Native in 2007. Richard Fahey's impressive Goodwood scorer is expected to add pace to the feature, alongside Commonwealth Cup third Flotus.
