Golden Pal might be the banker of the American team for Royal Ascot – but don't write off Spendarella.
Graham Motion's charge is a much longer price than her fellow traveller, despite holding an unbeaten record on home tracks.
The Group 1 Coronation Stakes demands a bigger performance from the three-year-old, with hot favourite Homeless Songs in opposition. A runaway winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the form of Dermot Weld's miler received the ultimate boost by Tuesday's Oaks triumph.
Add champion juvenile filly Inspiral into the mix, for whom Classic aspirations are yet to materialise – and there is no denying the task ahead.
However connections are hopeful Spendarella can run them close, two years on from Sharing's second place for the same trainer and owner combo.
"We wouldn't bring her over unless we thought she had a chance," said Motion’s assistant Alice Clapham. "She has done nothing wrong so far, it's a crack at a Grade 1 so we will give it a go and see how it works out.
"She has plenty of class and all the jockeys who have ridden her have said she has more in the tank."
Fresh from his clear-cut win at Keeneland, speedball Golden Pal is 7-4 with most bookmakers for the King's Stand Stakes on day one. Spendarella saw off her opposition in a Grade 2 there in April, following up two wins at Gulfstream Park.
Betfred make her 10-1 to go one better than her team's most recent Coronation runner, at the Queen's favourite meeting. Clapham travelled over on that occasion and with 2003 Queen Anne Stakes favourite Animal Kingdom, plus Miss Temple City five years ago.
Spendarella arrived in Newmarket on Tuesday night, having spent ten hours travelling to get to her first stopover point. After another drive, the daughter of Karakontie was boarded onto a plane to fly seven hours from Indianapolis to Stansted.
Clapham, who grew up in the UK, hopes the "bucket list" Royal Ascot trip for owners Gainesway Farm will produce a good result.
"She has had her first few days on the gallops and she has been really good," she added. "The biggest difference for them is it is so wide open here compared to America when you are dealing with the tracks. It helps when they are laid out, she has taken everything in her stride.
"So far she has raced prominently because she breaks well but I think she is versatile and William (Buick) can do whatever he likes."
