AJMAN Princess' "high-cruising speed" can help her return to winning ways in this evening's feature race at York Racecourse.

Trained by Roger Varian, for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, Ajman Princess is the top-rated filly in an 11-strong line-up in the British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric Fillies’ Stakes.

She heads to the Knavesmire in good form, having won or been placed on all four of her starts in 2017.

Now aged four, Ajman Princess came into this campaign as one of the highest-rated maidens in training having finished runner-up in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer.

She then failed to fire when next out in the Darley Irish Oaks and was not seen on a racecourse for the remainder of 2016.

The daughter of Teofilo has made up for lost time so far this year, easily shedding her maiden tag at Lingfield in March before running away with the Listed Daisy Warwick Stakes at Goodwood in May.

Ajman has subsequently finished third in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes, both held at Haydock over a mile and a half.

She is dropping back in trip by two furlongs this evening, chasing the record prize money of £50,000 in a contest won last year by Diploma in the colours of HM The Queen and trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

Varian, who saddled Postponed to win the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes in the same yellow and black colours last year, said: “Ajman Princess was placed in the Ribblesdale Stakes last season.

"But she started this year as a maiden and I am pleased she has vindicated Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s decision to keep her in training as a four-year-old by becoming a Listed winner, while she has also been placed twice at Group level again.

“We are bringing her back in trip as her main asset is her high-cruising speed.

"She has travelled strongly in all of her races, but the steady early tempo went against her in the Lancashire Oaks and she shapes like she could be an even better filly over ten furlongs.

“She has a penalty to shoulder here (at York) but she still comes out second best on the weight-adjusted figures, and this is a nice option as the galloping track will play to her strengths – as will the prospect of decent ground.

“This run ought to give us a good indication of how we campaign her for the rest of the season and I am hopeful of a bold showing under these different conditions.”

Stoute saddles Playful Sound in this year’s contest, while former York champion trainer David O’Meara is represented by Reachforthestars.

The 2017 runaway leader in the Charles Clinkard backed championship is William Haggas who will saddle Enstar – a daughter of Fastnet Rock – placed twice already at this level, in a bid to record winner number 11.

The six-race card worth £110,000 is York’s only evening fixture of the year. It gets underway at 6pm with the Think As One Apprentice Handicap.

For tickets, call 01904 620911 x 225 or visit www.yorkracecourse.co.uk