Glass Slippers Points to Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot

Glass Slippers  will not take on Battaash  in the June 15 King's Stand Stakes (G1), with connections instead looking to test her over six furlongs in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) later in Royal Ascot week.

She was not among the 16 confirmations for the middle of the three group 1 races on the first day of the meeting Tuesday. She was around a 4-1 chance in the race she finished fifth in last season, and Battaash is now 6-4 (from 2-1) with Coral to repeat last year's success.

Instead, the Kevin Ryan-trained Glass Slippers will be tested at six furlongs for the first time since August 2019 and she is a general 8-1 chance for her new target June 19. The 5-year-old has not been seen since her brilliant victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) in November.

Adam Ryan, assistant and son to Kevin, said: "It was always the plan to try her at six furlongs at some point this year. She's done well over the winter; she looks like she's thrived."

On Tuesday, Battaash, who is set for his first start of the season at the royal meeting, could still have to overcome classy sprinters Oxted  and Winter Power , who remain in the race.

Ryan Moore rides U.S.-trained runner Extravagant Kid , while Frankie Dettori is set to partner Arecibo  for Robert Cowell.

Elsewhere in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1), a busy campaign for Poetic Flare  shows no signs of slowing down as the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner is one of 15 on course to run in the mile contest.

The Jim Bolger-trained 3-year-old, who also ran in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) and Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1), could feature among a strong Irish contingent including Lucky Vega , Thunder Moon , Wembley , and Battleground . Sunday's Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1) winner St Mark's Basilica  was taken out of the race as expected.

Of the home challenge, Mostahdaf  and Chindit  are still engaged, as are Godolphin pair Highland Avenue  and La Barrosa , who are set to be ridden by retained jockeys William Buick and James Doyle.

The Revenant , who was as short as 8-1 for the opening Queen Anne Stakes (G1), was scratched on Wednesday.

Red-hot favorite Palace Pier  was one of 12 left in at the confirmation stage, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained 4-year-old an odds-on shot for the group 1 prize. 

His biggest threat, the Aidan O'Brien-trained FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) winner Order of Australia , is still engaged in the race.

The Wesley Ward-trained Kaufymaker  was the sole filly among 29 left in the Coventry Stakes (G2), while Dettori was confirmed to ride last month's Yarmouth winner Tolstoy.

In the Ascot Stakes, Willie Mullins has secured the services of Moore to ride Rayapour . The 5-year-old has raced only once for the stable, finishing third in a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan.