Tom Marquand would love to help Anna Nerium secure the biggest victory of her career in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Having been on board the Richard Hannon-trained daughter of Dubawi for each of five victories, Marquand is keeping his fingers crossed their blossoming partnership can continue in the Group Two prize on Wednesday.
The pair secured a third Group Three victory together earlier this month, when going one place better than 12 months ago in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on Derby day.
Marquand said: "She is a solid Group Three filly and has done everything asked of her so far. She is a tough filly, with a great heart - she would stick it all in for you.
"She ran well in the Coronation Stakes, when the race wasn't run to suit, on ground that was a lot quicker than ideal. That rattled her that day, but she handled the stiff track well.
"I think there would be a sense of satisfaction there as the team would be buzzing to have a Royal Ascot winner for Jeanette McCreery (owner), and to ride it would be pretty special for me."
Victory at the Royal meeting has so far eluded Marquand, but he could be given the chance to tick that box off his CV in the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday with Anna Nerium's Cheveley Park Stud-owned stablemate Threat, whom he steered to a debut victory at Newmarket.
Marquand added: "It's hard to judge a four-runner maiden at Newmarket, but he looked and felt nice that day and has put in some nice pieces of work since then.
"It would worry me with him having that lack of experience, but he was very straightforward and took to Newmarket well and that was on Guineas day.
"Nothing official has been said yet, but they (connections) came in the other day and saw him work and I galloped him, so with a bit of luck I will keep the ride."
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