Song tops Forest

Soviet Song heads 13 horses left in Wednesday’s Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot at the five-day confirmation stage.

She will be hoping to improve on her third place in the Group Two contest behind Peeress at Royal Ascot at York last year.

The five-times Group One winner, owned by the Elite Racing Club and trained by James Fanshawe, has been placed at the meeting for the last three years.

She was second to Refuse To Bend in the 2004 Queen Anne Stakes and also to Russian Rhythm in the 2003 Coronation Stakes.

Connections of Peeress, trainer Michael Stoute and owners the Cheveley Park Stud, look set to be represented by Echelon this time.

The four-year-old is stepping up to Group Two company after winning twice at Group Three level this season.

There is an international flavour with four European acceptors including Alain de Royer Dupre’s Ysoldina and Chantilly Beauty, trained by Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, from France.

Shapira, trained in Germany by Andreas Lowe, and Luas Line from David Wachman’s Irish stable are also in the race.

Godolphin have left in Astronomia while the others to stand their ground are Bon Nuit, Musicanna, Nice Tune, Royal Alchemist, Violet Park and Zayn Zen.