Set To Music returns to the scene of her biggest triumph when she begins her 2012 campaign in the Betfred Middleton Stakes at York on Thursday.
The Queen's filly won the Listed Galtres Stakes at the Ebor meeting in August and trainer Michael Bell has had this Group Two contest in mind as a starting point for her for some time - even though the extended mile and a quarter may be slightly short of her best.
"It's always been the intention to start her off in this race," said the Newmarket handler.
"Obviously the drying ground is not ideal for her, but I expect her to come on for the run and hopefully it will set her up for the year.
"It looks a warm contest, but she's in good form."
Fellow Newmarket-based trainer Luca Cumani has decided to give Mohedian Lady her first run of the year in this race, rather than take her to Ireland.
"Mohedian Lady runs in the Middleton Stakes in preference to the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas," read a statement posted on www.lucacumani.com.
"She has been training very well - better in fact than she did last year.
"Given that she also looks to have improved physically over the winter then we could see an improved filly this year - though it has to be said that this is a warm race and ideally we'd have been happier had it been at a mile and a half."Richard Fahey is looking for a better performance from Barefoot Lady than on her seasonal reappearance when she got bogged down in the testing conditions at Goodwood.
"Barefoot Lady was a little bit disappointing on very heavy ground at Goodwood, but she's fine," said the Malton trainer.
Fahey also declared Myplacelater but warns the five-year-old mare may not take her chance if the ground quickens up any further.
"If the ground dries out much more Myplacelater probably won't run now, but we'll have a look at how the ground is after Wednesday's meeting," he said.
Connections of Beatrice Aurore want the opposite to improve her prospects.
The four-year-old, trained by John Dunlop, made an encouraging return when third to Questioning at Newmarket last month.
"Beatrice Aurore has trained well since the Earl of Sefton and we are hopeful of a good run, especially if the rain stays away," said Dunlop's racing secretary Marcus Osgood.
Sea Of Heartbreak is burdened with a 3lb penalty for a Group Two success at Longchamp during Arc weekend.
Trainer Roger Charlton admits that makes things more difficult, but the Beckhampton handler reports her ready for her first run of the year.
"She looks fantastically well. She's got a penalty for winning a Group Two in France and has to give weight to some good fillies," said Charlton.
"It's a very hot race, but it's good starting point and she's in good form."
Sajjhaa was runner-up to Midday in this race 12 months ago before going on to register a course and distance victory in July.
Her liking for the Knavesmire circuit gives trainer Saeed bin Suroor reason to be optimistic about her chances.
"Sajjhaa looks like she is coming back into form - she looks well and has been working nicely," he told www.godolphin.com.
"She is ready to run and she loves racing at York. I am hopeful of another good effort."
Timepiece was third in this race last year and the Sir Henry Cecil-trained filly is said to have come on for her run behind Middleton rival Izzi Top at Newmarket earlier this month.
"She worked the other morning and seems to be much more relaxed," Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, told Racing UK.
"She was a bit rusty at Newmarket and she has always taken a while to get into full gear, so hopefully we'll see the best of her tomorrow.
"She's certainly still progressing."
